A Citroën BX on a rolling road is rare enough, but a 1.4?!

[@BobTheMartin]

"Why would you put that on the dyno" is one of my favorite things on this channel

[@alfiewoolard2598]

Former owner here. I think the current owner reached out in the last video but I can't remember. Anyway, this car has a bit of a confession to make- it's had a refresh! When I bought the car the engine has just been rebuilt after sitting in storage for 18 years. It's had new cylinder sleeves, piston rings and bearings. It may have had new pistons but I forget. Cylinder head was also gone over from what I remember. I had a huge wad of invoices from various engine parts suppliers sent to me when I took delivery of it, plus rebuild pictures. Off the top of my head, the rebuild happened at 95000 miles and I drove it up to ~104500 miles. The original carburettor, air cleaner and intake plenum came to me pre-ruined and it would never run properly, so I replaced the carburettor with a terrible Chinese Solex clone, which worked just as badly until the accelerator pump nozzle fell off while I was on the A303, jamming the throttle open and then getting swallowed by the engine. Don't worry, it was brass, and a borescope showed the cylinder was just fine. By this point I was pretty fed up, so I saved up and bought the twin barrel carburettor, plenum and intake manifold the car presently has. The carburettor was from a ZX in Portugal if memory serves me right. I took it apart and put new gaskets in it, but it probably needs a bit more than that. It certainly gave the car more pep. Hopefully this explains the surprise 75 screaming horses underneath. By the way, the label where the tax disc should be was my old parking permit. There should also be a label on the side of the dashboard showing the last oil change I did to it. I do still have the original tax disc holder and the plates, the car originally came from David Hiam Ltd. in Birmingham.

[@Zadster]

Sounds like the rebuild and all the work done was worthwhile! That power curve looks a good shape.

[@ethanrainsford4251]

Loving these dyno videos

[@grumpytorque8905]

It’s the rear spoiler making all the difference

[@Ricketik65]

Sadly mine doesn't have one. Guess I'll have to make do with 72 then...

[@oojimmyflip]

Good to see this on a TU engined 1.4 BX, I had one years ago when I lived a little further south in Portsmouth and the TU engine suffered with condensation issues inside the rocker cover in the winter , which made a nasty emulsion inside the rocker cover, there was no water in the oil or radiator, so I made a bong with a tupperware pot with a lid on it and attached it to the breather pipe on the oil cap and the engine breather and mounted it to the passenger side bulkhead, as the engine warmed up in winter instead of the moisture being trapped in the rocker cover it was collected in the bong. I showed it to Citroen in Hilsea Garage while eyeing an XM on their showroom floor and they said it was a common complaint and although about 15 years to late it was a great idea. I never had such issues with the AX we had with a TU engine. I always used to change the oil and filter about 3 thousand miles, these days with more modern oils its nearer 5 thousand miles. You said watch for smoke, there was a little puff of smoke as the engine started to decelerate.

[@docnele]

My girlfriend has 205 with TU1M and 250K kilometers on it. It was making mayo only when there was some oil other than Total. When I took it to warm it up, it was vaporing through the oil dipstick hole! I don't understand how that engine is still alive since she is driving less then 1km to the first full stop, and when I change it once per year at around 4K-5K km it is still see-trough because oil never warms up. Anyway, that smoke can be valve seals and even bad mixture, as I found out on 205 when oxy sensor cable got disconnected.

[@rolandkamp5307]

Oh the sounds of these dyno runs, like it wil explode any minute. Great series.

[@EdgyNumber1]

Kitch, it would be interesting to test a 5-speed 1.3 Montego or Maestro to compare figures with the Allegro.

[@shieldaigbencher]

No, it wouldn't.

[@erik_dk842]

@@shieldaigbencher Yes it would

[@ThePstorm]

Love these dyno runs. More please.

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

Another excellent Dyno Video Rich.

[@WouterBregman]

Having owned 17 BXs I recognize all too well the broken exhaust mount right at the bottom of the floor of the boot. ;-) Many greetings from the Netherlands.

[@Grimwriggler]

Yeay! my favorite series.. i would love to see my neighbour's lowly spek 1.9 SDI Ibiza on a rolling road. it seems super nippy for a 68 bph .

[@Shane_Marsh]

Your videos are proper quality entertainment. thank you buddy 👌🏻

[@MrDexron26]

I wonder if a Skoda Estelle would be interesting to watch.

[@Mancozeb100]

Addictive DynoVids !

[@CarsofGlasgow]

This is crazy to see another 14 RE, from what I seen online there is something like 14 vehicles left in the UK.

[@mclouj]

More dyno vids, these are great fun!

[@Bumper3D]

I have never driven a 1.4 BX but knowing how perky TU-engined cars usually feel, I would love to try one. I used to have a 205 1.4 XR and it felt absolutely mental. I also happen to own a BX 1.6 TRS and I've always found it more sluggish than it probably should be with 90bhp. I really have no idea why, I've changed almost everything ignition related, rebuilt the carb and checked the camshaft which appears to have no wear on it. I also used to have a BX 1.6 GTi (Finland/Greece export special I believe) with the 115bhp engine from 205 GTi and that felt quite zingy after you got past 4000ish rpm. Please keep the dyno videos coming, I find them very interesting to watch!

[@theheathster2]

My first BX was a 14RE on a F plate, it was also the best. The TZD Turbo which followed it was a mare!

[@alfamonk]

classic base BX - this still looks sharp after 30 years

[@gafrers]

Really enjoying this series

[@plum66]

Discrepancy between 75bhp quoted for Pugs vs 72bhp quoted in BX for nominally same TU3 could be due to DIN power quotex has to be in an As-installed condition with ancilliaries (alternator, pas pump, hydraulic pump and vehicle specific exh and air intake) I believe the hydraulic pumps on Citroen do consume a small but significant amount of power. I have run Xantias and 406s with same 2.0hdi engine and same gear ratios. The 406s always got about 2mpg better fuel mileage than the Xantias. The Xantias are slightly lighter. Aero about the same.

[@UPnDOWN]

OE figures were DIN, as is the Dyno

[@plum66]

@@UPnDOWN Yes. Old US type SAE outputs were often measured on engines without ancilliaries, even no cooling fan! Thus SAE always over stated what power would be in a car. Could you run the TU3 BX again with the HP pump drive belt off to see how much difference it makes?

[@UPnDOWN]

Be easier to just run it with the bleed screw backed off on the pressure regulator

[@BobM925]

I really want to see my TUD3 AX 1.4 diesel on that rolling road.

[@angusnz7910]

God you guys have all the survivor cars. Ide kill for a turbo diesel BX here in NZ. Other half is allowing me ONE weekend driver toy but I just can’t find anything here and importing is too daunting for me

[@BobTheMartin]

Leaving a second comment because I just thought If you can get a hold of some properly vintage 30s - early 50s vehicle to put on the dyno, that would be hilarious

[@UPnDOWN]

Had a Morgan with a Standard 8 engine on there a few times!

[@nathansalway8015]

Love to see one my mk2 cavaliers on a dyno

[@davidrumming4734]

I think they were a mixture of 4 and 5 speed as well. Interesting to see if same effect replicated.

[@davecoleman7431]

Great videos

[@Tagora2664]

Waiting for the first dyno blow up💥........ Did I just say that out loud 🤦‍♂️

[@UPnDOWN]

Think of the content!

[@B41DY]

Would love to put my base model Fabia estate on a dyno

[@ajfurrell3744]

I had a 405 and a bx19 both with the same engine and carb, but for some reason the 405 had a different shaped cam on the injector pump. I put that on the bx and man it made a difference, I wonder if the 1.4 engine has the same problem.

[@Madpegasusmax]

nice, and sounds nice:D

[@joannaatkins822]

Back in 2005 my first car was a Citroën AX 954cc four speed, and that was easily the fastest car to 30mph that I had for a good long while. It had tiny wheels and close gearing (for a four speed) so I'm guessing all that mechanical advantage really got made the most of

[@joannaatkins822]

It was a 1993 AX 3 door hatch, face-lift model. It died after overheating in traffic because of a badly corroded cylinder head. That head being unsalvageable and the garage I was using being unable to find a replacement signed it's death warrant. I still remember the REG number, and the enormous bottle holders in the front door pockets that would take any 2 litre soda bottle you could name

[@grumpy2.0]

Ill have to go watch again, but wasn't Dumpit running bonnet open.

[@ferrumignis]

Did he record the power with the inlet restrictor pipe removed, or with it in place on Dumpit? I can't remember that far back 🙄

[@UPnDOWN]

Dumpit's 3rd and 4th were bonnet open as I'd removed the intake pipe.

[@joopjansen9102]

When I noticed the two whisps of smoke at the end of the second run, I thought if that would show up on the graph. Then you showed the graph and there were two dips. Could there be a reason for the two dips on that second run and is that related to the two whisps?

[@UPnDOWN]

Possibly, but equally could have been coincidence.

[@volt8684]

My 1.6 cortina mk 3 was 60 bhp ohc and towed a caravan

[@gl_coimbra]

The suitcase engine which equiped the previous versions of the BX 14 had 72 hp, maybe they just forgot to update to 75 xD

[@10rGreenninja]

I had a G plate BX1.4 TGE in 1999 to 2000 pid £500 for it taxed and MOT'd, put 40,000 miles on it in 12 months (was contracting) and sold it for £750 late 2000, great little car that was, unfortunately it was beige LOL that was the only bad thing about the car.

[@catherinewheldon913]

I always thought the the carburettor engined cars were rated at 72hp and the fuel injected ones were 75hp? Graham

[@UPnDOWN]

They are, although we didn't get the injected 1.4s in the UK. (Like the new look btw Graham, big improvement! Did you do something with your hair?)

[@sumeda36]

Any chance of seeing what my TZD Turbo estate will do? 😜😜

[@kathrynwhitby9799]

here's an idea. Find i high mileage diesel, and test it before and after it's been Terracleaned to see if there's any difference.

[@bondbug73]

Rejoice! (Kind of) poverty spec BX dyno.

[@robertstanger258]

Can you book a session on the Rolling Road 😊

[@UPnDOWN]

I don't need to, it's mine

[@robertstanger258]

@@UPnDOWN I meant if I wanted to book a session on your rollers could I. I know you can😂by the way have you done stand up, love you humour, I have done some stand-up myself.

[@robertstanger258]

Just read that back, don’t mean to sound like a stalker, 😂I am quite safe, I work with the Practical Classic team from time to time.

[@UPnDOWN]

Depends what it is, really. I only use it for YT now, it's not open for 'public' bookings.

[@robertstanger258]

@@UPnDOWN cool it’s just some rolling roads laugh if you bring the Citroen C1 with 153,000 miles, because you have an obsession with seeing how much your 3 POT has lost or what little gains you can make to go faster doing Autosolo. Mine should be about 68. But love little cars also have a Mk 3 Mini 1000. I am trying to convince the wife that a 40 year Mk 2 Fiesta Diesel is our next car, I am getting excited that I can drive an MoT, Tax exempt ULEZ compliant Diesel and run on Cooking Oil, through London at 50+ MPG with an additional Subaru Turbo on it. Let’s Stick it to the Man, as they sing in School of Rock.

[@kylekaye9147]

Has the 16v Bx been on the Dyno?

[@UPnDOWN]

Many times

[@martinneumann7783]

Isn’t it possible to regenerate electricity from the dyno? 😊

[@UPnDOWN]

I mean, in theory, kinda, but not enough to cancel out the energy used to drive it.

[@erik_dk842]

All modern rolling roads are strictly inertia, some of them have brakes to slow down the heavy rollers after the run. The computer software knows the inertia of the rollers and calculates the horsepower backwards from the acceleration. At a steady speed, the only resistance is in the bearings. Engine brakes used to measure tractor power can apply a constant resistance, most often by pumping water through a restriction

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

Put the cabin heater and blower on full when doing these runs…..

[@UPnDOWN]

That'd be like trying to put out a forest fire with a watering can!

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

@@UPnDOWN The cooling on those is so optimised, I don’t think the big dyno fan is aimed quite right for maximum effect ? You could hear the electric radiator fan working really hard….

[@UPnDOWN]

On a BX? Cooling system has plenty in reserve. Biggest issue with the TU in these is no oil/coolant heat exchanger. Its getting the oil temp down that helps, not the coolant. Fan is two speed, so often cuts in at slow speed. Only goes nuts when it really gets hot. (98c or more)

[@glenrea]

My 205 feels like it has more power than the book quotes. But it’s an XY7 not a TU.

[@oscarzt1652]

would you take requests for dyno runs from your viewers? (admittedly my car isnt a PSA)

[@UPnDOWN]

Depends what it is

[@abenormal9075]

I didn't know they made a 1.4

[@sandwichbar8226]

They made a 1.1 as well

[@abenormal9075]

@@sandwichbar8226 for some reason I'd previously thought that BX's were all 1.9's apart from maybe the diesels

[@Joolz777]

😎😎😎😎😎👍👍👍👍👍

[@vonsch76]

an 1.1 is even more rare

[@rimmersbryggeri]

BX:s seem pretty common on your dyno, is almost getting repetitive. (Not at all as long as they beat Ian)

[@UPnDOWN]

How many have there been?

[@rimmersbryggeri]

@@UPnDOWN Is there not another one on the board? Or is that just wishful thinking? I was joking though putting a BX on a dyno is much more entertaining than a corvette. IF you had 2 out of less than 15 cars total on the board that would be quite common though? I would say more than most dyno's not owned by PSA...

[@UPnDOWN]

There's one other on there.

[@CarlSöderquist]

Is it hp on the wheels? Then it is over performing.

[@UPnDOWN]

Depends which box you're looking at.

[@CarlSöderquist]

@@UPnDOWN Which one was it then?

[@erik_dk842]

It measures the HP at the wheels, overestimates the transmission loss and gives a "joy" figure for the HP at the flywheel. Putting in higher than actual ambient temperature further helps to give a "rosy" corrected horsepower figure.

[@CarlSöderquist]

@@erik_dk842 I figured ...

[@CarlSöderquist]

@@erik_dk842 Yes

[@theocmaniak]

Put a 206 1.6 16V on there, you will be very surprised.

[@aaaabababa]

before watching the video i'm gonna say it's probably going to be above 72hp, but below 78.

[@isaacplaysbass8568]

"...beat ubNut..." I mean, of course, Ian provides test articles, you test other articles, if they win.. er I mean show higher attributes.... what more can you do!?

[@LawnMowersThingsThatMakeNoise]

Can i bring my 2023 1.5 150 VW tiguan to do a video for a laugh 🙂

[@UPnDOWN]

Too new for me I'm afraid!

[@LawnMowersThingsThatMakeNoise]

@@UPnDOWN pwease :)

[@UPnDOWN]

No I mean it'll have a duck fit and need plugging in to reset everything.

[@LawnMowersThingsThatMakeNoise]

@@UPnDOWN oh I have obdeleven. I know it will get thousands of views. I take full responsibility

[@darrenwilson8042]

I don't think Bella is a turbo engine

[@mad-FrenchS203]

All 2L HDi 90 are turbo 😅

[@darrenwilson8042]

@@mad-FrenchS203 yeah but thats not the engine in Bella

[@Grimwriggler]

@@darrenwilson8042 yes bella is turbo but without intercooler

[@ferrumignis]

@@darrenwilson8042 Yes it is. The Berlingo has a DW10 HDi engine, turbo diesel, 90PS. Well it has 90PS when they are healthy, Hubnut's one doesn't.

[@UPnDOWN]

Bella is a turbo engine, it just doesn't behave like one...

[@newtonmetereu196]

Flooring a carburated car in an enclosed space without extractors may not be the best thing, keep it safe mate. Love that BX 😁😁

[@andrewborrell6373]

Car was common . it is rare as shite

[@UPnDOWN]

See a lot of BXs on rolling roads, huh?

[@simonspider]

Love name dropping on this channel don't you? Must you mention Hubnut on EVERY single video?? 🤣

[@UPnDOWN]

I don't mention HubNut on EVERY single video, I mention HubNut on the dyno videos. You know, for a joke.