Where does the sand in the oil come from?
The Dasrea engine runs on 92nd gasoline and is filled with it regularly.
The surprise was that the engine compartment is quite dirty. On the right, a gap between the two hood seals directs debris straight toward the oil filler neck.
To judge engine health, oil samples are taken every five thousand kilometers and sent to a laboratory for analysis. In early runs, elevated metal content appeared in the oil, which is expected when the engine is starting and breaking in. Over time, the metal content dropped.
However a sizable amount of silicon detected around twenty thousand kilometers in the oil is unusual. It indicates dust and grime entering the lubricant, a sign that could shorten engine life. The suspicion at this stage is a sandblasting effect at the oil filler neck.
What about fuel?
Closer to thirty thousand kilometers, fuel particles appeared in the oil, which is also not ideal. Gasoline dilutes the oil and lowers its viscosity. It is worth noting that available information suggests the manufacturer advises against motor oil with a hot viscosity below 40 units in Russia. The vehicle here uses 5W-40.
To address the dirt buildup in the engine bay, the plan is to seal the gap between the seals. As for the fuel in the oil, it likely stems from using 92nd gasoline. A comparable Arcana with a similar engine ran on AI-95 and did not show this issue. Since the fuel system is functioning, there is a chance the working gas mixture does not burn completely and some fuel finds its way past the rings into the oil.
The engine bay does not feel like a vehicle with moderate wear; it appears as if it has logged 300,000 kilometers. Dirt enters through the seal gap. On the left side, overlapping seals prevent this problem.
The entire dust stream heads straight for the filler neck. It seems dirt is entering the oil.
Lost tow eye plugs have become common for new Dusters.
Is the body okay?
There are questions about the engine and the body. It was noted that there are cracks in the paint on the roof.
New cracks did not appear in winter, and the old ones did not worsen, which supports the idea that stiffness of the body is not the cause. A similar issue has been found on budget Renaults such as the earlier Duster, Logan, and Sandero. The defect is inconvenient but should not affect body durability.
Cold winter brings not only remote start capabilities but also the option to program it for a set time.
As temperatures fall, gear engagement becomes stiffer, suggesting either ice on the mechanism or dirt on the shift cables.
There are more paint concerns. In the rear door openings, metal wear appears where the soft door seal attaches to a more rigid plastic component. If the seal were firm and soft, wear would not occur. It raises questions about cost-saving choices.
Paint in the rear doorways wears off onto the floor, leaving contact marks on the door seal.
What did you save on?
For example, on the towing eye plugs. To remove them, one must lift the edge with a tool. If pressure comes from behind, such as while crossing a ford or deep snow, the plugs can pop out and be lost. One was lost in the front bumper in a deep puddle, another in a snowdrift at the rear.
New plugs cost about 650 rubles each, with roughly a week waiting time for orders.
According to the parts manager, people frequently lose plugs. A practical improvement would be adding an anchor or a humane securing method so the part stays in place. Many manufacturers already do this. A more robust fix would be ideal.
Before driving through deep puddles or fresh snow, it helps to remove the plugs in advance. More issues can arise otherwise.
An uncleaned 3-centimeter area remains on the left, forming a large dead zone with the body pillar.
In winter, the Duster offers warmth, with heated seats, a heated windshield and steering wheel, plus remote start from the key and programmable via the menu. If the car is left with the gear engaged, the engine may not start when needed.
The Duster recently entered its second scheduled service. The list of works mirrors the first APK, and while no overt faults were found, the car with modest mileage raises more questions about its condition.
Renault Duster, 1.3 T (150 HP), M6
- Manufacturer — Renault Russia
- Year — 2021
- In operation — since May 2021
- Mileage at report — 33,000 km
Operating and maintenance costs (0-33,000 km)
- Maintenance costs (0-21,000 km) 59 035 rubles
- Of which for petrol (AI-92, avg. 7.8 L/100 km) 46 135 rubles
- Maintenance costs (21,000-33,000 km) 63 454 rubles
- Of which for petrol (AI-92, avg. 8.0 L/100 km) 48 454 rubles
- To-2 13 700 rubles
- Bumper plugs 1 300 rubles
- General expenses 122 489 rubles
- Cost per km 4.86 rubles
* Excluding OSAGO and hull insurance.
Analysis of oil samples was conducted by Total ANAC laboratory. Citations: Total ANAC laboratory report on the oil samples.
- Reviews from Duster owners have been collected here.
- The Za Rulem brand offers a car set for every taste, with kit combinations you can assemble to fit personal preferences.
- Behind the wheel can also be read on VKontakte.