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We have owned our 1992 Autotrail Apache Mercedes 208D for the last 2 years. It is our first Motorhome and we love it to bits! However, performance is poor due to having no turbo and cant justify over £2000 to fit one. 5th gear is a waste of time, and it loses power on any uphill incline or if you drive into a head wind. I assume this normal for this 2.3 diesel engine. Any advice to 'streamline' the van or increase its output would be greatly appreciated! We do plan on keeping this for a few more years as it is in excellent condition for its age and has only done 45,000 miles but don't want to spend lots on it as we will never recoup this money when sold on.
I rather think you are stuck with 78 BHP. However, the consolation is that the engine is so well built, and so under-stressed, they have been known to run for 1/2 million miles or more. Certainly that engine is known to outlive the van bodies it pulled.
Probably a case of 'tortoise beating hare' (eventually) in your case I suspect.
We too have an Autotrail Apache merc, but the 207d, 1885.
These go on for ever, slowly
We do like to potter all over europe at a nice slow speed tho, taking in the views, no rush. If I were you I would leave her be.
Regards
Antonia
Re: Autotrail Apache Mercedes 208D - Any quick performance t
We have owned our 1992 Autotrail Apache Mercedes 208D for the last 2 years. It is our first Motorhome and we love it to bits! However, performance is poor due to having no turbo and cant justify over £2000 to fit one. 5th gear is a waste of time, and it loses power on any uphill incline or if you drive into a head wind. I assume this normal for this 2.3 diesel engine. Any advice to 'streamline' the van or increase its output would be greatly appreciated! We do plan on keeping this for a few more years as it is in excellent condition for its age and has only done 45,000 miles but don't want to spend lots on it as we will never recoup this money when sold on.
Thanks in advance!
I sympathise. I have a 1.9 non turbo which has I believe a similar power output. One thing to check is that you are getting full throttle travel. Have someone press the accelarator pedal all the way down whilst you check at the business end if there's any slack left to take up.
I have just done this to mine and I was surprised at how much spare travel there was left! It has made some difference in that it doesn't seem to run out of steam quite so quickly but I still have to test it on a long run.
I agree with all the comments. As I mentioned...we love it to bits!
The lack of power is just so frustrating.
For example, the embarassment when I start to overtake a HGV....I hit a slight incline or a slight headwind (which you cant see coming) and I then fail to complete the overtaking manouver and have to pull back in behind the lorry.
I will look into the accelerator tip...thanks.
Anyone else with a similar van have the same problem with 5th gear? As soon as I put it in 5th, I start to loose speed unless going downhill and with the wind behind me....it just seems to labour. I cant get enough revs to sustain that gear at all!
One further tip I can advise is to make sure that your fuel filters are CLEAN.
We did find that the van had great difficulty with hills and loss of power. If the fuel filter, ours has two, are not clean there will be a considerably reduced performance. Ads a result I now change them anually.
Its a simple job to change them, you should be able to do it yourself, i did.
If you need any advice on how to do it please ask and I shall type out the instructions.
We have found a fantastic local garage who did the MH's MOT and will have its first service (since we have owned it) with them before we are off on our travels this year.
Do you think it would it be included as part of general annual service?
If not, do you think it would be costly to be done as extra while it is in the garage?
I am quite handy and will try anything so I might take you up on that offer....thanks!
The filter can of course be ordered from a parts supplier, mine cost £9.
The in line plastic filter was only £4. These are also available on ebay for our vans.
1) Remove the engine cover from inside the cab, three clips, one each side and one in front. Manhandle the cover out of the passenger door.
2) Open the bonnet to let in light, and gain access.
2) Inside the van, looking from the gearstick into the engine on the very upper left, more under the bonnet actually, you will see a cylinder with an aluminium cast top, upon the top of this you will see a largish (10p size) nut, rather flat it is. This is in fact a bolt that you should undo. the base and sides of the cylinder is the fuel filter itself.
3)Undo the hex nut (bolt) whilst supporting the base of the filter, care, diesel will fall out a little, keep it upright.
4)Extract the bolt and the old filter will come away in your hand.
5)Reverse to replace with a new filter, gasket built into filter don't worry.
6)If you have an inline filter it will be visible in the black fuel line coming from the previous filter assembly. normally cut into the fuel line with a couple of Jubilee clips. Again remove and replace.
Next, importantly;
7)Nearer to you, again on the lower left side of the engine block, you will see, at the side of the block, a greyish plastic container. On top of this is a hex cap, that should only be finger or coin tight.
Unsrew this plastic hex nut ( mine has a screw slot in the top too, so you can undo it with a coin maybe), this is a little pump. When loose, you will find you can pump it up and down. THIS is the FUEL primer pump.
9)Pump the fuel primer pump a lot of times to get the air out of the fuel system.
10)Start the engine, if it runs smoothly its sorted. if not, switch off and pump some more.
11)Once the engine runs smoothly, switch off, screw the pump hex cap back in place, coin tight.
12)Check for obvious leaks. Start engine and careful visual check for leaks again.
Close bonnet, and replace engine cover, job done.
It would take a mechanic 15-20mins max. You could do it in not much more than that. It may be worthwhile asking someone to hold the filter tho.
Hope this helps
regards
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Unsrew this plastic hex nut ( mine has a screw slot in the top too, so you can undo it with a coin maybe), this is a little pump. When loose, you will find you can pump it up and down. THIS is the FUEL primer pump.
