Fuel consumption

[PhireSide]

Seems it’s is a global phenomenon due to diesel needing extra refining and often being subject to extra fuel taxes.
But South Africa is near the top when it comes to how large the difference is.

Understanding the price gap between gasoline and diesel fuel | GlobalPetrolPrices.com

According to our data set of 161 countries, gasoline is more expensive than diesel fuel in 84% of all countries. On average, diesel is 9,84% cheaper but the difference varies considerably across countries as well as within countries over time. Here we discuss several factors contributing to the...

www.globalpetrolprices.com

Not surprised, seeing as how the consumer gets shafted six ways to Sunday on most everything we purchase/consume.

 

[PhireSide]

Traded in the 2018 for a 2021 and consumption so far is a bit better. This is just puttering around town, but once I have done a tankful I will be able to draw some conclusions, but my driving habits are largely the same as the drivetrain is identical (same 1.5 dCi, same 6-speed manual gearbox).

 

[airborne]

Traded in the 2018 for a 2021 and consumption so far is a bit better. This is just puttering around town, but once I have done a tankful I will be able to draw some conclusions, but my driving habits are largely the same as the drivetrain is identical (same 1.5 dCi, same 6-speed manual gearbox).

View attachment 1946368

The fuel economy on those engines are epic, how reliable are they?
What motivated the "upgrade" and how was the old one faring when you sold it?

 

[PhireSide]

The fuel economy on those engines are epic, how reliable are they?
What motivated the "upgrade" and how was the old one faring when you sold it?

From what I can gather looking at overseas posts, 500k km is not unheard of if you stay on top of maintenance. It's everything else around the engine you need to worry about

I didn't go into this month wanting an upgrade, but I saw a 4x2 model for a nice price standing at one of the dealers I drove past, then decided to check what was offered in my town. I found a nice 4x4 model with half the amount of kilos on as what mine has, and decided that it may be worth extending my repayments by three years to get a three years younger car, whilst halving the mileage as mine would have been due for a few pricier services soon (tyres all round, cambelt, shocks, various bushings were starting to squeak, etc.).

I'm loving the quieter cabin, the more supportive seats, the automatic climate control (welcome to 2005, Renault) and the 360 degree camera system. And being a platform I am familiar with, I know more or less the quirks and issues that do come up from time to time, which sets my mind at ease somewhat.

 

[airborne]

From what I can gather looking at overseas posts, 500k km is not unheard of if you stay on top of maintenance. It's everything else around the engine you need to worry about

I didn't go into this month wanting an upgrade, but I saw a 4x2 model for a nice price standing at one of the dealers I drove past, then decided to check what was offered in my town. I found a nice 4x4 model with half the amount of kilos on as what mine has, and decided that it may be worth extending my repayments by three years to get a three years younger car, whilst halving the mileage as mine would have been due for a few pricier services soon (tyres all round, cambelt, shocks, various bushings were starting to squeak, etc.).

I'm loving the quieter cabin, the more supportive seats, the automatic climate control (welcome to 2005, Renault) and the 360 degree camera system. And being a platform I am familiar with, I know more or less the quirks and issues that do come up from time to time, which sets my mind at ease somewhat.

View attachment 1946372

She's a looker!

As far as I recall those engines are used on quite a few different platforms/manufacturers?
500k km is very impressive on a modern small diesel engine, I'm assuming the injectors, high pressure diesel pumps and turbos are pretty solid on those engines?

Can they handle dirty diesel better than most because that's typically what makes diesels die prematurely

 

[PhireSide]

She's a looker!

As far as I recall those engines are used on quite a few different platforms/manufacturers?
500k km is very impressive on a modern small diesel engine, I'm assuming the injectors, high pressure diesel pumps and turbos are pretty solid on those engines?

Can they handle dirty diesel better than most because that's typically what makes diesels die prematurely

Thank you! Yeah they are used on some Nissan vehicles and some Mercedes-Benz cars as well in SA. I believe that overseas some Lada's also use them, and there was a Suzuki Jimny variant that was powered by a K9K engine as well.

To be completely honest, these engines are fairly low tech - 8 valves, no special sauce to make it output oodles of power and relatively modest injector/pump setup means there is not much to go wrong. The injectors on the 66kW models are a weak point from what I can tell, and there are no aftermarket options available so your only choice is going with the default Renault ones. The ~80kW models fare better as they have parts from Bosch, vs Delphi on the lower spec engines.

Turbos seem to be the most common failure point outside of the above, and on the group I am on, one guy has had to have his engine rebuilt as his oil pump left the chat, which caused rod bearing wear and then one of the pistons smacked the head pretty hard.

As for handling dirty diesel, I'm sure it would cause trouble owing to how sensitive the injector tips are, but I am sure we would have seen more reports of dead injectors if it was a major issue in SA.

It's not 1.9PD or OM605-levels of reliable, but it does seem to hold up to abuse pretty well if you keep up on the oil changes and cambelt services.

 

[Pax]

Thank you! Yeah they are used on some Nissan vehicles and some Mercedes-Benz cars as well in SA. I believe that overseas some Lada's also use them, and there was a Suzuki Jimny variant that was powered by a K9K engine as well.

To be completely honest, these engines are fairly low tech - 8 valves, no special sauce to make it output oodles of power and relatively modest injector/pump setup means there is not much to go wrong. The injectors on the 66kW models are a weak point from what I can tell, and there are no aftermarket options available so your only choice is going with the default Renault ones. The ~80kW models fare better as they have parts from Bosch, vs Delphi on the lower spec engines.

Turbos seem to be the most common failure point outside of the above, and on the group I am on, one guy has had to have his engine rebuilt as his oil pump left the chat, which caused rod bearing wear and then one of the pistons smacked the head pretty hard.

As for handling dirty diesel, I'm sure it would cause trouble owing to how sensitive the injector tips are, but I am sure we would have seen more reports of dead injectors if it was a major issue in SA.

It's not 1.9PD or OM605-levels of reliable, but it does seem to hold up to abuse pretty well if you keep up on the oil changes and cambelt services.

I no longer have mine, but one huge improvement was removing the Diesel Particulate Filter having a stage 1 upgrade on the engine mapping.. The car was so much more responsive. R7k well spent at Steve's Auto Clinic.

 

[PhireSide]

I no longer have mine, but one huge improvement was removing the Diesel Particulate Filter having a stage 1 upgrade on the engine mapping.. The car was so much more responsive. R7k well spent at Steve's Auto Clinic.

How is the BM treating you?

I've heard it gives some nice gains - might look into maybe deleting the EGR (bonus if it can be done in software).

 

[Claymore]

How is the BM treating you?

I've heard it gives some nice gains - might look into maybe deleting the EGR (bonus if it can be done in software).

I had my Ford's EGR bypassed in Bloemfontein halfway to the coast after it put the car in limp mode. 3 hours, they put in a blanking plate, and bypassed DPF for. That was a memorable trip.

 

[Pax]

How is the BM treating you?

I've heard it gives some nice gains - might look into maybe deleting the EGR (bonus if it can be done in software).

BM, 18000 km in all good so far. Miss the Duster's manouvarability though. If felt lighter and more agile, even with less power. It was just easier in tight spaces, but travelling everywhere with sets of golf clubs, own elctric trolleys etc. justified (at least in my warped mind) getting a bigger car. .......afterthought.....nowadays there are trailers

 

[PhireSide]

I had my Ford's EGR bypassed in Bloemfontein halfway to the coast after it put the car in limp mode. 3 hours, they put in a blanking plate, and bypassed DPF for. That was a memorable trip.

I seem to remember that; wasn't there also an issue that you had with the steering rack or something?

 

[Claymore]

I seem to remember that; wasn't there also an issue that you had with the steering rack or something?

I think that was the same year, but at home. Water got into the electronics of the rack, and I had it replaced with one from a scrapyard. Fun times.

The EGR I could probably have just continued with, turning the car off and on again cleared the error, but I didn't want to take a chance on a long trip.