maintenance RENAULT ESPACE 2012 J81 / 4.G Owners Manual

Photo credit: Total/DPPI Imacom group
ELF has developed a complete range of lubricants for RENAULT:
f engine oils
f manual and automatic gearbox oils
Benefiting from the research applied to Formula 1,
lubricants are very high-tech products.
Updated with the help of RENAULT’s technical
teams, this range is perfectly compatible with the
specific features of the brand’s vehicles.
f ELF lubricants enhance
your vehicle’s performance significantly.
RENAULT recommends approved ELF lubricants for oil changes and top-ups.
Contact your RENAULT Dealer or visit www.lubrifiants.elf.com
Warning: to ensure the engine operates optimally, the use
of a lubricant may be restricted to certain vehicles. Please
refer to your maintenance document.
RENAULT recommends ELF

Une marque de

0.3
ENG_UD10779_7
Sommaire Général (X06 - C06 - S06 - X35 - L35 - X44 - C44 - G44 -\
X45 - H45 - X65 - L65 - S65 - X73 - B73 - X74 - B74 - K74 - X77 - J77 -\
F77 - R77 - X81 - J81 - X84 -
ENG_NU_932-3_X81ph3_Renault_0
Getting to know your vehicle ...............................
Driving
...................................................................
Your comfort .........................................................
Maintenance .........................................................
Practical advice ....................................................
Technical specifications ......................................
Alphabetical index ...............................................
Sections
1
C O N T E N T S
2
3
4
5
6
7

1.56
ENG_UD25538_2
Ordinateur de bord : paramètres de voyage (X81 - J81 - Renault)
ENG_NU_932-3_X81ph3_Renault_1
Jaune NoirNoir texte
TrIP cOMPUTer: trip settings (3/4)
The display of information shown below dePends On THe VeHIcLe eQUIPMenT and cOUnTrY.
examples of selections Interpreting the display selected
SERVICE DUE
c) Oil change interval Distance remaining until the next oil change (displayed in miles/kilometres and
months), then when the time nears, several scenarios are possible:
–
distance/time remaining less than 900 miles (1,500 km) or one month: the mes-
sage “oil change due” is displayed;
–
distance/time remaining 0 km/milesor service date reached : the message
“change oil soon” is displayed, accompanied by the
Ê and ú warning lights.
The vehicle requires an oil change as soon as possible.
nB: depending on the vehicle, the interval between oil changes varies according to the driving style (frequent driving at low
speed, door-to-door journeys, extensive use at idle speed, towing a trailer etc.). The distance remaining until the next oil change
can therefore decrease more quickly in some cases than the actual distan\
ce travelled.
The oil change intervals are independent of the vehicle’s maintenance schedule: please refer to your vehicle’s Maintenance
Service Booklet.
resetting: to reset the oil change interval, press and hold one of the display reset buttons for approximately 10 seconds until
the display shows the interval permanently.

ignition switch ........................................................ (current page)
starting the engine ................................................. (current page)
running in ............................................................... (current page)
driving ................................................... (up to the end of the DU)
2.2
ENG_UD25549_3
Rodage (X81 - Renault)
ENG_NU_932-3_X81ph3_Renault_2
Running in
RUNNING IN
– Petrol version
For the first 600 miles (1,000 km), do
not exceed 78 mph (130 km/h) in the
highest gear, or 3,000 to 3,500 rpm.
You may only expect top performance
from your vehicle after 1,800 miles
(3,000 km).
Service intervals: please refer to your
vehicle’s maintenance document. –
Diesel version
For the first 900 miles (1,500 km) ,
do not exceed 2,500 rpm. After com -
pleting this mileage you may drive
faster, although you may only expect
top performance after approximately
3,600 miles (6,000 km).
During the running in period, do not ac-
celerate hard while the engine is still
cold and do not let the engine over-rev.
Service intervals: please refer to your
vehicle’s maintenance document.

2.6
ENG_UD13142_3
Particularités des versions essence (X45 - H45 - X95 - B95 - D95 - R\
enault)
ENG_NU_932-3_X81ph3_Renault_2
Special features of petrol versions
SPEcIAL FEATURES OF PETROL vERSIONS
Do not park the vehicle or
run the engine in locations
where combustible sub -
stances or materials such
as grass or leaves can come into
contact with the hot exhaust system.
The following operating conditions
should be avoided:
– driving for long periods when the low
fuel level warning light is lit up,
– using leaded petrol,
– using fuel or lubrication additives
which are not approved.
Or operating faults such as:
– faulty ignition system, running out of
fuel or disconnected spark plugs re-
sulting in the engine misfiring or cut-
ting out when driving;
– loss of power,
may cause the catalytic converter to
overheat, reducing its efficiency which
may irreparably damage it and cause
heat damage to the vehicle. If you notice any of the above operating
faults, have the necessary repairs car-
ried out as soon as possible by an ap-
proved dealer.
These faults may be avoided by regu
-
larly taking your vehicle to an approved
Dealer at the intervals specified in the
Maintenance Service Booklet.
Starting problems
To avoid damaging the catalytic con -
verter, do not keep trying to start the
engine (using the start button, or by
pushing or towing the vehicle) without
having identified and corrected the
cause of the fault.
If the fault cannot be identified, do not
continue to try and start the engine, but
contact an approved dealer.

fuel economy ........................................ (up to the end of the DU)
driving ................................................... (up to the end of the DU)
fuel advice on fuel economy .................. (up to the end of the DU)
antipollution advice ............................................. (up to the end of the DU)
advice on antipollution .......................... (up to the end of the DU)
2.12
ENG_UD20368_1
Conseils antipollution, économies de carburant, conduite (X81 - J81 \
- Renault)ENG_NU_932-3_X81ph3_Renault_2
Jaune NoirNoir texte
Advice on antipollution and fuel economy
ADvIcE: antipollution, fuel economy and driving
Maintenance
It is important to remember that failure to
respect antipollution regulations could
lead to legal action being taken against
the vehicle owner. In addition, replacing
engine, fuel supply system and exhaust
components with parts other than those
originally recommended by the manu -
facturer may alter your vehicle so that
it no longer complies with antipollution
regulations.
Have your vehicle adjusted and
checked by an approved Dealer, in ac-
cordance with the instructions given
in your Maintenance Service Booklet:
they will have all the equipment nec -
essary for ensuring that your vehicle is
maintained to its original standard.
Engine adjustments– ignition: this does not require ad -
justment.
– spark plugs: for optimum fuel econ-
omy, efficiency and performance
the specifications laid down by our
Design Department must be strictly
applied.
If the spark plugs have to be
changed, use the make, type and
gap specified for your vehicle’s
engine. Contact an approved dealer
for this.
– idle: this does not require adjust -
ment.
– air filter, diesel filter: a clogged ele-
ment reduces performance. It must
be replaced.
Your vehicle complies with criteria for
recycling and recovering vehicles at the
end of their service life which will come
into force in 2015.
Some parts of your vehicle have there-
fore been designed to facilitate future
recycling.
These parts are easy to remove so
that they can be recovered and reproc-
essed by recycling companies.
By virtue of its design, moderate fuel
consumption and initial settings, your
vehicle also conforms to current anti
-
pollution regulations. The manufac -
turer is actively striving to reduce pol -
lutant exhaust gas emissions and to
save energy. But the fuel consumption
of your vehicle and the level of pollutant
exhaust gas emissions are also your
responsibility. Ensure that it is main -
tained and used correctly.

environment .......................................... (up to the end of the DU)
2.15
ENG_UD25716_1
Environnement (sans marque) (X44 - X45 - X77 - X81 - X85 - X90 - X91 \
- X83 - X61 - TEST - X95 - J95 - R95 - F90 Ph2 - X33 - X47 - X43 - X38 - H79 - X62 - X32 -\
X09 -
ENG_NU_932-3_X81ph3_Renault_2
Environment
ENvIRONMENT
Emissions
Your vehicle has been designed to emit
fewer greenhouse gases (CO2) while in
use, and therefore to consume less fuel
(eg. 140 g/km, equivalent to 5.3 l/100
km for a diesel vehicle).
Our vehicles are also equipped with a
particle filter system including a cata -
lytic converter, an oxygen sensor and
an active carbon filter (the latter pre -
vents vapour from the fuel tank being
released into the open air).
For certain diesel vehicles, this system
also has a particle filter to reduce the
volume of soot particles emitted.
Please make your own
contribution towards
protecting the environment
too
– Worn parts replaced in the course of
routine vehicle maintenance (vehi -
cle battery, oil filter, air filter, batter -
ies, etc.) and oil containers (empty or
filled with used oil) must be disposed
of through specialist organisations. –
At the end of the vehicle’s service
life, it should be sent to approved
centres to ensure that it is recycled.
– In all cases, comply with local legis -
lation.
Recycling
Your vehicle is 85% recyclable and
95% recoverable.
To achieve these objectives, many of
the vehicle components have been de-
signed to enable them to be recycled.
The materials and structures have
been carefully designed to allow these
components to be easily removed and
reprocessed by specialist companies.
In order to preserve raw material re -
sources, this vehicle incorporates nu -
merous parts made from recycled plas-
tics or renewable materials (vegetable
or animal-derived materials such as
cotton or wool).
Your vehicle has been designed with
respect for the
environment in mind for
its entire service life: during production,
use and at the end of its life.
This commitment is illustrated by the
Renault eco² signature.Manufacture
Your vehicle has been manufactured at
an factory which uses a progress policy
to reduce the environmental impact on
the surrounding area and nature (re -
duction of water and energy consump-
tion, visual and noise pollution, atmos-
pheric emissions and waste water,
sorting and reusing waste).

air conditioning ...................................................... (current page)
heating system ...................................................... (current page)
air conditioning ...................................................... (current page)
temperature regulation .......................................... (current page)
ventilation .............................................................. (current page)
heating and air conditioning system ...................... (current page)
3.25
ENG_UD11274_2
Air conditionné : informations et conseils d’utilisation (X81 - R\
enault)
ENG_NU_932-3_X81ph3_Renault_3
AIR CONDITIONING: information and advice on use
Fuel consumption
You will normally notice an increase
in fuel consumption (especially
when driving in town) when the air
conditioning is operating.
For vehicles fitted with manual air
conditioning, switch off the system
when it is not required.
Advice for reducing consumption
and therefore helping to preserve
the environment:
Drive with the air vents open and
the windows closed.
If the vehicle has been parked in
the sun, open the doors for a few
moments to let the hot air escape
before starting the engine.
Maintenance
Refer to the Maintenance Service
Booklet for your vehicle for the in -
spection frequency.Vehicles fitted with an auxiliary
heater
Some vehicles are fitted with an
auxiliary heater which heats the pas-
senger compartment more quickly.
This device operates only when
the engine is running and in cold
weather.
When the device is functioning you
can normally see a small amount of
smoke on the right-hand side of the
vehicle coming from the heater’s ex-
haust system.Operating faults
As a general rule, contact your ap-
proved dealer in the event of an op-
erating fault.
– Reduction in de-icing, demist -
ing or air conditioning per -
formance. This may be caused
by the passenger compartment
filter cartridge becoming clogged.
– No cold air is being produced.
Check that the controls are set
correctly and that the fuses are
sound. Otherwise, switch off the
system.
Do not open the refriger -
ant fluid circuit. The fluid
may damage eyes or skin.
Notes
Presence of water under the ve -
hicle. After prolonged use of the air
conditioning system, it is normal for
water to be present under the vehi-
cle. This is caused by condensation.
Do not add anything to the
vehicle’s ventilation circuit
(for example, to remove
bad odours).
There is a risk of damage or of
fire.

4.1
ENG_UD25603_4
Sommaire 4 (X81 - J81 - Renault)
ENG_NU_932-3_X81ph3_Renault_4
Section 4: Maintenance
Bonnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2
Engine oil level/Engine oil change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.4
Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.8
coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.8
power-assisted steering pump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.9
brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.10
windscreen/headlight washer reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.11
Filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.11
Tyre pressure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.12
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.13
Bodywork maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.14
Interior trim maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.16

maintenance:mechanical ...................................... (up to the end of the DU)
engine oil .............................................. (up to the end of the DU)
dipstick.................................................. (up to the end of the DU)
levels .................................................... (up to the end of the DU)
engine oil level ...................................... (up to the end of the DU)
4.4
ENG_UD20407_1
Niveau huile moteur : généralités (X81 - J81 - Renault)
ENG_NU_932-3_X81ph3_Renault_4
Jaune NoirNoir texte
Engine oil level/Engine oil change
enGIne oIL LeVeL: general information
It is normal for an engine to use oil for
lubrication and cooling of moving parts
and it is normal to top up the level be-
tween oil changes. However, contact
your approved Dealer if more than
0.5 litres is being consumed every
600 miles (1,000 km) after the running
in period.
o il change frequency: check the oil
level from time to time and always
before any long journey to avoid the
risk of damaging your engine.
Reading the oil levelThe vehicle must be parked on level
ground and the engine should have
been stopped for a long time before -
hand to obtain an accurate reading.
Always use the dipstick to check the
exact oil level and ensure that the
maximum level is not exceeded (risk
of engine damage): refer to the infor-
mation on “Engine oil level/Topping-up/
Filling” on the following pages.
The instrument panel display only
alerts the driver when the oil level is at
its minimum.
Reading the level on the instrument
panel
When the ignition is switched on:
If the level is above the minimum, the
display indicates ‘Oil level OK’: mes -
sage 1.
For more information: press button 3.
The squares which appear on the dis -
play indicate the level. These squares
disappear as the oil level drops and
they are replaced by dashes.If the level is at the minimum, the ‘Top
Up Oil Level’ message appears on the
display. The squares are replaced by
dashes: message 2.
Indicator light
ú comes on at the
same time.
It is vital to top up the oil as soon as
possible.
The display only warns the
driver if the oil level is at the
minimum level. It does not
inform the driver that the oil
level has exceeded the maximum
level as this can only be measured
using a dipstick.
24091Message 1
Level above
minimum
24159Message 2
Minimum level3