Peugeot 208: EB2 Engine Oil Leak from Timing Belt Housing and Cam Cover

The A9-generation 208 with 1.2 EB2 PureTech engine develops oil leaks at the camshaft cover gasket and the timing belt housing where the belt-in-oil design allows oil pathways. Leaks are often slow initially but accelerate as gaskets age. Oil can reach hot exhaust components causing smoke and fire risk, and accelerates timing belt degradation. Very frequently observed on NZ grey imports with 60,000+ km.

• Oil spots under engine bay or on ground after parking
• Burning oil smell from engine compartment
• Visible oil weeping around timing cover or cam cover
• Smoke from engine bay under load
• Oil level dropping faster than expected

1. 1

   Inspect timing belt cover and camshaft cover for oil seepage.

2. 2

   Check underside of engine bay for accumulated grime indicating long-term leak.

3. 3

   Look for oil staining on exhaust manifold heat shields.

4. 4

   Check dipstick level and compare to recent service record.

Parts involved: Timing belt, Rocker / valve cover.

$350 to $900 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.

• “Has the cam cover gasket or timing belt housing seal been replaced?”
• “Does the engine bay show any oil residue around the timing cover?”
• “How often has the oil been topped up between services?”

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.