New Aygo Owner - questions please

[DrVR46]

Hi All ... thanks for having me!

I've just (1 week ago) purchased an Aygo (Ice), 2011 model, 55,000 on the clock, 12 months MoT, with a good history (plenty of receipts, all previous MoT's, etc.).

It seems to make a very odd noise (kind of a growling and a juddering sensation) when trying to set off in 1st and 2nd at low revs. Once the revs get up it's fine and drives nicely. It's just the setting off when it does this.

Is this normal for the Aygo? I'm kind of worried I've been sold a dud so would like to ask your opinion whilst it's still in warranty!

Thanks in advance
Chris

 

[DerekHa]

Hi Chris,

My partner has a 2006 C1 with around 48K on the clock, essentially the same vehicle, and it isn't as smooth on pulling away as the 2013 Citigo I have. I think you'll find that all Aygo's, C1 and 107's exhibit similar vibration/judder when pulling away, a characteristic of the vehicle, as they call it, owing to it being a 3 cylinder engine. As I say the VW 3 cylinder engine in my Citigo feels much better, though the gear box is noiser than the C1 but again it seems they all do it.

I did try changing the main engine mount on the drivers side of the vehicle as the gap between the two metal plates I thought was too close. Tried two different brands, the one (STC) collasped on itself and the vibrations were far worse! I was able to get a full refund and purchased what I thought was a better brand (QH) and more expensive alternative. This held up but again the vibrations from the engine were more than with the original Toyota mount so refitted the original. Think the QH one was made using a much harder rubber compound.

Investigated a bit more and found the lower rear mounting appeared very soft and easliy moved. Replaced this and it made a noticable difference to the engine vibrations. I'd opted for a Febi mounting for this part.

Have seen other posts and video's which suggest the clutch could be at fault and need replacing. At some point I believe the manufacturers stopped fitting the original clutch, 180mm, and began fitting a 190mm improved version.

[DrVR46]

1 hour ago, DerekHa said:

I think you'll find that all Aygo's, C1 and 107's exhibit similar vibration/judder when pulling away, a characteristic of the vehicle, as they call it, owing to it being a 3 cylinder engine.

Hi Derek, many thanks for the quick response. That's kind of put my mind at ease! The only 3-cylinder I've ever owned was a Triumph 955i motorcycle (which didn't seem to struggle pulling away!!). Thanks again

[Cyker]

I do find the 3 cylinders quite unrefined at low rpm but they smooth out nicely as the revs pick up.

[DerekHa]

Bit of an update on thiis subject.

Even though replacing the bottom rear mounting improved things quite abit regarding the vibrations at pull off it still felt to be worse than when the car was bought 12 months ago now.

Have seen a lot on this forum and elsewhere regarding comparisons of E10 and E5 petrol. Have always filled up with E10 as it was cheaper and widely available. Had tried to get E5 some months ago but it always seemed to be in short supply  at the usual supermarkets. A few weeks ago we found E5 on sale at the local Sainsburys  and filled up the C1 using E5 (super unleaded), the gauge was down into the reserve.

After driving a short distance we both noticed that the engine seemed to be running  better and not so harshly at low engine speeds. The was a marked improvement when pulling away from stationary with engine vibrations reduced. The car feels more responsive and a much smoother take up of power from stand still!

Thinking back to when we test drove the car it seemed to be smoother then it became after refueling which would have been with E10 at the time. So thinking that the previous owner had been using E5. Might even have saved me so cash on replacing mountings but at least the bottom one wasn't in great condition anyway.

So surprised at the difference between how the little 3 cylinder engine runs on E10 compared to E5. Hoping that after another near tankl ful of E5 and all the E10 has been well diluted things will run much smoother now

[Puglet]

That's good to know, I've kept ours running on E5, never fully trusted the 'experts' saying all is ok, happy to pay the higher price cos our 107 is good on fuel anyway and saves money in other areas as well and it been very reliable so not cost any money in expensive repairs and I'd like to keep it that way.

P.S. I do put E10 in our shonky workhorse Astra and that runs ok, but still treat it to the odd E5 tank full, but that not as loved or cherished as our bugs.

[Jimota]

I’ve never used the E5 grade and don’t have any problems with my car but after reading some of the favourable owners comments I’m going to use it the next time I fill up.  Will keep you posted on the results.

[Dave the aygo]

My last aygo used to shudder in first gear I asked the dealership they said it was ok it was a build of fuel in the manifold?? 

[TonyHSD]

Well, that’s what I’v been talking about the E5 vs E10 since the beginning.
I fill up on average 90-100 Litres per week, I can confirm  E5 it’s definitely a better fuel. The octane numbers doesn’t matter, the E numbers matters these days.
Every car with petrol engine will note the change no matter how new it is, how powerful is or if it’s been designed to run on E10 or not.  
I am trying to find why and what exactly in the combustion process makes the engine sound rough and it’s accompanied by tiny vibrations, so far no luck. There are many videos that show how these two types of fuel are burning , the standard petrol or e5 are dirtier but has more lubricity where the e10 burns cleaner but adds no lube and it’s kind of dry fuel., don’t think makes any good to the engine metal parts and particularly these who moves and touch each other ( injectors, cylinder’s, piston rings)., bearings and in general to the engine oil. 
 

[Chris Boddum]

My Aygo was quite vibrat-y and lumpy when I bought it. After a year of using it on longer distances and motorway cruising, it went away. I used some fuel additives and Shell V-Power as well. Remember to get it up to around 3000 RPM on gear shifts every now and then and just.. use it well. Don't drive 2 kilometers in city and then shut it off, it'll surely hurt the system.

[DrVR46]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Very interesting regarding the super-unleaded, I'll  give this a go next time I fill up (unfortunately, I filled up last week and it generally lasts me around a month!).

[DerekHa]

On the subject of E10 and E5 fuel.

The C1 (56 plate) I refered to above is my partners vehicle however I have a Skoda Citigo (13 plate) which has VW's own 3 cylinder petrol engine. Again I have had this car for just under 12 months and it's been great on fuel and overall seems more refined than the Aygo three sisters, though the gearbox isn't as quiet.

So I've also recently tried switching to E5 from the E10 I'd been using since first buying the car. Before using E5 I was aware of a rather strange exhaust note whilst driving like "a !Removed! in a colinder", my best desciption and no there's no hole in the system. Since filling up with E5 the exhaust note has changed quite noticabley, not sounding farty and the engine seems to run and pull just that bit better.

My current MPG is close to 53, I do a quite of town driving mixed with a couple of 20 minute runs up and down the A46 a week. Haven't been keeping a note on MPG over time but feel 53 is somewhat better than I was getting on E10 and this has been through all of the recent cold weather. Best I've had from the Citigo was last summer from home up to Blackpool and back returning 73mpg which is great. Hoping for better from the E5 to help offset the slight price difference.

Ok E10 they say is better for the enviroment but if your engine doesn't run as well then E5 I feel is the better choice.

[Bernard Foy]

On 2/11/2023 at 4:25 PM, TonyHSD said:

Well, that’s what I’v been talking about the E5 vs E10 since the beginning.
I fill up on average 90-100 Litres per week, I can confirm  E5 it’s definitely a better fuel. The octane numbers doesn’t matter, the E numbers matters these days.
Every car with petrol engine will note the change no matter how new it is, how powerful is or if it’s been designed to run on E10 or not.  
I am trying to find why and what exactly in the combustion process makes the engine sound rough and it’s accompanied by tiny vibrations, so far no luck. There are many videos that show how these two types of fuel are burning , the standard petrol or e5 are dirtier but has more lubricity where the e10 burns cleaner but adds no lube and it’s kind of dry fuel., don’t think makes any good to the engine metal parts and particularly these who moves and touch each other ( injectors, cylinder’s, piston rings)., bearings and in general to the engine oil. 
 

Your post reminded me TonyHSD of when I was working with my little grey Ferguson which was started with petrol and when warmed up was switched over to TVO I used to add a half pint of lubricating oil to the full tank of TVO for exactly the same reasons lubricity!!

[TonyHSD]

5 minutes ago, Bernard Foy said:

Your post reminded me TonyHSD of when I was working with my little grey Ferguson which was started with petrol and when warmed up was switched over to TVO I used to add a half pint of lubricating oil to the full tank of TVO for exactly the same reasons lubricity!!

Yeah, this is how I feel my car engine is working with E10. 🙂👍

[DrVR46]

On 2/13/2023 at 8:50 AM, DrVR46 said:

Thanks for the replies everyone. Very interesting regarding the super-unleaded, I'll  give this a go next time I fill up (unfortunately, I filled up last week and it generally lasts me around a month!).

Well ... very interesting. I finally got round to filling up and went with the 5 Super-Unleaded instead of the usual 10 (normal unleaded). The difference is huge. Much smoother pulling away and less vibration. It just feels a much better drive. I'll be sticking to the super despite the expense as the fuel economy is so good and I don't do much in the way of mileage.

Thanks again to all that contributed!