MajorCommonEngine

Peugeot 208: PureTech 1.2 EB2 Carbon Intake Valve Buildup

PureTech 1.2 EB2 Carbon Intake Valve Buildup is a common engine fault on the Peugeot 208 on the 2015–2019 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $550 to $1,300 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 11 documented faults on the Peugeot 208.

Vehicle: Peugeot 208
Engine: 1.2L
Years: 2015–2019
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the Peugeot 208 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 208 faults11 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

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

What goes wrong

The 208 W2 equipped with the 1.2 PureTech turbocharged engine (EB2DT, 110 bhp) uses gasoline direct injection that bypasses intake valves with liquid fuel. Crankcase blow-by vapour from the PCV system coats intake valve stems and back-faces with oil-carbon deposits over time. In the 208 W2 the issue is compounded by a cramped engine bay that raises underbonnet temperatures, accelerating PCV oil vapour condensation onto cooler valve surfaces. Symptoms typically emerge between 60,000-80,000km and require walnut blasting via intake manifold removal for resolution. The naturally-aspirated 1.0 VTi and 1.2 VTi engines in the 208 do not share this fault as they use port injection.

What you would notice

Rough warm idle, smooth cold idle
Stumble and hesitation at light throttle openings when warm
Misfires logged as P0300-P0303
Increased fuel consumption
Engine management light with cylinder misfire codes

How to check it

Where to look. Intake valve head and port walls inside cylinder head, accessed via intake manifold removal

Confirm the 208 is the 1.2 PureTech turbo variant not the 1.2 VTi naturally-aspirated version as only the GDI unit is affected.
Inspect the intake manifold interior via torch for carbon deposits.
Check for any intake cleaning history in service records.
Warm the engine fully before the test drive to reproduce the rough idle symptom.
If a workshop inspection is possible: OBD scan for P0300-P0303 misfire codes.

Parts involved: Intake manifold, PCV / oil separator.

What it costs to put right

$550 to $1,300 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

“Is this the 1.2 PureTech turbocharged variant or the 1.2 VTi naturally-aspirated engine?”
“Has intake valve carbon cleaning ever been performed and at what mileage?”
“Any history of misfires or rough idle specifically when the engine is fully warm?”

Now check the Peugeot 208 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 208 buyer questions

Is puretech 1.2 eb2 carbon intake valve buildup serious on a Peugeot 208?

We rate it major and common on the Peugeot 208. The 208 W2 equipped with the 1.2 PureTech turbocharged engine (EB2DT, 110 bhp) uses gasoline direct injection that bypasses intake valves with liquid fuel. Crankcase blow-by vapour from the PCV system coats intake valve stems and back-faces with oil-carbon deposits over time. In the 208 W2 the issue is compounded by a cramped engine bay that raises underbonnet temperatures, accelerating PCV oil vapour condensation onto cooler valve surfaces. Symptoms typically emerge between 60,000-80,000km and require walnut blasting via intake manifold removal for resolution. The naturally-aspirated 1.0 VTi and 1.2 VTi engines in the 208 do not share this fault as they use port injection.

How much does it cost to fix on a Peugeot 208?

$550 to $1,300 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 208 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2015–2019 Peugeot 208. 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.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Confirm the 208 is the 1.2 PureTech turbo variant not the 1.2 VTi naturally-aspirated version as only the GDI unit is affected. Inspect the intake manifold interior via torch for carbon deposits. Check for any intake cleaning history in service records. Warm the engine fully before the test drive to reproduce the rough idle symptom. If a workshop inspection is possible: OBD scan for P0300-P0303 misfire codes. Look here: Intake valve head and port walls inside cylinder head, accessed via intake manifold removal