Upgrading to a larger oil filter on a T1N Sprinter

The Mercedes Benz T1N sprinter is an inline 5 cylinder but shares a standard across many of its other engines. One oddity is that the Sprinter being a Diesel has a small oil filter.

Something worth paying attention to is that diesels in general dirty the oil pretty quickly.

Diesel engine oil gets dirty quickly due to several factors that are inherent to diesel engines and their combustion process:

Soot Production Diesel engines produce more soot compared to gasoline engines. During combustion, diesel fuel doesn't burn as cleanly, leading to the creation of soot particles. This soot gets mixed with the engine oil as the oil circulates, darkening it quickly.

High Compression Diesel engines operate at higher compression ratios, which can cause more blow-by gases (unburned fuel and exhaust gases) to escape past the piston rings and into the crankcase. These gases mix with the oil, contaminating it with carbon, soot, and other impurities.

EGR Systems. Diesel engines equipped with Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) systems reintroduce a portion of the exhaust gases into the engine’s intake to reduce NOx emissions. These gases contain soot and other contaminants, which increase the load on the oil.

These factors combined lead to diesel oil darkening and getting dirty faster, even if it's still doing its job of protecting the engine.

Enter the T1N Extra Capacity Oil Filter Housing & Filter for 2001-06 Sprinter Vans

This is why having a larger filter really helps. One easy swap is to get the cap, filter and filter basket from a 2006 E320 3.2 L6. It’s essentially the same filter, just taller. Which means more capacity and surface area for more filtration. Win/Win

During your next oil and oil filter change, just replace your old and brittle oil filter assembly with this brand new one from MB. Then refill your oil to the same 9.5 L as stock. Check the level on your dipstick and add oil if necessary (maybe half a pint or 250m).