Since owning the 225 for the past 3 weeks I can't help but notice how cool it runs whilst driving about, when idling for a little it will raise to half gauge but soon as I start driving drops very low, seems too low. Trip computer states 31-32mpg but seems to be drinking more than that so wondered if it was due to an overcooling engine. Does anyone else's sit this low: Cheers for advice.
New thermostat time. Easy to replace, done mine a few days ago as my needle was doing the same as yours. Basically your thermostat isn't closing as it should, and is circulating coolant through the rad lowering the temp of the coolant too much.
I'd expect so, your ecu will run cold map if the coolant is running too cold as I understand it. You will need a bottle of renault type d coolant as you'll lose a load of coolant when you open the housing around the thermostat, it's a good excuse to flush the system , one bottle of 5ltr should be enough. I'm sure the actual capacity for the system is 7ltr but unless you get rid of all the existing coolant you won't need more than one bottle.
Wanted to edit my post but can't. Is it just the front bit of the housing that comes off to release the stat, the bit where the pipe goes to the rad? Also, I'm not sure my car has Renault type D coolant in it. It looks reddish, but it says yellow on Renault's parts site. Bleed screws?
Just as an update I replaced the thermostat with a gen renault item ( approx £20 ) and the car runs a constant temp which sits middle of the gauge. thanks chaps.
Type D coolant is green, you have 2 bleed screws, one on the housing itself, one on the pipe work leading to the heater matrix, run 2 heat cycles for the bleeding process and check levels again after a few days.
That's mine done. Next time I will remove the vacuum pipe on top of the throttle body first as I broke the crappy plastic clip holding it in place. Those bleed screws are a pain. Takes ages to loosen the one on the stat housing and the one by the bulkhead is so crap I barely bled it at all, so worried about dropping it and losing it. Temp needle is now staying on the notch just left of centre, no matter how hard or gently the car is driven. Up to temperature nice and quick and heater is good and hot. Is the notch just left of centre right?
Need to do this soon. Since getting a service from Renault last week I have noticed mine temp gauge bearly goes past the 2nd notch until I idle for a while then it goes to the middle notch. Any guides on how to do this anywhere?
I'm hopefully doing a bleed tomorrow so I'll take a few pictures for you where everything is and what you need to do.
I was hoping to do a full bleed today and undo the thermostat housing to give you some detailed pictures, but it's been wetter than an otter's pocket outside so I've just got a few pictures for you. Below is the thermostat housing showing the bleed point (red) and screws to remove to get to the thermostat (green) there is a third but its underneath. The second bleeding point can be found behind in this area (blue) If you look closely in this area you will see this bleed point (red) be very careful as this one can be dropped very easily. It's a fairly easy job, just undo the three bolts and change the thermostat over, you will lose a fair amount of coolant and it's a good excuse to do a flush, if you've had new coolant recently then a top up is fine. If you want to empty the whole amount of coolant you can do this by undoing the compression clip on the bottom left of the radiator and pulling off the rubber plug. The bleed process is simply, once everything is done up undo the two bleed screws and fill the reservoir with coolant to the max line, start engine and set the heating fan to the highest heat. Keep topping up until coolant can be seen coming out of the bleed points then redo the bleed screws. The Renault manual says to allow the car to go through 2 heat cycles during bleeding whilst holding revs at 2000K but I've found idle to be fine. Hope this helps.
P.s. I'm not and do not claim to be a mechanic, this is how I do it, follow this advice at your own risk.
