Citroen DS5 Connecting Rods

There is no cheap version. The engine comes out, the block is split, and the crankshaft usually needs measuring and often machining because a failed bearing rarely leaves the journal untouched. Labour alone runs into many hours before any machining. Forged rods from the aftermarket exist for the TU5JP4 if you are building rather than repairing. In most real cases the honest comparison is against a good used engine, and we will price both — send the VIN and the mileage.

Deep and hollow, like someone tapping the block with a hammer from the inside, loudest under load in the mid rev range. It speeds up with engine speed and goes quieter the instant you close the throttle, which is the detail that separates it from most top-end noises. If you hear that from a 1.6 HDi or a 1.6 THP, do not drive the car to a workshop to have it confirmed.

No. Rod knock means the big-end bearing has already failed or the rod is cracked, and every further revolution is doing damage that spreads. Carry on and the bearing spins in its housing, the crank journal is destroyed, and in the worst case the rod exits through the side of the block. The difference between towing it and driving it is frequently the difference between a repairable engine and a replacement one.

Oil, in nearly every case. Missed changes, a level that has been allowed to drop, or a failing oil pump — and on the PureTech engines a clogged oil pump pick-up strainer is a known and specific route to exactly this. Water ingested through the intake will hydrolock an engine and bend a rod instantly. Over-revving a high-compression engine does it mechanically. Keeping to the service oil interval prevents the overwhelming majority of them.

Used rods, complete short blocks and full used engines all come through our supplier network and the South African strip yards, and for most repairs one of the latter two is the sensible buy rather than individual rods. Forged aftermarket rods are available where someone is building an engine rather than fixing one. We match on engine code rather than model name, because the same badge covered several different engines — send the chassis number.