New User

[thcarney]

Hi guys. Just bought my first Citroen ever, a C8 SX 2.0 HDI. Impressive. Collected it on 24th March. Done 890 miles with it, mainly city jobs. So far so good. Will go to Belgium one of these days to test it thouroughly (and fill it with some cheap diesel of course). Guess it is too early to have somebody sharing experience as the model is quite new. Tony :rolleyes:

[sandy]

Hi,
Thinking of buying a C8-same model as yourself. How has it been so far?

[thcarney]

Hi Sandy. Very good car. No problem at all. Recommend it definitively. Have met another owner who is also very happy. Tony. :angry:

[chuffer]

I'm test driving one at present. My kids love the electric sliding doors. Just needs a voice to say 'Mind the Gap'. So far I like it. testing the 2.2 HDI model. Very responsive. I own a Picasso which has a good driving position, but the driving position in the C8 seems a lot higher, which is great.

Getting in and out of the back seats is a bit of a pain, but then aren't all 7/8 seater cars :huh:

I have to sell my 1.5 year old Picasso due to family expansion, and I will be putting in an order for the 2.2 HDI SX 6 speed C8.

[gazza]

Hello all,

I'll be getting my new 2.0HDi SX on Friday 24th September;(taking advantage of the 3 grand off the list price); stepping up from a 2.0HDi SX Picasso.

I've had the Pic since new for 2 years but it seems that I've sort of out grown it.

I'll catch you later, gazza.

[bigsimes]

Hi

We bought a new 2.0 HDi SX at the beginning of the month. This last week the wife has noticed that on short journeys that there is a puff of white smoke coming from under the car, usually if the car is cold and only done a few mins driving, (eg first thing in morning, stopping to pick up after 400 yards etc).
It's been to the dealers who looked at it and then told me it was nothing to worry about as it was the 'cleaning mechanism' under the car.

Does anyone know what this cleaning mechanism is? Am I being fobbed? off, should I be worroed by wafts of white smoke?

Many thanks for reading and answering....

Ps by the way we love the car and so do the kids...

[pork_pie]

A cleaning mechanism? At least you weren't told

1) its normal sir
2) A software upgrade will sort you out boyo.

Whatever will Citroen think of next.

Never heard of an under chassis cleaning mechanism. Maybe a french technician fitted auto wipers in the wrong place and you have a pair of catalytic convertors as wipers.

I think someones been taking the pi55.

Suggest you take the car to an exhaust repair chain e.g ATS, Kiwk Fit and have a look underneath your car.

Lot of water vapour is emitted on cold mornings as you very well know.

Could there be a hole in your exhaust?

My neighbours have a 2.2 Hdi SX and from what I can see its a very good versatile car.
I can see why they love it.

However if it was a Touran or a Renault (Rubbish) Megane both with miles less luggage space and in many cases dearer than your particular car - it would earn 5 stars.

Motoring media are so biased.

[bigsimes]

Pork_pie

Thanx for the reply. I was scepticle about their answer but left it, as the car is only a month old, and if there is a problem they'll be getting it back. As its the family car I don't want any probs, so maybe I'll be calling the dealer again....soon

[Lisa]

I would be interested to find out if you are still getting the white smoke problem. Our C8 2.0 HDI SX is just under 1 week old and today I have noticed white smoke coming from the bottom of the car. This has happened 4 or 5 times today, always after a short journey and accompanied by a smell of something overheating.

Anybody else notice a similar problem?

Have to say that, other than the white smoke, I am very pleased with the car, beautiful to drive.

[citroenmyarse]

The HDi engines take a while to warm up. To "help" them, Citroen have fitted a diesel powered heater under the car. This fires up when you start from cold - only on a cold day though - and helps the car get to temperature quicker. This means (a) the engine gets to its efficient operating temperature quicker, (:) the cabin gets a flow of warm air quicker.

When I first got my 2.2 HDI C8 I noticed the smoke and though "what the f*&k is going on!". My local dealer explained all. It's only recently it's started doing again since the weather has got colder.

Once the car gets up to proper working temp, the "special" heater switches off (as long as the car is working fine - of course!)

So, the smoke you are all seeing is produced by something not too disimilar to your central heating boiler at home. :D

[Lisa]

Thanks for reply. I had called into dealer earlier and he explained exactly the same mechanism. Mystery solved!