Concerned about reliability

[Jero]

Hello there. This is my first post, but i have been watching this site since last year. I have a 2011 Ds3 THP with 27 000 kms on the clock. I bought it july 2013m I really love this car, but im kind of the pesimistic type. Im really concerned about the engine reliability. Do you think my worries are in vain ? Or i did a mistake by buying this car ? I notice every odd sound on the car and freak out somethimes. Trough the winter the car made a weird sound sometimes when it was really cold and i started it up. The car is okay, except im having some oil drinkage problems. The car was serviced on 20. 000 km, then around 24 000 kms i had the low oil warning light. I freaked out badly. I took it to the dealer/mechanic and they topped it up and checked the car. They didnt find out nothing and the guy said, when there is more than 0,7 l per 1000 km oil consumption, then citroen authorises them to take the engine apart. The dealer, was full of excuses, he said that this is because of tuned up sporty enginges (omg !!!! nonsence) and if you push the car too hard when the engine is not warm enough (i never do that) . My waranty ended a few weeks ago.

Iff the engine blows up or something, will they still repair the car, because i think thats a manufacturing error ?
Do you think the oil consumption is because of the PCV ? I doubt, they mechanics will even know that, because they couldnt even answer a lot of basic questions. Im thinking about changing the authorised serviser.
Are all my worries in vain, when i should just enjoy the car ?

Im sorry for my bad grammar. English is not my primary language.

[Chris_Blue]

Hi Jero. The noise on the cold start may be the timing chain getting "lubed up", ie getting oil all over its parts. Some THPs do this, and unless its still doing it after a couple Kilometres its probably just a start up noise. If it gets worse and is very noisy, (Do not go over 2000 revs intil engine is warm) then the chain may be getting stretched, or the tensioner not working correctly, and you would have to let the mechanics look at it, as this will put the timing out, which would affect pistons etc. If there is something wrong with the chain and/or tensioner, you should let Citroen know, and they should help you replace it

Oil useage is not the same over THPs. Some do not use any (Like my last THP 150) and some use a little- maybe 200mls every 1500kms. Small useage not much of a problem. But you should check your oil every few days, and it should always be on maximum. If it uses a lot, then take to Citroen so they can have a look, and maybe put a piece of cardboard under your engine every night, to see if there is a leak?

If you keep watching your car, then you will see any problems before they get bad.

Theres no point worrying, what will happen will happen. All you can do is watch and listen carefully

[lfcrule1972]

Firstly your English is fine and better than some who post on forums

Re the THP, I think you're doing the right thing in keeping an eye on yours for any signs of problems (a lot of posts on here from owners saying they've never had any issues). Should you have any concerns you can search the forum for anything similar and see what happened in that case or just ask us !!

[Jero]

Thank you for your kind words. I am now, checking the oil level a lot, and i keep a spare oil can in my trunk all the time. I just feel sorry for the Ds3 owners that are having problems. Maybe im just a bit too paranoid. But ill keep my fingers crossed and hope im not riding a ticking time bomb

[Toxic]

Personally i'd fit a oil catch can just just to stop/limit the intake valves from getting clogged up. plenty of threads here about it. jamie has a Dual OCC fitted to his here:

http://www.ds3club.co.uk/showthread.php?4762-Jamie-s-build.&p=137281&viewfull=1#post137281

Also just make sure your engine is serviced at the correct intervals (max once a year tbh)

[Chris_Blue]

The most important thing to keep your car is as good as it can be, is OIL. Get the right (TOTAL) oil for the DS3, and replace every 6 months or so.
This is more regular than a service interval, but good oil helps the engine a lot. Change oil filter at same time too.

[Jero]

I shouldnt have read all the posts about the Thp problems. It has now spooked me so much that im really thinking im driving a time bomb. I love this car so much, but it scares me now. Do you think Citroen turned a blind eye to this and they just wait till your warranty expires than they say : Sorry sir, your waranty expired, you will have to buy a new engine. I am not exactyl rolling in money and if something like this happens i would be propably forced so take the car to a scrap yard and buy a rust can for 1000€.

[Owd git]

I bought a Citroen warranty extension for some peace of mind

It might be available in your country?

[lfcrule1972]

Thanks, I'm going to keep that handy for when my free service plan runs out

[Jero]

Its already 3 years old and it didnt had extended waranty or citroen select waranty, so i cant get it :/

[Chris_Blue]

No point worrying Jero, you now own the car :-)

Just listen out for timing chain problems, it should get noisy if there is an issue there, and if it gets noisy and there is a timing chain issue they should replace it for you- even after warranty. Or at least help you a lot paying for it.
The next issue is that of fuel detonation. This can be caused by lumps of carbon cominmg of the inlet valves and getting into the pistons causing misfires. Try using the BGK44 fuel additive, that may help. Use RON 98 petroil all the time if you can. And if the misfire happens regular, take the car in, and get the engine/inlet valves cleaned. That should help any detonation.

But this really doesnt happen on all the DS3s. Just some of them. Usually the very early made ones.

Keep listening, and deal with any problems as soon as they happen more than once or twice. That is all you can do, or sell the car

Hope this helps :star:

[Jero]

Thanks for your advices. Since ive got it, i am filling it with 100 octane fuel. The waranty is over. but im still gonna take it to and official workshop for services. Ive calmed my nerves after looking at mobile.de and it has a few ds3 thp wih over 70.000 miles. So i hope im just over paranoid . Ill see about the oil catch can, because the guy at the desk was looking at me like im crazy when i was trying to explain to him that i want a catch can. Ill probably change the shop. I had an urge to ECU tune it, but for engine safety reasons i wont do it.

Is this normal, if im at 2500 rpm and let off the gas, then press it again the car stutters for like half a second, its really not noticable much, maybe im just too over analyzing everything ?

[Chris_Blue]

Put some BGK44 additive in the petrol Jero- that may help the stutter, for little money

ECU tune it in the summer if all is OK. You will love it. But you should get an oil catch can on front PCV when you tune it :-)

100 octane fuel is good- cannot get that in UK. Do you have 98 RON?

[Jero]

We have available 95, 98 and 100 octane. Thats strange that you dont have it in the Uk. Im still trying to find the cause of the stutter. Im having a problem because, our country is really small (2 mil people) so because of that since 2010, there were only about 20 Ds3s sold here, so eventualy the mechanics arent experienced enough on them (they are in the capital city, but its a long drive there just to do a service, but maybe ill just do that). I have read on a Slovenian forum, that they have upgraded the tensioners and chain in october 2010 (i hope thats true and not bs). I have to find somebody who knows how to do the pcv delete mod and install the catch can, because at my nearest official car shop they are clueless.

[Gazski66]

We have available 95, 98 and 100 octane. Thats strange that you dont have it in the Uk. Im still trying to find the cause of the stutter. Im having a problem because, our country is really small (2 mil people) so because of that since 2010, there were only about 20 Ds3s sold here, so eventualy the mechanics arent experienced enough on them (they are in the capital city, but its a long drive there just to do a service, but maybe ill just do that). I have read on a Slovenian forum, that they have upgraded the tensioners and chain in october 2010 (i hope thats true and not bs). I have to find somebody who knows how to do the pcv delete mod and install the catch can, because at my nearest official car shop they are clueless.

I have a 2010 DSport and have had no problems with it (so far) i have had mine mapped and also have a OCC fitted. Do as i do and enjoy your car Jero, i dont worry as what will be will be, its great to drive