Would value your experienced opinions on this.
My 2012 200 is going in for its four year service. As much as it pains me, I will use Renault as it's still covered by the 4+ service package it came with, therefore the service is free. I'm aware the schedule calls for the coolant and brake fluid to be changed at this service.
Having done some reading around the usual gearbox woes, difficulty to engage first gear when cold, syncro crunching etc. I was thinking about applying as much preventative servicing as possible during its life. The gearbox oil was changed about 1000 miles ago to Elf NFP, which I think made a huge amount of difference to its feel and ability to select gears when cold. It's a low mileage car having done about 6000 miles from new. It's never been tracked and not been driven hard enough to boil the brake fluid/soften the brake pedal feel. It's just the four/five year old fluid that could begin to cause issues.
Many people write about the clutch being worth bleeding if gears are tricky to engage when cold, as the fluid in the clutch master/slave and circuit will degrade over time as hydroscopic fluid does. The clutch seems fine to me, but from cold even with new 'box oil I have to be very gentle with it (sometimes doubling the clutch or selecting another gear), moving to be more forceful once and a while; like in winter.
I'm aware the brake and clutch system share the same reservoir (therefore the same ageing fluid), but understand there are two separate brake and clutch circuits and master cylinders. Correct?
i) If two separate circuits, does this mean the fluid in the clutch circuit always remains separate from brake circuit?
ii) If the fluid in the clutch circuit remains separate and isn't exposed to a hard life does it really need bleeding/changing? (Renault don't do it as part of the service)
iii) Should I even bother having it bled as I've read it can easily be screwed up (this is Renault we're talking about here, not a good indy).
iv) Do you think it would just be good practice to bleed the entire system (both brake and clutch) when the fluid is being changed?
It would seem sensible to bleed the clutch and get new fluid in the circuit if you ask me. Otherwise, either the four year old fluid mixes with the new if the circuits aren't separate, or the clutch circuit keeps the ever ageing fluid in it, until the clutch needs replacing or someone decides to do it.
Thoughts?
My 2012 200 is going in for its four year service. As much as it pains me, I will use Renault as it's still covered by the 4+ service package it came with, therefore the service is free. I'm aware the schedule calls for the coolant and brake fluid to be changed at this service.
Having done some reading around the usual gearbox woes, difficulty to engage first gear when cold, syncro crunching etc. I was thinking about applying as much preventative servicing as possible during its life. The gearbox oil was changed about 1000 miles ago to Elf NFP, which I think made a huge amount of difference to its feel and ability to select gears when cold. It's a low mileage car having done about 6000 miles from new. It's never been tracked and not been driven hard enough to boil the brake fluid/soften the brake pedal feel. It's just the four/five year old fluid that could begin to cause issues.
Many people write about the clutch being worth bleeding if gears are tricky to engage when cold, as the fluid in the clutch master/slave and circuit will degrade over time as hydroscopic fluid does. The clutch seems fine to me, but from cold even with new 'box oil I have to be very gentle with it (sometimes doubling the clutch or selecting another gear), moving to be more forceful once and a while; like in winter.
I'm aware the brake and clutch system share the same reservoir (therefore the same ageing fluid), but understand there are two separate brake and clutch circuits and master cylinders. Correct?
i) If two separate circuits, does this mean the fluid in the clutch circuit always remains separate from brake circuit?
ii) If the fluid in the clutch circuit remains separate and isn't exposed to a hard life does it really need bleeding/changing? (Renault don't do it as part of the service)
iii) Should I even bother having it bled as I've read it can easily be screwed up (this is Renault we're talking about here, not a good indy).
iv) Do you think it would just be good practice to bleed the entire system (both brake and clutch) when the fluid is being changed?
It would seem sensible to bleed the clutch and get new fluid in the circuit if you ask me. Otherwise, either the four year old fluid mixes with the new if the circuits aren't separate, or the clutch circuit keeps the ever ageing fluid in it, until the clutch needs replacing or someone decides to do it.
Thoughts?
