Renault 1.5dci engine - good or bad?

gooner99 · 01-09-2015 9:14am #1

Hi. Just wondering what these engines are like. I'd imagine there are now loads on the road. I was looking at an 2011 ex an post van with service history, so the engine/van from that era I'm interested in hearing about. I'd be using it for light use only, mostly as a car and I look after my cars well with servicing on time. As a side note these vans are now white so the postman pat jokes don't apply!

listermint · 01-09-2015 9:17am

From what i know of them are a solid block used in everything from megane to laguna to movano, traffic, kangoo to qashqai. There should not be major worries or concerns with them providing it was looked after.
That engines been all over the place

Stallingrad · 01-09-2015 9:22am

We've had two in a Megane and Scenic. The engine was the most solid part of both, never missed a beat. Needless to say religious oil changes are a must, the intervals are quite long, 24 months.

GavMan · 01-09-2015 10:23am

Old man has one in a 10 reg Fluence. Been good to him, if a little agricultural

listermint · 01-09-2015 10:24am

Agricultural is pretty apt. :cool:

gooner99 · 01-09-2015 10:35am

GavMan wrote: »

Old man has one in a 10 reg Fluence. Been good to him, if a little agricultural

Bet the fancy qashqai owners love that description!

George Dalton · 01-09-2015 10:36am

If I was buying an ex post van the engine would be the least of my worries tbh.

gooner99 · 01-09-2015 10:36am

Stallingrad wrote: »

We've had two in a Megane and Scenic. The engine was the most solid part of both, never missed a beat. Needless to say religious oil changes are a must, the intervals are quite long, 24 months.

When you say the engines have been solid with religious oil changes. Do you mean you change the oil every 2 years.seems very long.

listermint · 01-09-2015 10:38am

Actually is this a Kangoo ?

have you driven it ?. I hated the Kangoos cab and the clutch and break peddles are nearly on top of each other. Horrible drive if your feet are remotely normal sized.

gooner99 · 01-09-2015 10:40am

listermint wrote: »

Actually is this a Kangoo ?

have you driven it ?. I hated the Kangoos cab and the clutch and break peddles are nearly on top of each other. Horrible drive if your feet are remotely normal sized.

No haven't driven one yet.are the new/current model that bad?

listermint · 01-09-2015 11:05am

gooner99 wrote: »

No haven't driven one yet.are the new/current model that bad?

I believe so, two buddys got them in work. one swapped from the new connect, the other swapped from an opel i believe. Neither were happy with the van. But thats based on comparisons. They said it wasnt a nice place to be.

For me the connect is possibly the most comfortable drive out there. Again thats just from what ive experienced.

Stallingrad · 01-09-2015 11:06am

gooner99 wrote: »

When you say the engines have been solid with religious oil changes. Do you mean you change the oil every 2 years.seems very long.

We ignored the 2 years and changed every year.

ilovesmybrick · 01-09-2015 11:09am

That's a solid engine, at least it was on the older models. I think it was the only part on my 04 renault van that was never replaced! I'm told the 2011 onwards renaults are quite reliable too.

josip · 01-09-2015 11:09am

I've found that engine to be fairly reliable; it's the Renault electrics I'd be more worried about.

gooner99 · 01-09-2015 11:25am

josip wrote: »

I've found that engine to be fairly reliable; it's the Renault electrics I'd be more worried about.

Are the electrics a big problem in their vans or more of a problem with their cars?

listermint · 01-09-2015 11:28am

gooner99 wrote: »

Are the electrics a big problem in their vans or more of a problem with their cars?

Sparce all electrical to go wrong, They are void of gadgets.

josip · 01-09-2015 11:33am

gooner99 wrote: »

Are the electrics a big problem in their vans or more of a problem with their cars?

My experience is only cars. Mine and another lad in work.
It wasn't just the gadgets that broke. On his, the entire dash had to be replaced because of an electrical prob that couldn't be traced.

gooner99 · 01-09-2015 1:15pm

listermint wrote: »

Sparce all electrical to go wrong, They are void of gadgets.

I guess there would be less electrics on their vans.

Lutecia · 01-09-2015 10:13pm

listermint wrote: »

From what i know of them are a solid block used in everything from megane to laguna to movano, traffic, kangoo to qashqai. There should not be major worries or concerns with them providing it was looked after.
That engines been all over the place

And about 20% of all new Mercedes :
A, B 160 CDI have the dCi 90
A, B, GLA and CLA 180 CDI have the dCi 110

This engine must be more popular than the 1.6 TDI now

Dartz · 01-09-2015 10:24pm

gooner99 wrote: »

Hi. Just wondering what these engines are like. I'd imagine there are now loads on the road. I was looking at an 2011 ex an post van with service history, so the engine/van from that era I'm interested in hearing about. I'd be using it for light use only, mostly as a car and I look after my cars well with servicing on time. As a side note these vans are now white so the postman pat jokes don't apply!

It's fine reliability wise.

Just utterly ****ing gutless. Like strangling a granny - all it does is make noise.

gooner99 · 01-09-2015 10:52pm

Dartz wrote: »

It's fine reliability wise.

Just utterly ****ing gutless. Like strangling a granny - all it does is make noise.

Performance wouldn't be a huge issue for me. Coming from a 1.3 323 and a 1.4 golf I can't say I'm used to power. Be mostly used as a runabout with little or no cargo.

Anyone running this vintage Kangoo. What's it like?

Does anyone know if all 2011 dci engines have dpfs?

road_high · 01-09-2015 10:54pm

gooner99 wrote: »

Are the electrics a big problem in their vans or more of a problem with their cars?

Their vans are spot on. No coincidence they are pretty much the market leader.
Their cars since circa 09 are very reliable too now.

josip · 01-09-2015 11:07pm

road_high wrote: »

Their vans are spot on. No coincidence they are pretty much the market leader.
Their cars since circa 09 are very reliable too now.

Are you sure?
I did a quick check and found the 2014 Megane 78th out of 109 in 2014 for reliability. The Scenic is better but the Clio is worse.

http://www.whatcar.com/awards/jdpower/2014/model/renault_megane

alias no.9 · 02-09-2015 9:28am

We've had a 2007 Grand Scenic with the 106BHP variant of this engine since mid 2010. We've recently replaced the starter motor at ~200k KM and did the clutch / flywheel about 3 years ago. other than that it's been normal servicing.

The one time it appeared to have electrical gremlins, the battery was on the way out, replacing the battery resolved everything.

akelly02 · 02-09-2015 10:03am

Dartz wrote: »

It's fine reliability wise.

Just utterly ****ing gutless. Like strangling a granny - all it does is make noise.

Just bought a 04 1.5dci Megane and after reading about them being gutless i was pleasantly surprised! this is coming from a Celica aswell .

gooner99 · 02-09-2015 12:15pm

Sitec wrote: »

Why would that be? The vans get a CVRT every 9 to 10 months and are on a bespoke service interval of 15k. They only go to main dealerships for maintenance and repairs. Mechanically they are probably the most looked after fleet in the country.

That was my thoughts. Given that most of the other vans on sale are used for commercial purposes,carrying heavier loads,not getting the same servicing as these an post vans and with much higher mileage I would have thought they would be fairly well regarded?

Interslice · 02-09-2015 12:34pm

akelly02 wrote: »

Just bought a 04 1.5dci Megane and after reading about them being gutless i was pleasantly surprised! this is coming from a Celica aswell .

They're pokey enough considering they have only 1450cc. You can feel the low capacity struggle off boost at around 1k rpm alright. Just keep the turbo spinning and they're grand. If your one of those who labours a diesel engine about the place at an average 1200rpm then you will find them very gutless.

akelly02 · 02-09-2015 1:22pm

Interslice wrote: »

They're pokey enough considering they have only 1450cc. You can feel the low capacity struggle off boost at around 1k rpm alright. Just keep the turbo spinning and they're grand. If your one of those who labours a diesel engine about the place at an average 1200rpm then you will find them very gutless.

Haha i dont, the celica was at a constant 4k revs so im used to having the revs up!

Lutecia · 02-09-2015 8:15pm

josip wrote: »

Are you sure?
I did a quick check and found the 2014 Megane 78th out of 109 in 2014 for reliability. The Scenic is better but the Clio is worse.

http://www.whatcar.com/awards/jdpower/2014/model/renault_megane

78th is the average of all criteria.
If you select Reliability problem // Engine/Transmission , the Megane ends 16th and that's its strongest point of all.

CIP4 · 02-09-2015 8:34pm

Interslice wrote: »

They're pokey enough considering they have only 1450cc. You can feel the low capacity struggle off boost at around 1k rpm alright. Just keep the turbo spinning and they're grand. If your one of those who labours a diesel engine about the place at an average 1200rpm then you will find them very gutless.

They are no more gutless than any other diesels around that bhp I mean you have to compare like with like they are not a quick engine but have adequate power. Grand for a lad to come on and compare it to a 200bhp petrol car and say it's gutless no sh!t it would be gutless with that comparison. I've driven / have owned almost all the diesels of that size; 1.3cdti Opel engine, 1.6tdi vag engine, 1.6 psa engine, 1.9tdi vag engine etc. I actually find the Renault one very revvy for a diesel. My one just pulls straight to 4.5k revs as quick as it can its not fast but it's not dangerous slow or gutless.

Any as a van they are grand once you get a well minded one but they were minded by an post it's what happened with them after they left an post is the worry. I don't think electrics are that much off an issue on newer Renault anymore.

166man · 02-09-2015 10:11pm

They are grand for what they are, but I agree with the other chaps, they are gutless. Unless you're in the right gear everytime there's little power. I don't like small capacity diesels and think they are utterly pointless.

With the Kangoo my mate has one a 2011 Green one. Clutch is heavy enough due to stop start and the battery needed to be replaced. I guess due to usage. It needed a good clean but apart from that and the dire lack of power they are quite good. Handy on juice too and the brakes are fantastic.

CIP4 · 02-09-2015 10:15pm

166man wrote: »

They are grand for what they are, but I agree with the other chaps, they are gutless. Unless you're in the right gear everytime there's little power. I don't like small capacity diesels and think they are utterly pointless.

With the Kangoo my mate has one a 2011 Green one. Clutch is heavy enough due to stop start and the battery needed to be replaced. I guess due to usage. It needed a good clean but apart from that and the dire lack of power they are quite good. Handy on juice too and the brakes are fantastic.

But infairness what vans can you get that size that have much more power 102bhp 1.6tdi caddy would spring to mind but the vast majority are 75 bhp. What are the kangoos 60 or 70 bhp. I wouldn't imagine a Berlingo would be anymore lively. The choice of engines with smaller vans is limited enough.

Foxhole Norman · 03-09-2015 12:52am

We have the 1.5DCi in a 2012 Fluence with 20k on it since new, never had any problems but i hate it. It's a 5 speed 90hp version and it's gutless, I find my Yaris punchier/fun, just would not pull you out of bed!

gooner99 · 03-09-2015 3:50pm

CIP4 wrote: »

But infairness what vans can you get that size that have much more power 102bhp 1.6tdi caddy would spring to mind but the vast majority are 75 bhp. What are the kangoos 60 or 70 bhp. I wouldn't imagine a Berlingo would be anymore lively. The choice of engines with smaller vans is limited enough.

70bhp on those post vans afaik. So probably the same to drive as my 75bhp golf.

gooner99 · 03-09-2015 3:51pm

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

We have the 1.5DCi in a 2012 Fluence with 20k on it since new, never had any problems but i hate it. It's a 5 speed 90hp version and it's gutless, I find my Yaris punchier/fun, just would not pull you out of bed!

Sounds pretty similar to my 75bhp golf.

CIP4 · 03-09-2015 6:32pm

gooner99 wrote: »

Sounds pretty similar to my 75bhp golf.

No having driven both it would be quicker than your golf and certainly quicker than a Yaris. Someone must of stole the turbo out of FNs fluence if a Yaris has better performance that's simply not true unless the fluence was driven seriously slowly since it was new and has become like that. They are not quick and I'm not saying that but they are no where near as bad as being out. They are more or less the same as all the other similar models.

Anyway what it's like in a car is kind of irrelevant it's a van your buying so choice is limited. A caddy would be quicker in tdi form but also over double the price for equivalent year. Berlingo / partner would be similar power to a kangoo. Sure what other options are there in small vans. I wouldn't be basing my choice on power since they are all somewhere around the same.

ei9go · 03-09-2015 6:36pm

Have one with the 6 speed EDC auto and it responds very quickly and actually feels quick but it's probably that it's always in the right gear.

Fuel consumption about 4.9L per 100km

gooner99 · 03-09-2015 6:42pm

ei9go wrote: »

Have one with the 6 speed EDC auto and it responds very quickly and actually feels quick but it's probably that it's always in the right gear.

Fuel consumption about 4.9L per 100km

What year is your van. What do you think of it?

gooner99 · 04-09-2015 9:55am

Looking at an Irish review from 2011 these vans came with a 5 year warranty. But not sure if this stands on these fleet vans. Although can't see why not if they are subject to maintenance over and above what is recommended?

Foxhole Norman · 04-09-2015 10:16am

CIP4 wrote: »

No having driven both it would be quicker than your golf and certainly quicker than a Yaris. Someone must of stole the turbo out of FNs fluence if a Yaris has better performance that's simply not true unless the fluence was driven seriously slowly since it was new and has become like that. They are not quick and I'm not saying that but they are no where near as bad as being out. They are more or less the same as all the other similar models.

Turbo is definitely still there. Doesn't stop it having a terrible power band though. The Yaris feels nipper to me.

Renault 1.5dci engine - good or bad?

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