WHICH ENGINE for an 04-07 C5?

[Richard Stevens]

Just had a bad experience with the 1.6HDI in my now dead C5 - a big end went after 75000 miles.
The last time this happened to me was with my Standard Vanguard in 1961!
I've heard that this is not unique on the 1.6 engine. I was also not getting the expected mpg, despite (I thought) fairly sensible driving.

My Xantia had the 2.0 litre 110bhp engine. Is the C5 a better car with the 2.0 DOHC engine?
I have been advised that they all have the DPF fitted these days (EURO 4), and I know it's removable.
I hate to say so , but I am thinking of looking elsewhere........which would be a pity as I have really enjoyed my Citroens.

Would welcome any comments (about the engines!).

Cheers guys

[vibes]

Petrol V6 of course, to h*ll with fuel economy! Let's get this global warming thing going on so we don't have to freeze our behinds here in the north

But seriously. Big car needs a big engine and as far as I know that V6 is solid apart from a few minor things like ignition coils and VVT solenoids.

[Citroenmad]

I doubt going from a 1.6HDi to a V6 is an option, even if you were getting below the stated average MPG

If your looking for a C5II which are from 2004-2007, then the only engine to look at is the 2.0HDi 16v 138. This is a superb engine, very few reported problems and they economy they give is excellent, better than the 2.0HDi 8v 110. Mine has averaged 50MPG, which I think it brilliant. More can be had very easily.

The only other engine I would consider is the 2.2 16v 173bhp. I wouldnt go for the early 2.2 136 HDi, which are normally autos in the C5II anyway. The 173, has some advances on the 136 and seems to be as reliable as the 138 2.0HDI.

To get the 2.0HDi 110 from your Xantia in a C5 you would need to be looking at C5s from 2001-2004. Its a very reliable unit, no DPF was fitted to any model year with this engine.

It would be a shame to be put off Citroens due to a bad experience. Id recommend the 2.0 138 16v

[CitroJim]

Petrol V6 of course, to h*ll with fuel economy!

Funny that as the V6 is a very economical proposition really. OK, I know mine's in a Xantia but 35mpg is the norm on a run so long as you keep your mitts off the sport button! Running costs are no different to any other engine really.

And as solid as a rock reliability-wise. Ignition coils are, I agree a potential but not heard any reports of the VVT solenoids going. Not that it's a problem on mine - it hasn't got any...

The V6 is an excellent engine all over. Second only (by a very small margin) to the very excellent 2.0 HDi 8V

[vibes]

Well, my driving is 95 percent city streets and traffic lights, 15 litres per 100 km. Doesn't matter though because I just love that car. On the road V6 is indeed quite ok economically.

[Richard Stevens]

A great response! Mr. Vibes, carry on with your V6 and good luck (enjoy!), but with the miles I have to do it's just got to be economical.
I actually got better mpg from my Xantia than from the C5 with the 1.6HDI, which I think was working a bit too hard.
The 2.0HDI with 138 horses and a 6-speed box sounds like it would be working less hard and therefore easier to check its thirst.
I love the comfort and smooth ride and don't really want to change, but I'm going to try the Octavia - see what the ride and comfort are like. Keep you posted.....

Thanks a lot
RS

[Citroenmad]

The 2.0HDi 138 6 speed is very long legged. 3,000rpm is 100mph and it will sit there all day long. MPG at 70-80 is over 50mpg. I much prefer the engine to the 2.0HDi 8v for the drive it gives. The 2.0HDi 8v is a superb engine and does without DPF and DMF on Xantia.

[Northern_Mike]

Petrol V6 of course, to h*ll with fuel economy!

Funny that as the V6 is a very economical proposition really. OK, I know mine's in a Xantia but 35mpg is the norm on a run so long as you keep your mitts off the sport button!

and your foot off the accelerator...



Actually, they're not so bad as that, I got over 33mpg out of mine on a long run, but I did get it as low as 13mpg on a couple of trips to work...

[Peter.N.]

I think the 8 valve 2.0. is the best all round, very good economy and the simplest of the lot, no DPF. Avoid the early 2.2 the fuel consumption is rubbish.

Peter

[Northern_Mike]

I think the 8 valve 2.0. is the best all round, very good economy and the simplest of the lot, no DPF. Avoid the early 2.2 the fuel consumption is rubbish.

Peter

I believe the 2.0 8v fitted to the C5 has some DPF nonsense fitted to it? I don't know if mine does, I don't know where it is, or how to get rid of it if it does! I believe that it goes better without it. Mine goes ok, but seems to suffer from turbo lag in a way the Xantia didn't. I wonder if the presence of this DPF thing is related to that?

[oneday]

no dpf on the 2.0 hdi 110 8v it was on the 2.2 and on the 2.0 hdi 16v facelift model

[Northern_Mike]

no dpf on the 2.0 hdi 110 8v it was on the 2.2 and on the 2.0 hdi 16v facelift model

My mistake, I do, of course, mean EGR valve, not DPF or FAP.. not driving modern cars too often means all this diesel filtration stuff is a confusing mystery to me!

[oneday]

mike i think it is to most of us nowdays

[CitroJim]

mike i think it is to most of us nowdays

I'll second that All the stuff on modern cars really gives me the heebie jeebies

[Peter.N.]

Unfortunately I think they all have EGR valves now amongst all the other rubbish, but you can get a can of EGR cleaner off ebay for not to much money which seems to work quite well.

Peter