1.6 PSA engine - looking at cars

demanufactured

Hi all.
Looking into cars for the missus and looking towards medium sized diesels.

The amount of cars that use the 1.6 psa engine is pretty big.
Have long done a bit of reading and through hearsay all accounts of this engine seem to be negative.

So I'm asking my boards brethren for personal experiences of use and reliability of the lump.
Are the horror stories true or just down to bad maintenance?
If I buy a car with this engine am I going to be sweeping up pieces if turbo off the road after 10k miles?

If you eliminate cars that use it it narrows car choice considerably.
She currently drives a 05 Citroën C4 1.4 petrol that is getting on a bit so want to get something 2010 - 2012.


So let's hear it...

NIMAN

Had a 2010 Focus 1.6 with it.
I had to replace an EGR valve on it around 2014.

Now own a 2013 Focus. No bother so far.

vandriver

I have a 05 C4 and pretty reliable apart from injector seals going.

punisher5112

If you get one that was well looked after should do you well but they are not able for any abuse or late servicing.

They aren't Tha economical either depending on type of driving.

mullingar

The 1.6 is a very good engine, but it's biggest problem is its owners, they simply do not tolerate poor servicing. It needs the correct oil on time.

The design changed in 2010 to an 8 valve design which has made them more immune to poor servicing and have proved well.

Audioslaven

Hi,

I had two cars with this engine.

I put 160,000KM on Citroen C5 from new and the only issue I had was the EGR value, which I blanked. Serviced every 10,000 KM.

The other a Mazda 3 which is also serviced every 10,000 KM and it has 154,000 KM. The only issue I have was the injectors leaking but this was done straight away.

Can't really fault the engine from my experience but I service regularly with the correct oil/filter from Mazda dealer.

lway

So far I've added 220,000 km to my 407 with this engine. Bought it with about 100,000 km already on the clock.

Issues during that time:
- Replaced clutch & flywheel - to be expected on high mileage cars.
- DPF replaced, got this done under warranty shortly after buying it from garage, had it cleaned out once since then by a garage. Some places can remove this altogether for you.
- One injector & seal replaced after it leaked.

Overall can't fault the engine but do service regularly, any issues I've had are to be expected on high mileage cars.

Mycroft H

200,000 plus miles on the aul lads 2006 C5 right now. Replaced the starter motor at about 160. I think there was an injector seal replaced but I can't remember for sure.

It has been looked after with the right type of oil.

ShadowHearth

When it comes to this engine it looks like it all boils down to who owned it before.

These engines need their servicing on the clock and need to be looked after, if you buy it brand new, then you are safe, if you buying second hand it becomes a gamble. You dont know how it was treated by previous owner. You might get lucky and get a car, which got serviced when needed or you could buy a car, which was driving to hell and back, without any maintenance. Problem is you cant trust majority of service histories you get from sellers.

halkar

Almost 300k km on my c4 from new. No problems. Only thing replaced was Egr thing once. Serviced regularly from the main dealer.

millington

Girlfriend had one last year. Gave DPF problems so got it removed, EGR also cocked up so got it mapped out. Needed glow plugs too but thats general maintenance. Injector seals were leaking on cylinders 2 & 3 aswell.

The engine itself seems as good/bad as any other modern diesel. DPF removal & EGR removal are both reasonably inexpensive fixes.

It is a bit underpowered though! :eek:

Mycroft H

125bhp in the C5. It's no rocket ship but it keeps up with traffic. Surprising amount of power round 120-140km mark for a small diesel.

lway

Mycroft H wrote: »

125bhp in the C5. It's no rocket ship but it keeps up with traffic. Surprising amount of power round 120-140km mark for a small diesel.

Surprised by that as it's 110bhp on my 2005 Pug 407, but can be re-mapped up to the 120's if you want (I looked into it once but didn't go ahead with it).

demanufactured

So going by people's experience here..It's looking like it's a viable engine for a new purchase ...hoping to stretch to a 2012 reg c4...some going for less than 10 k

Audioslaven

The engine is grand if looked after and serviced properly, just make sure you see receipts for it

Now I had a Citroen and I would never buy one again. Window regulators and wiper motors went on it and this really put me off it. In the end the steering rack started leaking so I said my goodbye.

I have no problem spending cash on the servicing but issues like window regulators and wiper motors going etc pissed me off to no end. I was wondering what next and I think these kind of items should last.

pete4130

I gave my Focus 1.6TDCi to my parents a few years ago before leaving the country.

It's always struggled to pass the smoke test for NCT and this year the turbo has blown and its lost a cylinder. Not worth the money to repair it. Car is pretty much fit for scrap.

punisher5112

pete4130 wrote: »

I gave my Focus 1.6TDCi to my parents a few years ago before leaving the country.

It's always struggled to pass the smoke test for NCT and this year the turbo has blown and its lost a cylinder. Not worth the money to repair it. Car is pretty much fit for scrap.

Was it serviced correctly and on time with correct oil.

mullingar

pete4130 wrote: »

I gave my Focus 1.6TDCi to my parents a few years ago before leaving the country.

It's always struggled to pass the smoke test for NCT and this year the turbo has blown and its lost a cylinder. Not worth the money to repair it. Car is pretty much fit for scrap.

What year?

JohnBoy26

punisher5112 wrote: »

Was it serviced correctly and on time with correct oil.

The older version of this engine can still blow turbos even when maintained correctly.

venomousfrog

Just sold a Volvo 1.6D yesterday with same engine, I bought the car last month for 3200 and sold yesterday for 2200, I bought a lemon, and over the last 4 weeks has caused me nothing but heartache. When I brought it to the mechanic he just looked at me and said '' Oh dear''..... the engine was butchered was looking at new engine etc ...... ive heard good stories about these engines but mainly horror stories. I will never buy a car with this engine again.

Zcott

I had the 90hp one in a 307 and my wife has the 110hp one in a 407. It's a bit underpowered for a big car like a 407SW, but for the 307 it was grand. Injector seals needed done around 140k, and the wife's one is at 128k.

grogi

venomousfrog wrote: »

Just sold a Volvo 1.6D yesterday with same engine, I bought the car last month for 3200 and sold yesterday for 2200, I bought a lemon, and over the last 4 weeks has caused me nothing but heartache. When I brought it to the mechanic he just looked at me and said '' Oh dear''..... the engine was butchered was looking at new engine etc ...... ive heard good stories about these engines but mainly horror stories. I will never buy a car with this engine again.

Yet still buying that Subaru?! Your judgement should really be questioned...

venomousfrog

Agreed, when it comes to diesel engines I'm just not in the know. Always had a petrol. Any diesel I had over the years has caused nothing but pain. But I'm trying to cut the bills by trying to get the best diesel I can with a 4k budget.

pete4130

punisher5112 wrote: »

Was it serviced correctly and on time with correct oil.

Servicing would have been done on time. It wasn't neglected.