Another Duster

[ChocolateFrog]

Fitted some roof bars for an upcoming camping trip. Went with Yakima Whispbar ones, mainly on the promise they're quiet. Build quality seems decent and they were a useful chunk cheaper than Thule ones.

Didn't believe the instructions when they said 2Nm for the bar clamps so went with a 100% accurate 10Nm based on my calibrated right hand (who has a torque wrench accurate to 2Nm anyway?)



Look tidy fitting between the raised bars.

[ChocolateFrog]

Mikebentley said:

rambo19 said:

Must admit, doing your own service work on a brand new car is asking for trouble.
Dealer service once a year(mileage depending) to maintain the warranty is worth it, IMO.

I agree.

Maybe but absolute worst case I'd have to put a new engine into it.

I don't think they could refuse a gearbox claim or electrical issue because I've changed my own oil and pollen filter.

I'm 100% confident I'll do better, more diligent work than the technician at my local dealer.

Edited by ChocolateFrog on Wednesday 25th May 15:58

[ChocolateFrog]

jrb43 said:

ChocolateFrog said:

This is why I wanted to get some extra protection on mine.

This is a 2014 Duster, which as far as I'm aware is fundamentally the same.

2013/14 there was a change of factory - I can't remember the specifics and don't want to offend but think it was India->Romania. 2013/14 cars are potentially subject to horrific rust problems. After that, it's not a significant problem.

Source: bought one in the past year, did unhealthy amount of research.

Yes seems like you're right, early Indian built cars suffer badly. That said we haven't seen 10 year old Romanian cars yet.

[ChocolateFrog]

Proteu5 said:

Just got rid of our 13 plate. Apart from the rust issues, that Dacia sorted, it was the dealer we had the issue with. We would have kept it if our circumstances hadn't changed.

Few bits we found worth doing (not sure if they are on the new ones) is rubber seal around the engine bay, under the bonnet. This kept it really clean. Ford Ka (I think) strut mount caps to keep them clean also. Hicopter tape along with bolt caps have been mentioned.

I've seen the rubber seal mod for the bonnet, definitely contemplating that one.

[croyde]

Those above bars look the same as mine, except they had a Turkish name.

Having been all over the UK from Skye to Cornwall, I can vouch for them being quiet, as well as very useful.

I like they way they are between the bars and not sticking out.

[Mikebentley]

I couldn’t give a monkeys as at 10yrs old it will owe me zilch, zero, Nadia, nothing, bugger all. If I have to weigh it in the scrap will be worth £500 by then.

[ChocolateFrog]

The slightly ironic thing is a genuine oil filter and 6 litres of the proper RN17 spec oil costs the same as you'd pay Dacia to do it and I still don't want to hand them the keys.

[Mikebentley]

ChocolateFrog said:

The slightly ironic thing is a genuine oil filter and 6 litres of the proper RN17 spec oil costs the same as you'd pay Dacia to do it and I still don't want to hand them the keys.

I’ve seen the service kit i.e. oil and filters from Renault dealers on Fleabay for £47.00. My dealer wanted £139.00 last time I asked.

[croyde]

WBAC has been offering me £11200 for my Duster for a few weeks now. Nearly £1000 more than I paid for it new in Feb 2021.

This week it's jumped to £12300 despite adding more miles.

My Dacia earns more money than I do

[Wacky Racer]

croyde said:

WBAC has been offering me 11200 for my Duster for a few weeks now. Nearly 1000 more than I paid for it new in Feb 2021.

This week it's jumped to 12300 despite adding more miles.

My Dacia earns more money than I do

Try Cazoo

[ChocolateFrog]

Oil change time. Got off to a rocky start. Opie oils delivered the wrong oil, great customer service had some more delivered the next day, which was also wrong. Correct oil delivered the day after so 5x pick up and collection, don't think they made much money on that order.



Disappointed to find 3 oil leaks. Engine and gearbox drain plugs plus the oil filter housing.









The undertray has 11 bolts, 2 obscured by the front bumper, no way Dacia are putting all those back in, I assume a hole saw is taken the very bottom lip of the bumper to access the hidden bolts without undoing all the lower bumper bolts.

And why it needed to be done. More metal in there than I've ever seen in a filter before. Kicking myself I didn't do it at 50 miles.



Surprisingly black for such young oil, must be some blowby as the rings are seating.




Probably the best thing I'll ever do for the longevity of the engine.

[anonymous-user]

Very concerning to see the oil leaks and amount of glitter in the oil after only 1000 miles.

[GIYess]

I presume these drive similar to the Renault captur? We rented one a couple of years ago and I was pleasantly surprised how comfortably it drove and that it didn't feel underpowered at all.

[ChocolateFrog]

GIYess said:

I presume these drive similar to the Renault captur? We rented one a couple of years ago and I was pleasantly surprised how comfortably it drove and that it didn't feel underpowered at all.

I've not driven them to compare but with the same engine I'm going to assume they're fairly similar.

[ChocolateFrog]

Joey Deacon said:

Very concerning to see the oil leaks and amount of glitter in the oil after only 1000 miles.

Yes it is. They're not in made in Japan that's for sure.

Hoping and presuming that's all initial bedding in and the next filter will look a lot cleaner.

Apparently they're not run up at all at the factory, they're just pressure tested.

[anonymous-user]

ChocolateFrog said:

Yes it is. They're not in made in Japan that's for sure.

Hoping and presuming that's all initial bedding in and the next filter will look a lot cleaner.

Apparently they're not run up at all at the factory, they're just pressure tested.

This and reading the posts on the Dacia Forum has got me wondering if I have made the right decision ordering a new Stepway. I was hoping it would last me at least 15 years with regular oil changes, but now I am getting nervous.

I currently have a 15 year old Megane, no oil leaks and it looks like new underneath, I assumed as these are basically Renaults it would be the same.

[Mikebentley]

OP I see yours is the 1.3 engine. Mine is the 1.0 Tce. I’ve seen a video of Duster production in Romania and was surprised to see they had a foundary and manufactured the engines on site.

[blueST]

ChocolateFrog said:

Yes it is. They're not in made in Japan that's for sure.

Hoping and presuming that's all initial bedding in and the next filter will look a lot cleaner.

Apparently they're not run up at all at the factory, they're just pressure tested.

Do any mainstream manufacturers run engines in the factory any more? I didn't think they did.

[ChocolateFrog]

blueST said:

ChocolateFrog said:

Yes it is. They're not in made in Japan that's for sure.

Hoping and presuming that's all initial bedding in and the next filter will look a lot cleaner.

Apparently they're not run up at all at the factory, they're just pressure tested.

Do any mainstream manufacturers run engines in the factory any more? I didn't think they did.

Possibly not I just assumed most were still run through a test cycle.

[loskie]

engines can take a LOT of abuse. My lawnmower is testament to that.