This is the problem, currently we are discussing on polish Dacia Forum. It relates to many owners of Dacia vehicles with K9K engine. I have MCV with 1,5 dCi (K9K.7.96) and I noticed (as well as many others with 7.96 and 7.92) that during winter engine/coolant temperature indicator (LED) is only 2 bars, during spring 2-4 and during summer 4 bars. During colder days it may reach 4 bars after few minutes of driving with higher rpm values, by afterwards it may decrease.
Common sense prompts us that engine temperature should keep medium scale values despite winter or summer or style of driving.
Regarding the fact that temperature vs 8- bars scale relation is :
0 bars - temperature below 50 °C
2 bars = temperature from 50 to 80 °C
4 bras = temperature from 80 to 105 °C
6 bars = temperature from 105 to 115 °C
8 bars = temperature over 115 °C
We concluded that our engines are over-cooled, it rarely reaches temp. over 80 C (from my own experience – driving during winter is not comfortable in terms of thermal comfort). Some owners raised this problem to Dacia authorized service (warranty). A.S offered exchange of thermostat- but, we discovered that A.S. is allowed to put only thermostats which open at 83 C (ref. 8200558758 or 8200954288). On the other hand the are a lot of thermostats which were originally mounted in K9K engines (Renault, Nissan vehicles) which opens at 89 C (ref 8200039885, 8200244402, 8200248531 8200267349). So we concluded that it may source of problem -according to Dacia service technical manual – the correct thermostat for all Dacia vehicles is 89 C. Authorized Dacia Service in Poland is not able to explain this discrepancy so far. Funny, is not it ?
Some owners decided to change 83 C to 89 C by themselves (because Dacia A.S. refused - on warranty conditions) – and results are promising: 4 bars, warmer inside car and lower petrol consumption (a little bit).
My question are:
What kind of thermostat you have ?
What do you think about it ? What are experience in your countries in this field ?
Why Dacia- Renault decided to put 83 C thermostat to K9K.7.96/92 engines ?
Are there any reasonable causes for this ?
Is safe for engine to change this thermostat 83 C to 89 C (if yes which ref) ?