The Stellantis Puretch engines scandal still resonates in the industry. It is not for less, because hundreds of thousands of vehicles from the automobile group were affected, passing through everything A Front of Facts and Compensation that has completely broken the reputation of the company. However, it is worth mentioning that the wet distribution belt technology caused by Stellantis’s collapse It is not exclusive to the Franco-Toalian group: Ford and Volkswagen also used the damn belt bathed in oil, although with different consequences.
Revolutionary technology, in theory. The story began with an apparently brilliant idea: eliminating the expensive maintenance of the distribution strap and creating a system that would last the useful life of the vehicle. The solution was a belt bathed in oil that, according to engineers, would reduce friction and increase durability to 240,000 kilometers. The oil should provide greater elasticity to rubber and protect the wear component.
Status of the distribution strap of a Peugeot 3004 after 40,000 km. Image: OGS MEChanics
Ford, the pioneer he rectified in time. The American brand It was the first to implement this technology Wet belt, even before EcoBoost engines reached the market. Ford installed the system inside the engine instead of using a traditional side box, but when the first problems began to appear, the company did not think twice. Without getting into large trouble or generating media scandals, he replaced the belt with a chain in its three -cylinder eco -ost engines with deactivation.
Volkswagen’s strategy. The German group also adopted the wet strap, mainly in diesel engines such as the three cylinders 1.6 TDI and even in the 2.0 TDI. However, its implementation It was less risky: The wet belt did not drive the camshafts, but only the oil pump. This crucial technical difference explains why the consequences for Volkswagen have not been as devastating as Stellantis lives.
Between the lines. The key difference is that Stellantis turned the wet strap into the main element of the distribution system, the person in charge of synchronizing the valve train. When it fails, the consequences are catastrophic, assuming breakdowns of several thousand euros that can leave the engine completely unusable. Ford and Volkswagen, on the other hand, limited their use to less critical functions or quickly rectified when they detected the first symptoms.
Why the system failed. In trichylindrical engines, especially in urban use, fuel drops without burn are mixed with crankcase oil. This abrasive mixture prematurely degrades the belt, and the particles detached obstruct filters and ducts, causing insufficiency in oil pressure. Do not stop the fault in time can end up destroying the engine, so yes, The controversy was not in vain. The problem was magnified in Stellantis because the group was more optimistic than the rest to incorporate this technology.
While Ford solved the problem with relative discretion and Volkswagen kept him under control (he would only miss that at that time he had another stumbling block like that of his diesel models), Stellantis has been involved in a scandal of gigantic proportions. Hundreds of thousands of vehicles with 1.0 and 1.2 Puretech engines manufactured between 2012 and 2023 have been called to review. The company has had to expand guarantees, create reimbursement systems and even change CEO, with Antonio Filosa under command after the dismissal of Carlos Tavares.
How to know if your car is affected. If you have doubts about whether your car mounts chain or the problem tank bathing in oil that caused all this debacle, you can check the motor code. The 1.2 Puretch with chain (insurance) engines have “EB2lted” or “EB2LTEDH2” and are present in models such as Peugeot 408, Opel Frontera and Fiat 600.
The problematic engines are mainly in Citroën C3 and C4, Peugeot 208, 308 and 3008, Opel Corsa and Mokka, and DS 3 and DS 7, manufactured between 2012 and 2023. Stellantis expanded the guarantees and guarantees and offers reimbursements for repairsbut the ideal would be for you to detect the failure in time to save a good disgust and claim to the manufacturer.
Cover image | Cat Magazine
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