156 model. Anyone run one without issues?

[Lanciaman]

Having had my 15 plate 33k mile 156gt 6 months now, had 2 issues. Broken spring, which is endemic on all relatively modern cars, plus a tpms issue to sort which my local tyre place did without fuss or money.

Given the many many horror stories ref this engine, and other rcz issues, has anyone actually run one without any problems, or is it inevitable that serious problems will come up?

I'm old school so on top of maintenance and oil will be done every 3k miles, or less as I cant see it doing that in a year.

 

[lfe]

I bought my 156 HP with 108,000 km, now it has 138,000 km.

At 115,000 the high pressure fuel pump was repaired, I installed it myself and it only cost me €110.
I also changed the timing chain tensioner.

I think the rocker cover has never been removed, meaning the chain was never changed.

The car runs well and has good power.

My car is from 2010, it does not have TPMS, nor has a spring ever broken.

I change the oil and filter every 8000km

 

[Kenneth]

I bought my 156 HP with 108,000 km, now it has 138,000 km.

At 115,000 the high pressure fuel pump was repaired, I installed it myself and it only cost me €110.
I also changed the timing chain tensioner.

I think the rocker cover has never been removed, meaning the chain was never changed.

The car runs well and has good power.

My car is from 2010, it does not have TPMS, nor has a spring ever broken.

I change the oil and filter every 8000km

You rarely hear from folk on forums like these unless there’s something up. So I’m quite sure there are plenty of folk cutting around quite happily. Every car I’ve had since the internet became a thing has given me a certain amount of fear after going on owners forums. They ALL have issues. But they are also good for advice and other bits and bobs. I’m just going to crack on enjoying my car. If it needs fixed it will get fixed. If it’s expensive it will still get fixed.

I’ve had a few Lancias myself. Things could happen to those as well. But in general they were great to own. A different era and less sensor related nonsense at least could work on them myself. I’m too scared to do it now in case I bump some bit of vital electrical gizmo. I was more worried about skinning my knuckles back in the day

 

[Lanciaman]

Have to agree there. I'd never buy anything if paying attention to all the forum tales of disaster.

I was just curious if anyone had had trouble free 156 times.

I had umpteen lancias from the 90s to a couple of years ago. None of them gave any real issues, no inherent major engineering flaws. But you could say that about many other makes. To me it seems most moderns are designed by accountants and tech geeks.

 

[Kenneth]

Have to agree there. I'd never buy anything if paying attention to all the forum tales of disaster.

I was just curious if anyone had had trouble free 156 times.

I had umpteen lancias from the 90s to a couple of years ago. None of them gave any real issues, no inherent major engineering flaws. But you could say that about many other makes. To me it seems most moderns are designed by accountants and tech geeks.

I think peak car was probably a while ago now. As you say the corporate parts bin is now full of short lifespan rubbish pretty much. Even cars that got a good name for build quality and decent engineering are having difficulties now. German stuff is not the solid buy it was in the 90s

I’ve got a 200 and it hasn’t missed a beat so far. I now expect it to demolish itself because I didn’t buy a diesel. but there was absolutely now way I was cutting about in a car that looks like this with a diesel motor in it. No matter how good they might be. I like interesting cars and I like them in petrol please.

I hope you continue to have no real issues regardless

I WILL be having a Flavia coupe one day. An ex friend has one and it’s a stunning car. A proper Lancia that cost them money to make

my grandfather was right into them pre and post war. He was an engineer and liked anything that was well made. And they were well made until fiat got a hold of them

 

[Lanciaman]

Agree ref the petrol. Will enjoy the rcz and worry when something comes up.

Friend of mine has a Flavia coupe. I had a couple of facelift 2000 coupes maybe 12 years ago now. Good but fiat had started by then. The original Flavia are superbly engineered. The seat mechanisms are a joy. Very sad I know!

 

[Kenneth]

Agree ref the petrol. Will enjoy the rcz and worry when something comes up.

Friend of mine has a Flavia coupe. I had a couple of facelift 2000 coupes maybe 12 years ago now. Good but fiat had started by then. The original Flavia are superbly engineered. The seat mechanisms are a joy. Very sad I know!

It was things like that and turned handles and brass nuts a bolts that meant they never turned a profit. Rolls Royce bought a Flaminia to strip down to see how the hell they were doing things They were never quick cars. They were never meant to be. You were meant to waft around in them.
Fiat build quality ended them here and Germanic stuff filled the void. A shame really but it happened to other good marques. Bad management. Bad marketing. But they didn’t really build a bad car even in the early Fiat era.

my uncle had a 2000HF coupe then a Gamma coupe which was too floopy for him and he ended up in Mercs. Also great cars back then. Not so much now.

 

[Lanciaman]

Did the gamma coupe thing too. Briefly. Handled brilliantly for what it was.

Tried the merc thing too. 1993 SL500 psychologically damaged me for life! Lovely thing in some respects but gave so much trouble.

They lost it once the w210 came along.

 

[Kenneth]

Did the gamma coupe thing too. Briefly. Handled brilliantly for what it was.

Tried the merc thing too. 1993 SL500 psychologically damaged me for life! Lovely thing in some respects but gave so much trouble.

They lost it once the w210 came along.

I overwintered a lovely silver Gamma coupe for that guy who owns the Flavia. I kept going in the garage just to look at it. They are so much better in the metal than the photographs. Low slung, beautiful lines.

unfortunately mice started a family in the glove box

 

[lfe]

I forgot to say that I put 5W40 oil in the 156 HP.

I am convinced that the oils in turbo engines degrade a lot and cannot last 30,000 km as the maintenance book says.

They also reduce viscosity to save fuel when in reality a less viscous oil lubricates worse.

This affects many more engines, not just the THP, such as the big problems with the PSA Puretech engine for which they recommend 0w20 oil.

 

[nigelhpe]

I joined recently as the rcz is on my wishlist. I wonder if the 156 is a less stressed motor than the 200? Or is it more to do with maintenance to achieve reliability?
I'm a 1983 HPE owner, and change oil every 4k. I use 10/60, seems to like that.
Regards, Nigel

 

[gwest]

I have some experience with the THP156/150 engines in a DS5 and DS3, and recently with the THP200 in the RCZ. The one difference I have noticed is that the 200 does not seem as prone to carbon buildup in the inlet tracts and valves as the other engines. My RCZ had 130k km on it when I bought it and I really don't know if the valves had ever been cleaned. However, somehow I doubt it, judging by some other problems with it. The condition of the RCZ inlet valves was not bad at all compared with the other engines at that mileage. The only obvious difference is that the RCZ has only one PCV outlet- on the LHS into the turbo intake, but no doubt there are other differences within the valve cover PCV system.

 

[Kenneth]

I joined recently as the rcz is on my wishlist. I wonder if the 156 is a less stressed motor than the 200? Or is it more to do with maintenance to achieve reliability?
I'm a 1983 HPE owner, and change oil every 4k. I use 10/60, seems to like that.
Regards, Nigel

All the RCZ petrols need a fair bit of TLC and they definitely need a good oil change regime as well as checking levels regularly on the dipstick. That alone will avoid a lot of problems. You’ll enjoy the drive in all of them. I’ve got a 200 and it’s been superb in every way. Just buy as carefully as you can if you go for it. There seems to be a lot of poorly maintained ones around. They all LOOK the part…

 

[kevin1986]

i recently bought a 2010 rcz thp 156 February this year no lights yet nor problems but i seem to have a small oil leak not sure if its the engine or transmission. been checking it every other day now but the engine oil doesnt seem to be decreasing in level. would it be the transmission? if so how could i check it as it doesnt have a dipstick? thank you so much in advance guys planning to take it tom to a shop to be properly checked. any advice on where to look at? the drip is on the center left of the engine part. TIA

 

[gwest]

I'm sure you have a dipstick. My guess is that the leak is from the rubber gaskets for the oil filter housing. Access is not easy but otherwise a simple job. If it has an oil cooler as part of the housing the seals for that should also be replaced, not just the ones between the oil filter housing and the block.

 

[kevin1986]

I'm sure you have a dipstick. My guess is that the leak is from the rubber gaskets for the oil filter housing. Access is not easy but otherwise a simple job. If it has an oil cooler as part of the housing the seals for that should also be replaced, not just the ones between the oil filter housing and the block.

Will look into that thank you