1.8 and 2.0 XU engine: faults and reliability

• 1.8 8v 90-103 hp (XU7JB/LFX and XU7JP/LFZ, 1993-2001)

  1993–2001 · 90–103 hp · XU7JB, LFX, XU7JP, LFZ

  Buy

  The sources record no serious faults specific to this engine: Caradisiac mentions only low-rev stumbling, corrected by a reflash, and a lambda sensor warning up to October 1998, while on Fiches-auto the 11 reviews of the 90 hp Berlingo 1.8 repeat no fault. The published data is scarce.^[1][2][9]

• 1.8 16v 110-112 hp (XU7JP4/LFY, 1995-2002)

  1995–2002 · 110–112 hp · XU7JP4, LFY

  With caution

  Caradisiac warns that the timing belt on engines built until late 1997 could break early, causing valve damage and sometimes head damage, and of rising oil consumption in 406s built before May 1997. Ask for the invoice for the belt and water pump.^[1][2][3]

• 2.0 8v 121-123 hp (XU10J2C/RFX, until 1997)

  1993–1997 · 121–123 hp · XU10J2C, RFX

  Buy

  There is very little data: on Fiches-auto the 125 hp 306 2.0 has 3 reviews with no mechanical fault in the categories counted, and Caradisiac mentions only low-rev stumbling in the 8-valve 1.8 and 2.0 engines built before December 1998, which is corrected by reprogramming the ECU.^[1][10]

• 2.0 16v 132-135 hp (XU10J4R/RFV, 1995-2002)

  1995–2002 · 132–135 hp · XU10J4R, RFV

  With caution

  Caradisiac mentions coolant leaks from the thermostat housing in 4-cylinder petrol 406s built between July 1997 and June 1999, and PistonHeads warns of the short belt interval on the GTi-6, a 2.0 16v from the same family. Fiches-auto does not distinguish this engine from the EW10 in the 135 hp 406 2.0 16v.^[3][4][11]

• 2.0 16v 150-167 hp (XU10J4/RFT/RFY S16 and XU10J4RS/RFS GTi-6 and VTS, 1993-2002)

  1993–2002 · 150–167 hp · XU10J4, XU10J4D, RFT, RFY, XU10J4RS, RFS

  With caution

  PistonHeads describes it as a robust engine with one major caveat, the timing belt: Peugeot cut its interval from 70,000 to 40,000 miles or five years and, according to the magazine, many belts failed before 40,000. On Fiches-auto the 165 hp 2.0s in the 306 and Xsara add up to one case of head gasket and head failure and another of engine failure.^[4][10][12]

Buy: No known serious faults, or they have already been corrected, in this version. With caution: Worth buying if something specific is verified: history, a replaced part or a completed campaign. Avoid: High risk of a serious fault that is hard to check for or prevent.

1. 1Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalTimingPremature timing belt breakage in the 16-valve enginesCaradisiac warns that the belt on the 1.8 16v built until late 1997 (306, Xsara and 406) could break early and damage valves and the head, often requiring an engine replacement, and there was a recall. PistonHeads reports many belts breaking before their interval on the 2.0 16v GTi-6.
2. 2Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalCoolingCoolant leaks from the thermostat housing and radiatorCaradisiac documents coolant leaks from the side of the thermostat housing in 4-cylinder petrol 406s built between July 1997 and June 1999, sometimes from around 25,000 km, and PistonHeads describes the cooling circuit of the 306 GTi-6 as fragile, with radiators that corrode.
3. 3Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalLubricationOil consumption and oil leaksCaradisiac points to rising oil consumption in the 1.8 16v of the 406 built until May 1997 (valve stem seals or piston and liner assembly) and a slight seepage at around 70,000 km on cars with air conditioning; on Fiches-auto consumption or leaks are the most mentioned issue for the 406 1.8 16v, with 5 of 38 reviews.
4. 4Low severityFrequency: OccasionalInjectionRough idle and low-rev stumblingCaradisiac records low-rev stumbling in the 8-valve 1.8 and 2.0 engines built until late 1998 or mid-1999, which is corrected by reprogramming the ECU, and PistonHeads attributes the rough cold idle of the 2.0 16v to the idle valve and its stepper motor.
5. 5Low severityFrequency: OccasionalEmissions controlLambda sensor and other sensor faultsSensors and probes are among the faults owners mention most: 5 of 39 reviews of the 112 hp 306 1.8 and 3 of 32 for the 90 hp Xsara 1.8 on Fiches-auto, and Caradisiac records a lambda sensor warning that lit up for no reason on 8-valve 1.8s built before October 1998.

Severity colours: low, medium, high, critical. How we rate them

Manufacturer

PSA Peugeot Citroën

Family

XU

Fuel

Petrol

Displacement

—

Cylinders

4

Fuel system

Naturally aspirated

Injection

Indirect injection

Timing

Timing belt (dry)

Power

90–167 hp

Peak torque

193 Nm

Production

1993–2002

Makes

Peugeot and Citroën

Technical data^[5][6][7][8]

1. 1993–2001

   1.8 8v 90-103 hp (XU7JB/LFX and XU7JP/LFZ, 1993-2001)

   Naturally aspirated 1,761 cc petrol engine with 8 valves and fuel injection. Wikipedia (en) splits it into two codes: the XU7JB (LFX), with 90 hp, for the Berlingo, Xsara, 406 and Partner, and the XU7JP (LFZ), with 101 hp, for the 306, Xsara and others. In the 306 the Spanish entry gives 103 hp (101 hp in phase 2); the 101 hp Xsara was automatic only and ran from 09/1997 to 07/1999.^[5][7][13]

2. 1993–1997

   2.0 8v 121-123 hp (XU10J2C/RFX, until 1997)

   Naturally aspirated 1,998 cc petrol engine with 8 valves, 121 hp according to Wikipedia (en) and 123 hp according to the Spanish and French entries for the 306, where it powered the phase 1 (1993-1997) 2.0 XSi.^[5][13][15]

3. 1993–2002

   2.0 16v 150-167 hp (XU10J4/RFT/RFY S16 and XU10J4RS/RFS GTi-6 and VTS, 1993-2002)

   Performance versions of the 1,998 cc 2.0 16v: the S16 with 150-152 hp (codes RFT and RFY according to Wikipedia en) and the XU10J4RS (RFS), reworked from it, with 166-167 hp according to Wikipedia (en) and 193 N·m in the Xsara VTS. The S16 was a three-door 306 only in phase 1 (1993-1996), was replaced by the GTi-6 in 1996 and ran until late 2000; the Xsara VTS Coupé used it from 02/1998 to 06/2002.^{[5][6][7][8][13]}

4. 1995–2002

   1.8 16v 110-112 hp (XU7JP4/LFY, 1995-2002)

   Twin-cam, 16-valve head on the same 1,761 cc block, with 110 hp and 155 N·m at 4,250 rpm according to the German entries for the 406 and Xsara. It was the 406's 1.8 16v from 09/1995 to 10/2000, when the EW7J4 (6FZ) replaced it, and the Xsara's until 09/2000; the 306 received it with phase 2 in 1997.^{[6][7][13][14]}

5. 1995–2002

   2.0 16v 132-135 hp (XU10J4R/RFV, 1995-2002)

   Naturally aspirated 1,998 cc petrol engine with 16 valves, 132 hp and 180 N·m according to Wikipedia (de). It powered the 406 from 09/1995 to 12/1998, until the EW10J4 replaced it, and the 306 in phases 2 and 3 (132-135 hp according to the Spanish 306 entry).^[5][13][14]

• Timing kit

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• Oil filter

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• Air filter

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• Spark plugs

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