MajorCommonEngine

Peugeot 207: EP6 Inlet Valve Carbon Build-up

EP6 Inlet Valve Carbon Build-up is a common engine fault on the Peugeot 207 on the 2006–2014 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $600 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 7 documented faults on the Peugeot 207.

Vehicle: Peugeot 207
Years: 2006–2014
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the Peugeot 207 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Peugeot 207 faults7 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the PCV / oil separator or Intake manifold yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

On 1.6 THP direct-injection variants, fuel is never sprayed over the inlet valves, so oil vapour from the crankcase ventilation system carbonises on valve stems and backs over time. Heavy deposits restrict airflow, causing rough cold idle, misfires, and progressive power loss. Cleaning requires inlet manifold removal and manual decarbonising of each valve — a labour-intensive job often deferred on high-mileage examples.

What you would notice

Rough idle particularly when cold, smoothing as engine warms
Misfires at low RPM under light throttle
Hesitation or stumble on light throttle pick-up
Gradually declining fuel economy

How to check it

Where to look. Intake manifold runners and inlet valve stems

Cold idle quality assessment — should be smooth and stable from start. Check for misfire codes on scan. High-mileage THP engines (over 100,000 km) not previously cleaned are near-certain to have significant deposits. If a workshop inspection is possible: Borescope inspection of inlet valves via intake ports is definitive.

Parts involved: PCV / oil separator, Intake manifold.

What it costs to put right

$600 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the engine ever had an intake valve carbon clean?”
“Has it idled roughly or misfired, particularly when cold?”
“What is the mileage and has it had any engine work?”

Now check the Peugeot 207 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Peugeot 207 buyer questions

Is ep6 inlet valve carbon build-up serious on a Peugeot 207?

We rate it major and common on the Peugeot 207. On 1.6 THP direct-injection variants, fuel is never sprayed over the inlet valves, so oil vapour from the crankcase ventilation system carbonises on valve stems and backs over time. Heavy deposits restrict airflow, causing rough cold idle, misfires, and progressive power loss. Cleaning requires inlet manifold removal and manual decarbonising of each valve — a labour-intensive job often deferred on high-mileage examples.

How much does it cost to fix on a Peugeot 207?

$600 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Peugeot 207 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2006–2014 Peugeot 207. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.