MajorCommonFluid Leaks

Peugeot 308: 1.2 PureTech Injector Copper Seal Fuel Leak

1.2 PureTech Injector Copper Seal Fuel Leak is a common fluid leaks fault on the Peugeot 308 on the 2013–2021 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $380 to $950 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 26 documented faults on the Peugeot 308.

Vehicle: Peugeot 308
Engine: 1.2L
Years: 2013–2021
Fuel: petrol
System: Fluid Leaks

This page covers the Peugeot 308 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 308 faults26 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

What goes wrong

The direct-injector copper seating washers in the EB2DT 1.2 PureTech engine harden and fail to seal against the combustion chamber recess, allowing high-pressure fuel to leak externally around the injector body. The leak typically tracks down the back of the engine against the bulkhead, creating a persistent petrol smell in the cabin and engine bay and a visible wet stain or residue around each injector. Because the leak is high-pressure direct-injection fuel (200+ bar), the fire risk is significant if fuel contacts hot exhaust components. PSA issued updated copper seal kits but the repair requires injector removal and precise torque sequencing. In some cases the injector seats become corroded or damaged and require reaming before new seals can seal correctly, substantially increasing repair cost.

What you would notice

Strong petrol smell from engine bay, especially after engine warm-up
Petrol smell entering cabin through HVAC
Visible fuel staining or oily residue around injector bodies on the fuel rail
Slight fuel consumption increase if leak is significant
Possible minor fire risk if fuel contacts exhaust manifold

How to check it

Where to look. Base of each high-pressure direct fuel injector where it seats into the cylinder head, rear/firewall side of the 1.2 PureTech engine

With the engine warm, carefully inspect around the base of each injector where it enters the cylinder head for any wet fuel residue, carbon staining from burnt fuel, or discolouration. A clean white rag wiped around each injector base after a warm drive will reveal even minor seepage. Check for a petrol smell when the bonnet is lifted after a motorway run. Also inspect the underside of the fuel rail for dried fuel deposits.

Parts involved: Fuel injector.

What it costs to put right

$380 to $950 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

“Have you noticed any petrol smell from the engine bay or inside the cabin?”
“Has the engine ever shown fuel staining around the injectors, and have the injector seals been replaced?”
“Is there any service record showing injector seal replacement or injector removal?”

Now check the Peugeot 308 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 308 buyer questions

Is 1.2 puretech injector copper seal fuel leak serious on a Peugeot 308?

We rate it major and common on the Peugeot 308. The direct-injector copper seating washers in the EB2DT 1.2 PureTech engine harden and fail to seal against the combustion chamber recess, allowing high-pressure fuel to leak externally around the injector body. The leak typically tracks down the back of the engine against the bulkhead, creating a persistent petrol smell in the cabin and engine bay and a visible wet stain or residue around each injector. Because the leak is high-pressure direct-injection fuel (200+ bar), the fire risk is significant if fuel contacts hot exhaust components. PSA issued updated copper seal kits but the repair requires injector removal and precise torque sequencing. In some cases the injector seats become corroded or damaged and require reaming before new seals can seal correctly, substantially increasing repair cost.

How much does it cost to fix on a Peugeot 308?

$380 to $950 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 308 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2013–2021 Peugeot 308. 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.