C3 Picasso - 1.6 HDi 8v

[FranceCelt]

Hi Folks - long-time lurker, but first ever post!

I live in Western France (where cars are hugely expensive!!). My partner is interested in a C3 Picasso from 2010. I've heard all about the reliability problems of the 1.6 HDi engines, but this one seems to be an 8v version with no FAP - not sure if that's a French spec or not.... Car is a Comfort trim level.

My question is - am I correct that this could be an 8v engine, and if so how reliable are these compared to the earlier 16v models?

Thanks for all your help!

EDITED TO ADD - it's a 90 version, not the 110

David

[Hell Razor5543]

Hello, and to the Forum. If you can get the VIN and post it up here (it will be obscured so only Forum staff can read it) a Moderator can look up what she had when she rolled out of the factory.

[FranceCelt]

Thanks for the reply, and the welcome!

Sadly the car is at the local dealer, so I'd need to pop back and ask them for a look at it...

[GiveMeABreak]

My question is - am I correct that this could be an 8v engine, and if so how reliable are these compared to the earlier 16v models?

Thanks for all your help!

David

David - if you have the registration, let me know and I'll be able to get the VIN from that, then I'll mask the reg.

[FranceCelt]

It's a French reg - would that work?

[Paul-R]

Even French registrations?

EDIT: Snap!

[teuski]

2010 is a 16V for sure. It might fool you because only one camshaft is driven by the belt and there is a chain inside to drive the other. Thst is one of the weak points of the 16V version. The 8V SOHC DV6C/D came in 2011 and is marked as "HDi 112“ instead of the older 110.

Seems like all knowledge on this forum is associated with VIN numbers. I don't know about the UK but here in Finland we're not so shy about our registrations and VIN's and using the free Citroën Service web page is not such a mystery

[GiveMeABreak]

We do this to cut down on all the misinformation
To save pages of posts guessing and time wasting
It also saves occasional users with occasional queries in going through unnecessary processes
it helps people which is why we are here and helps us with future queries the user may have

I don’t know what your problem is, but this is the second post you have been critical of this forum, and serves no useful purpose to be honest.

[FranceCelt]

2010 is a 16V for sure. It might fool you because only one camshaft is driven by the belt and there is a chain inside to drive the other. Thst is one of the weak points of the 16V version. The 8V SOHC DV6C/D came in 2011 and is marked as "HDi 112“ instead of the older 110.

Seems like all knowledge on this forum is associated with VIN numbers. I don't know about the UK but here in Finland we're not so shy about our registrations and VIN's and using the free Citroën Service web page is not such a mystery

It's not a 110 it's a 90. Does the same still apply?

[GiveMeABreak]

It's a French reg - would that work?

No, not for French registered vehicles unfortunately, but the VIN will confirm if you get the chance. In the U.K., the 2009 brochure had 3 HDi 16V engines, so it depends exactly on the build date, which is another reason why we ask for it to eliminate the guesswork.

Your vehicle could of course be a late registered 2009 vehicle.

[teuski]

It's not a 110 it's a 90. Does the same still apply?

Yes, the 8V version is "92".

[FranceCelt]

Am I right in thinking that the 16v versions are bad news? The car has done about 190k kilometres. I've not yet looked into its history re turbos etc.

[teuski]

Am I right in thinking that the 16v versions are bad news? The car has done about 190k kilometres. I've not yet looked into its history re turbos etc.

I thought that too, but now that i've had a C3 Picasso 1.6 HDi110 16V for a year with around 250k on the clock i can only say i like it and have had none of the feared problems. Turbo etc. are all original.
After i got it with around 220k i had the ecu remapped with more power and torque. The result is more power and low-end torque for smoother driving and less problems with the stuff that is no longer in use 5th gear is now good from around 60km/h on.

Most problems are related to oil. The oil pan is shaped so that when you drain it, there will be a lot of oil left in the pan. Some people use suction via the dipstick tube but for some reason Citroen discourages that. One rather straightforward solution is to invert the bulge of the drain plug like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajFe-Jqkt8w

Frequent oil changes with correct oil is important for preventing the accumulation of oil sludge. There is also a small filter in the turbo oil feed pipe in the turbo end banjo bolt (iirc) that could be clogged with sludgy oil. It can be removed, but then it won't guard the turbo from particles in oil.

[FranceCelt]

I've got the reg number, and stuck it into a couple of online parts sites to see what engine code they reckon it has. Both seem to suggest it has the DV6ATED4 engine. Am I right in thinking this is the original 16v engine?

I think there is every possibility that the engine could be fine, but with the horror stories I'd rather buy a slightly newer one, especially at te price of cars over here. It's not a £500 banger like I normally buy, so I'm a bit skittish.....

[GiveMeABreak]

The DV6ATED4 engine is a 16V engine, We have one in an earlier C3 and it has been utterly reliable - regular servicing is key and earlier oil changes than the specified intervals help.