DV5 Engine Repair & Upgrade
Did you know? OEM have upgraded the 7mm pitch chain and camshaft to 8mm on the PSA 1.5 engines.
This development came in response to the OE upgrade of the PSA DV5 engine from a 7mm to an 8mm pitch chain, a critical improvement to address premature wear issues experienced with the original components.
The OEM upgraded the timing chain system to an 8mm pitch to increase tensile strength and durability, especially in the camshafts with integrated sprockets. The new chain design features thicker plates, resulting in a 16% increase in width, which translates to improved performance and resistance to wear. To accommodate this, the camshaft carrier was also modified, ensuring seamless integration and enhanced engine protection.
We now have a solution
The PROBLEM:
Modern engines including the PSA DV5 are fitted with EGR and DPF to fall in line with Euro emissions control legislation. This provides an improvement in MPG and lowers emissions but has a negative impact on the engine.
Harmful soot deposits accumulate in the internals of the engine and inevitably in the oil. These deposits are abrasive and will be flowing around the engines lubrication system causing lasting damage to the engine internals. The result is premature wear of the Timing Chain and the Camshafts, which have integrated sprockets.
Even a strict maintenance schedule wouldn’t stop accumulation of particles. The recommended Oil Change Interval is set at 20,000 miles for this engine and manufactures are now recommending the use of a 5W30 oil not the original 0W30.
THE SOLUTION:
To combat the premature wear of the Timing Chain and Camshaft Sprockets, OE upgraded the components for all new vehicles, making the change around January 2023.
The original 7mm pitch chain was upgraded to 8mm, which in turn changed the integrated sprockets on the Camshafts. The 8mm chain has thicker plates allowing a 16% increase in width and increased tensile strength. To accommodate the increase in size the Cam Carrier has also been modified.
Whilst the upgrades will extend the lifespan of the OE components, it is not a complete fix to the route cause and any vehicles manufactured from 2018-2022 would have the 7mm setup from original production.
