P1800 / P1800ES

1961-1973 / Coupe / Shooting Brake / Sweden

All P1800 / P1800ES problems All workshop issues

Common Engine

Piston ring wear and oil consumption (B18/B20)

Symptoms

Blue smoke on startup or under load. Engine uses a litre of oil every 500-1000 km. Exhaust tips go black and sooty.

Cause

Worn piston rings. These engines can do 250,000+ km, but eventually the rings lose tension. Poor maintenance (infrequent oil changes, cheap oil) accelerates wear.

Fix

Pull the engine, hone the bores, fit new rings.

If the bores are scored or tapered beyond spec, you'll need a rebore and oversize pistons.

Budget $1500-3000 depending on how far gone it is.

A B18 or B20 shortblock from a wreck is sometimes cheaper than a rebuild.

Cost mentioned in fix

Budget $1500-3000

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// More P1800 / P1800ES problems

Other known issues

Common Engine

Oil leaks from rear main seal

Oil weeps or pours from the back of the engine, usually visible around the bellhousing. Can soak the clutch on manual cars.

Common Engine

Timing gear wear and rattle (B18)

Rattling or chattering noise from the front of the engine, especially on cold start or at idle. Sometimes a metallic ticking that doesn't go away when warm.

Critical Engine

Head gasket failure

Overheating, white smoke from the exhaust, coolant loss with no visible leak, mayonnaise in the oil filler cap.

Common Engine

Bosch D-Jetronic injection faults (B20E/B20F)

Poor starting, lumpy idle, hesitation, black smoke, random stalling. Sometimes won't start at all.

Critical Engine

Valve adjustment neglect

Ticking or tapping noise from the top end. Loss of power. Hard starting.

Common Cooling System

Radiator corrosion and leaks

Coolant leaks from the core or end tanks. Overheating. Brown sludge in the system.

View all 28 P1800 / P1800ES problems