[Samba]

Originally Posted by SideView

Hey Samba , maybe it is the pic, isnt your coolant level above the max threshold line?

Could there be any sideeffects due to overfilling?

Yes it's not recommended. As of now it's under test, extra amount will put extra pressure. If thing are fine, we will reduce the level to max mark.

Originally Posted by TrackDay

Boy those pictures of your Duster make me want to pack my bags and go out on a journey ! I always loved the duster despite its aged looks.

Wish this Covid situation is resolved as soon as possible and we can all resume our long journeys !

Thanks. People are slowly resuming their road trips. So with some extra caution, you can start making a plan!

[Samba]

27,000 km update.

Duster is back from a 3,000 km road trip from Madhya Pradesh.



Our route was Kolkata- Ambikapur- Jabalpur- Kanha - Bandhavgarh - Amarkantak - Sambalpur - Saranda - Kolkata.

The good bits-

Happy to say that the coolant consuming issue is solved. In this 3,000 + km trip the coolant level has not dipped.

Overall the car performed well.

The mileage for the trip was 15.1 km/L as per the MID.

The comfort level in this car is phenomenal. Even after driving 700 km in a day, I didn't feel tired.

The cruise control was a bliss on the open highways.

Bad roads? No problem.

Few things which needs to be taken care off-

A slight rattle from the left side of the dashboard.

The O-ring of the turbo hose has got loosened and I could notice slight oil stain over there.

On the journey, I felt a minor knocking/hiccup twice or thrice while accelerating. Will get the injectors checked. After the injectors gave up during my Arunachal trip, this time I was super cautious about refueling. Whenever I saw a Reliance petrol bunk, I got the tank full. The Nexon and the Ecosport which drove along with me, had no such headaches during the trip.
God knows till when Renault will just keep on blaming the fuel quality.

Sharing few pics from the trip-

[SchrödingersCar]

Originally Posted by Samba

27,000 km update.

Duster is back from a 3,000 km road trip from Madhya Pradesh.

Attachment 2080280

Our route was Kolkata- Ambikapur- Jabalpur- Kanha - Bandhavgarh - Amarkantak - Sambalpur - Saranda - Kolkata.

Eagerly waiting for the travelogue as I am planning this trip myself!
Seems you were blessed with good sightings too.

[Samba]

Originally Posted by SchrödingersCar

Eagerly waiting for the travelogue as I am planning this trip myself!
Seems you were blessed with good sightings too.

Thanks, yes we spotted six tigers. Five tigers in one safari and a single one in another safari. Total we took five safaris in total. Out of five, we got tiger sightings in two.

Here is the link of the travelogue-

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/trave...h-kolkata.html (Forests, hills & more! Our road-trip to Madhya Pradesh from Kolkata)

[Samba]

Odo reads 29,000 km, & Duster is back from a 1265 km road trip from Puri

After the trip from MP, I have sent my car to the service center to address the following niggles.

The MP travelogue-
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/trave...h-kolkata.html (Forests, hills & more! Our road-trip to Madhya Pradesh from Kolkata)

Originally Posted by Samba

Few things which needs to be taken care off-

A slight rattle from the left side of the dashboard.

Rectified.

Originally Posted by Samba

The O-ring of the turbo hose has got loosened and I could notice slight oil stain over there.

The O-Ring has been replaced. Till now the oil seepage looks to be sorted. Driven 1300 km after replacing the O-Ring.

Originally Posted by Samba

On the journey, I felt a minor knocking/hiccup twice or thrice while accelerating. Will get the injectors checked.

Injector number 1 & 2 showed a increase in fuel back flow. 3 & 4 failed during my Arunachal trip. During the trip to Puri, the car performed fine, except a couple of times, when I felt a minor knocking while accelerating.

Will get these two injectors changed soon or maybe during the 30,000 km service which is due in next 500 km.

Gave my car for all these checkups during the last week of November. At that time, a winter camp was going on at Renault workshop, where they were giving discount on the paid jobs. There was a scratch on the driver side door, so took this opportunity and got it painted and got the car polished.

The work done was neat. Am satisfied.

The scratch-

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-...ml#post4566381 (Renault Duster AWD : An owner's point of view)

Got a couple of small gifts too for getting the works done during the winter camp.





I was a bit skeptical to take the car to Puri, as I was thinking the Injectors may give up. But by the assurance from my service center guys, I took the chance and the car performed well.

I was light on the accelerator and for the whole trip my cruising speed was between 90-110 km/hr. With A/C the car returned a mileage of 15 km/l.

Driving on sand-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uEHArsDov8

Got an opportunity to drive on loose sand on a sea beach near Puri.
Locals assured that, we the car gets stuck, we can get a tractor for recovery.

So took that calculated risk.

With 4wd lock and being very gentle on the accelerator the car was chugging along. A bit of more acceleration, car was digging in.



Managed a self recovery from this point by rocking the car with very gentle accelerator input, plus by digging the sand by hand & putting the floor mats beneath. Till now the tyre pressure was 30 psi.



At this point it was a climb up on loose sand. Here the grip was too low. With slight accelerator input car was stalling and when giving more input on the accelerator, it was digging in. So taking the car out got tricky. Locals asked whether to call a tractor or not. As the car was not stuck, I wanted to take some more attempts. A local chap told me, if we put some tree branches/small logs the car can come out & he was ready to get those for a meager amount of money, & I agreed.

In the beginning the car was refusing to climb the logs, so I got down and reduced the tyre pressure to 15 psi for the front tyres. With the reduced tyre pressure the car simply crawled over the logs and came out! Before putting the logs, I should have tried with 15 psi tyre pressure & see what happens!



Was happy, that the car was not stuck & the help of tractor was not required.

This was my first experience to drive on loose sand, & I didn't had any backup car too. I was with my family.

Few pics from the trip-

[Tgo]

Originally Posted by Samba

Managed a self recovery from this point by rocking the car with very gentle accelerator input, plus by digging the sand by hand & putting the floor mats beneath. Till now the tyre pressure was 30 psi.

Must have been a great feeling to experience the car slithering on the loose sand and finally getting it unstuck on its own power.

Even I am facing a slight rattle from the left side of the dashboard. Suspecting the dash-cam wire in the A-pillar or the wires under the dash behind the glove box. ASC is hopeless when addressing such concerns. The last time they said you have Off-road tyres installed.

Can you tell what was done in your case to stop the noise?

[Samba]

Originally Posted by Tgo

Must have been a great feeling to experience the car slithering on the loose sand and finally getting it unstuck on its own power.

Yes, that moment was a tense one, but the ending was a in a happy note. 'All's well that ends well'.

Originally Posted by Tgo

Even I am facing a slight rattle from the left side of the dashboard. Suspecting the dash-cam wire in the A-pillar or the wires under the dash behind the glove box. ASC is hopeless when addressing such concerns. The last time they said you have Off-road tyres installed.

Can you tell what was done in your case to stop the noise?

In my case, the cladding of the A- Pillar was loose. The guys at Renault opened the A-Pillar to route the Dashcam wire and they have not put it back properly. On bad roads, it was rattling. They just opened it and re-fixed it properly and the rattle was sorted.

[Samba]

Odo reads, 29,600 km & got the 30,000 km service done

Service update-

Injector no 1 & 2 had higher back flow - Replaced both the injectors under warranty. So now all 4 stock injectors in my car are changed.

Engine oil & oil filter replaced. (Synthetic oil from Castrol)

Diesel filter replaced. Though it was not scheduled at 30k service, I proactively got it changed.

Air filter replaced.

Differential oil replaced.

There was a faint sound while rotating the steering, it's now fixed. Still the service center guys told, they will change a sensor from the steering column under warranty. They will call me once the part arrives.

Tyre rotation done.

Total damage to pocket- Rs 9,500.

Post service, car is running great. The minor knocking, which I felt before is now gone with the new injectors.

The service was done at Renault Budgebudge & as-usual they were very cooperative and left no room for any complaints. Work done was neat & satisfactory.

The very next day after I got my car serviced, we had a Team-Bhp meet and a OTR session with Team Bhpians.

Sharing the pics & a video-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSE6xLJwlP0

With Arays famous Bong Duster

[Samba]

Odo reads 30,000 km in 2 years & 5 months.

Originally Posted by Samba

There was a faint sound while rotating the steering, it's now fixed. Still the service center guys told, they will change a sensor from the steering column under warranty. They will call me once the part arrives.

Got the steering angle sensor replaced under warranty. The sound is now gone.

Let me share an approximate details with cost of all the work done on this car, till date.

A list of parts changed under warranty-

4 injectors - The famous injector failure issues in Duster AWD. Approximately Rs 29,000 each

Fuel tank - Due to erratic behavior of the fuel meter. Approximately Rs 35,000

EGR- Renault suspected this for the coolant consumption issue, but it was not the culprit. Still replaced. Approximately Rs 13,000

Head Gasket- Renault suspected this for the coolant consumption issue, but it was not the culprit. Still replaced. Approximately Rs 7,000

Radiator & hose- The actual culprit was a minor crack in the radiator. The actual reason for the coolant consumption issue. Approximately Rs 7,000

Steering angle sensor- Due to a faint nose while rotating the steering wheel. Approximately Rs 8,500

Approx Rs- 1.80 - 1.90 Lac (FOC)

Parts replaced due to wear & tear-

Brake pads. Approximately Rs 4,400

Turbo hose O-Ring. Approximately Rs 600

Diesel filer while changing injectors on a trip. Approximately Rs 3,000

Approx Rs 8,000. (Paid by me).

General service.

10,000 km, 20,000 km & 30,000 km. Approximately Rs 10,000 per service.

Approx- Rs 30,000 (Paid by me).

Total money spent by me - Rs 38,000 approximately.

Cost per kilometre- Rs 1.26.

This will shoot up, once the battery & tyres will be replaced.

The above figures are a rough estimate. (For accurate amount, I need to recheck the detailed bills).

After 2 years, 5 months & 30,000 km

[Tgo]

Thanks for updating us on the expenses till date. Hope you're still enjoying the capabilities. The Kolkata meet pictures looked like a Gang of Dusters drive from the days when it used to be a thing.

Also heard that the "anytime warranty" is not being offered anymore for Dusters. Any news on that?

Originally Posted by Samba

Got the steering angle sensor replaced under warramty. The sound is now gone.

I have noticed this noise lately. It's like a metal brush being rubbed on a piece of metal. Heard occasionally when twirling the steering in low noise areas.

The part I guess is the clock-spring cum steering angle sensor and costs about 9K. Will wait till it fails, before replacing it since I am out of warranty.

[Samba]

32,000 km update, did a 1,300 km trip to Jharkhand this month

Link to the travelogue-
https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/trave...uster-awd.html (Kolkata -> Ranchi -> Patratu -> Netarhat -> Rajrappa -> Purulia in a Duster AWD)

Lets start with the negatives-

1) During the trip, on the return day, I noticed that the handbrake cable came off from it's clip and it was dangling.





2) While going to fix the cable when I went below the car, I noticed diesel spilled all over the fuel lines & on the outer surface of the diesel tank.



After returning from the trip, took the car to the service center.
Apart from these two issues, there was a slight rattle from the steering box.

All the 3 issues were resolved in a day.

The the diesel leak was identified as a wrong O-ring fitment, when the diesel tank was fixed, which eventually gave-up with time.

As rubber components are not covered under warranty, it was a paid job.

Damage to pocket- Rs 2,945.

All I have to say about Duster is, it's a good car, but has lots of niggles. If I want, I cant even sell it, as there is no other replacement for this car right now!
Hope Renault brings the Euro spec Duster with the 1.3L Turbo petrol and AWD soon!

Now the positives-

The car was rock stable at some crazy speed.

While taking a fast turn on the ghat roads, there were some sand right on the middle of the turn. This led the wheels to skid, but the EPS kicked in super fast & the AWD gave power to the rear wheel and controlled the car in seconds! I practically had to do nothing to regain the control! The electronics did a wonderful job. Impressed!

Nothing more to write about it's comfort.

Mileage I got was 12 km/L, which I feel was decent in respect to my heavy foot driving during this trip.

Installed a mobile holder finally! Brand - Amkette, bought from Amazon. Damage to pocket- Rs 1100. Till now satisfied with it. Let's see, how it holds up in the long run.



Sharing the pics-

Originally Posted by Tgo

Also heard that the "anytime warranty" is not being offered anymore for Dusters. Any news on that?

I inquired this last week, they told once the company/extended warranty expires, anytime warranty can be taken.

[Samba]

Odo crossed the 34,000 km mark & Duster is back from a 1,600 km trip from North Sikkim!

The travelogue-

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/trave...bond-cars.html (North Sikkim - A tale of snow, nature & three vagabond cars)

This time am happy to say, the Duster just performed flawlessly. The Himalayan terrain was its home ground. Be it snow, slush, inclines, boulders or whatever, the Duster just sailed over it.
Did some spirited driving on the hills too & it was fun.

Just enjoyed the car thoroughly during this trip.

This car threw a lot of tantrums to me, but this trip made me smile.

Duster is superb on snow. In deep snow, when there is less traction, the esp cuts power accordingly. On black ice, where there is no traction, If i keep the ESP off, the BTC kicks in and helped the car to get out by supplying power to the other wheel.

At places the snow rut was so deep, the skid plate was brushing against the snow and made its way forward.

Even cutting 6-8 inch deep snow and making its way through it was easy for the Duster.

Thoroughly impressed by its capability on snow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgElExaoh40

My first drive in snowfall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbPkc1DoHV0

Sharing the pics from the trip-

































& thoroughly serviced after the trip.

[Samba]

Odo reads 35,000 km

Its running niggle free. Nothing much to update.

Recently it rained heavily in Kolkata and the streets of Kolkata were badly water logged. Hatchbacks and sedans were struggling. The Duster just waded through the water like a boss!

Did a mileage test.

I drove for 70 km with AC on, ECO mode off and the speedometer not exceeding 80 km/hr with two people on board including the driver. This was tested 100% on the highway.
The average speed maintained was 65 km/hr.
Duster returned a phenomenal mileage of 24+ km/L!







& a shot during sunset.

[Tgo]

Originally Posted by Samba

Odo reads 35,000 km

Its running niggle free.

Good to hear from you.

Just wanted to check if you have shortlisted a brand of tyres for the Duster when the time comes. Wanted to hear your perspective, whether you would go for AT / HT tread and the brands would you prefer.

I believe you have another 10K of life left in the current set?

[Samba]

Originally Posted by Tgo

Good to hear from you.

Just wanted to check if you have shortlisted a brand of tyres for the Duster when the time comes. Wanted to hear your perspective, whether you would go for AT / HT tread and the brands would you prefer.

I believe you have another 10K of life left in the current set?

Hi Tgo,
I am targeting to change the tyres between 40-45k km mark. Car is nearing 3 years, so maybe the battery needs a change too! Am not sure, will get the battery health checked soon.

I am confused between two options-

First is to stick to MRF Wanderers HT and save money.
In this 35,000 km, these tyres actually did well. Have taken the car to OTR's, driven on mud, sand, snow. They have never let me down. Now post 30k, I can feel the tyres are loosing grip. Still with the AWD, these tyres held well on snow during my last trip to North Sikkim.

Sharing a couple of videos With 30k+ km old MRF wanderers HT-

Incase of more snow, using snow chain will be the safer option.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YApFCRvH9c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSE6xLJwlP0

I do not feel for 99% of the time, I will take my car for more extreme off-roads.

Second option is the Goodyear wrangler silent trac AT.
These will definitely be better on off-road conditions.

So will opt from any of the above options.
Brain says HT, heart says AT!
One thing am sure is, I will stick to the stock size. I wont go for an upsize.