A few notes about the Renault Espace IV (2002- ):
Engine Oil
For this particularly vehicle, Renault list a number of specifications for engine oil which should be covered by a number of Comma products. With the number of differing specifications depending on year and engine size, you need to make sure you get the right product for the vehicle you are servicing.
Although most engines in this Espace have quite large sumps, with service intervals varying up to 12500 miles, oil top up between services can be critical. Supplying the customer with a top up pack and reminding them that they should be checking the engine oil regularly (see vehicle handbook for guidance) might also be prudent here particularly if you have noticed that the oil needed topping up when it was brought in. A quick check before you change might be a good way of reinforcing the importance of top up to the customer. Combined with longer service intervals and the increased use of sensitive components like turbochargers, a smaller sump size makes checking your oil more critical than ever before.
Brake Fluid
Renault use one or two specifications for brake fluid for this era of Espace and again you need to identify which product is suitable for the vehicle you are servicing.
Most people don’t think of brake fluid as a service item however, in contrast with many other manufacturers, Renault specify a change interval of 48 months for this Espace. Brake fluid degrades over time by absorbing water from the atmosphere (even when it is apparently sealed inside the system) which lowers its boiling point. Boiling point is a critical factor in brake fluid performance because of the amount of heat generated during braking. If the boiling point of the fluid is too low then continuous or hard braking may cause the brake fluid to vaporise which in turn can result in a loss of hydraulic pressure within the system. The message here is that brake fluid is a safety critical item so check and change when specified – don’t assume that it will just be OK.
Power Steering Fluid
Renault use one or two specifications for power steering fluid for this Espace and again you need to identify which product is suitable for the vehicle you are servicing.
Coolant
Xstream G30 is the recommended product for this Espace, as it is for all recent Renault vehicles. Note that Renault use their own yellow coloured coolant – this is an OAT based product (like Xstream G30) and so mixing the two may produce an unusual colour – this should not affect the performance of the coolant as the chemistry of them will be very similar.
Transmission
For this particular Espace, Renault use a range of transmissions that includes mostly manuals but also some automatic alternatives. As well as different fluid requirements, change intervals and capacities will vary depending on the type of transmission so we would advise you to consult the handbook to ensure that you get the right product for the vehicle you are servicing.
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