Peugeot 306 Engine problems

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
View Threaded
Wed 28 Dec 2005 22:51
Peugeot 306 Engine problems - TimOrridge
Hi,

I own a 98 (R) Peugeot 306 1.6 Vivant Hatch with 131,000 on the clock. The car is relatively reliable considering the mileage.

A couple of things annoy me though and i wonder if you could help.

1. The engine is producing a lot of tappet noise when cold and when warm, never goes away. I've recently read your forum and saw the topic on additives to help this problem. On that note I flushed and changed the oil (15W/40 p/synth) and added the Wynn's tappet additive (yellow stuff), no change. Car is using 1.5 litres of oil (approx half dipstick) every 300 mile. I know my options are to do valve stem seals and new tappets but this means spending £££'s on a car that isnt even worth a grand.

2. When coming to a stop and dipping the clutch i.e at a roundabout. Engine never seems to settle to idle, it always drops down to 500 rpm and revs back up normal idle speed. Sometimes it even stalls and take a couple of attempts to start again. I've changed the HT leads and had new battery, I'm starting to think it might be the alternator as it seems to be whirring a bit. Any ideas and costs?

Sorry about the lengthy post, just want some advice so I can weigh up my options. Keep up the good work.

Thanks

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Dec 2005 07:59
Peugeot 306 Engine problems - jc
That amount of oil is not going just going doen the valve seals and going to a thinner oil will increase consumption and probably make the tappets noisier;on an engine of that milage I would use the cheapest 20w/50 I could find and drive it into the ground-don't spend money on it.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Dec 2005 12:30
Peugeot 306 Engine problems - TimOrridge
Any idea where i get this 20w/50 oil from. An example of brand/product would be great, not seen it before. Should i just topup using this oil form now or wait another 8-9000 miles to nex oil and filter change?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Dec 2005 12:45
Peugeot 306 Engine problems - jc
Halfords,Wilko(£2/4.5l.),Motor Dealers,any accessory shop-just ask for 20w/50.The famous one was Duckhams but at the rate you are using it get the cheapest you can find.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Dec 2005 13:05
Peugeot 306 Engine problems - jc
And start putting it in straightaway.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Dec 2005 13:06
Peugeot 306 Engine problems - dieselhead
Assuming it's a 1.6 TU engine (I think all 1.6's are) then sounds like valve clearances need adjusting. Easy to do on these using conventional screw and locknut method.
Don't think it would cost that much to have the stem seals changed without removing head. Assume it's not smoking under hard acceleration (bore wear) but after cold starts and under light throttle conditions.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Dec 2005 13:41
Peugeot 306 Engine problems - TimOrridge
Dieselhead,

The car is a TU engine, as right as you say blue some only on startup and light foot down. Thanks for the advice

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Dec 2005 14:08
Peugeot 306 Engine problems - dieselhead
Might be worth trying one of the products used to stop engine leaks as these might swell the stem seals slightly and help a bit. Valve clearances are 0.2mm inlet and 0.4mm exhaust (cold), Haynes manual describes procedure for checking clearances well.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Dec 2005 14:25
Peugeot 306 Engine problems - TimOrridge
Anyone got any ideas on the second point of the original post? I think weve exausted the first one!
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Dec 2005 14:36
Peugeot 306 Engine problems - dieselhead
My guess is the idle speed control valve and throttle body need cleaning.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Dec 2005 15:53
Peugeot 306 Engine problems - stokie
>My guess is the idle speed control valve and throttle body need cleaning.

Or a breather pipe has split, that was the cause of erratic tcikover on my A4
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Dec 2005 16:06
Peugeot 306 Engine problems - TimOrridge
Thanks, i will try these. Any ideas where the idle speed valve is or near? Also how easy it is to get to throttle body and clean it? Is it easy to rectify the above items with basic knowlege of engines and standard tools? I have a haynes manual, i hope that helps.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 29 Dec 2005 17:29
Peugeot 306 Engine problems - dieselhead
Agree is a good idea to check for split crankcase breather hoses as if these are split it can affect idle speed.

According to haynes the idle valve is mounted on the right hand end of the inlet manifold on late model 306's. It simply allows a small amount of air to bypass the throttle plate when the throttle is in the closed position. No specialist knowledge needed just need to check everything is clean and not gunged up.

I should think it's just a matter of removing trunking to the throttle body and spraying inside with carb cleaner or WD40 and wiping the body and throttle plate clean. Then check the air hoses to the idle valve are clear and not split and give the stepper motor and inside valve plenty of wd40.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 23 Jun 2011 15:48
Peugeot 306 Engine problems - ninteh

Hi Tim, did you sort this in the end? My car has the exact same problems to a tee.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 25 Jun 2011 12:20
Peugeot 306 Engine problems - TimOrridge

No, I sold the car to a family member for £500 2 months later who managed to expire the engine only weeks after I sold it to him but we didnt fall out over it.

After the Peugeot (first and last), I turned Japanese and I've never looked back and I'm on my second Mazda since then and had relatively few issues.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 25 Jun 2011 12:28
Peugeot 306 Engine problems - unthrottled

Wow-a six year old thread resurrected-with a response from OP? Is this a record?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link