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Autopapyrus · Renault Dokker 1.5 dCi K9K 90 hp (2012)
https://autopapyrus.com/guides/renault/dokker/cylinder-head-bolt-tightening/
Compiled automatically from service literature and owner experience. Specs are for the typical configuration — check them against your exact car before you start.

Renault Dokker 1.5 dCi K9K 90 hp (2012): Cylinder Head Bolt Tightening

On the 90 hp K9K, the cylinder head is held down by ten bolts in two rows of five. Tightening is done in several passes with an angle turn, working from the center of the head outward. Head bolts are single-use: they must be replaced whenever they are removed.

Exact torque and angle values for the K9K vary between publicly available sources (different engine versions, different bolt manufacturers). So the general procedure is given below with ranges. Take the final figures from the instruction sheet in the new bolt set or from the Renault service data for your engine.

Difficulty: Hard Time: 1-2 hours for tightening; the full head gasket replacement takes 1-2 days Steps: 10

Parts

2
№PartAlternatives
01 Cylinder head bolt set for K9K (10 pcs, M11, Torx, single-use)
02 Cylinder head gasket for K9K Elring, Victor Reinz, Payen

Tools

6
  • 20-60 N·m (15-44 lb-ft) torque wrench
  • angle gauge or protractor
  • Torx socket (E14, matched to the bolt head size)
  • extension
  • marker
  • clean rags

Step by step

10 steps
  1. Preparation. Clean the mating surfaces of the block and head without scratching them, using a plastic or wooden scraper. Blow out the bolt holes in the block and clean out any oil and coolant. Liquid in the threaded holes can crack the block when the bolts are tightened.
  2. Gasket. Choose the gasket by thickness (marked by notches or holes). Determine the thickness from the piston protrusion measurement and the marking on the old gasket, not by eye. Install the gasket dry, without sealant, with the marking facing up. It is located by the dowel sleeves in the block.
  3. Installing the head and bolts. Lower the head onto the dowels. Unless the bolt manufacturer says otherwise, lightly lubricate the threads and the underside of the bolt heads with engine oil, then screw in all 10 bolts by hand until the washers make contact.
  4. Tightening sequence. Tighten in a spiral from the center outward: first the two center bolts, then outward in both directions in turn, alternating between the rows. Use this sequence on every pass. Check the bolt numbering against the diagram on the instruction sheet in the set.
  5. Pass 1, initial torque. Tighten all bolts evenly, typically 20-30 N·m (15-22 lb-ft) (a guideline only; use the exact value from the instruction sheet in the set).
  6. Pass 2, if required. Some sets require you to loosen the bolts and repeat the initial tightening. Do this only if the instructions in the set call for it.
  7. Pass 3, angle turn. Next, turn the bolts through an angle, following the same spiral. For the K9K, sources give values from 90-95° up to 270° in total, depending on the engine generation and the set. Take the angle strictly from the instructions for your bolts. Turn smoothly, without jerking, using an angle gauge. For checking, use a marker to put marks on the bolt head and on the cylinder head.
  8. If the instructions require the angle turn in two stages (for example, 90° and then another 90°), do each stage as a separate pass over the whole sequence, not one bolt all the way at a time.
  9. Further reassembly. Install the timing belt, tensioner and idler pulley, aligning the timing marks. Replace the timing belt and water pump if they are near the end of their service life. Tighten the remaining fasteners to specification. Top up the coolant and oil, and bleed the air from the cooling system.
  10. Re-tightening after a break-in period is usually not needed for modern gaskets with single-use bolts. If the instructions in the set call for it, do it on a cold engine.

Common mistakes and warnings

  • Do not reuse old head bolts: they stretch and will not provide the required clamping force
  • Do not exceed the specified angle, or the bolt or the threads in the block may fail
  • Do not tighten on an engine with brake fluid, oil or coolant in the threaded holes
  • If you have no experience with cylinder head work and setting the valve timing accurately, leave the job to a repair shop