Oil-Citroen uses the same PSA (now Stellantis) oil specification system as Peugeot — PSA B71 2290 and B71 2312. Getting the correct spec is critical, especially for PureTech turbo engines with the wet timing belt design where the wrong oil chemistry can cause catastrophic belt failure.
PSA B71 2290 — Standard Diesel & Petrol (5W-30)
PSA B71 2290 is the standard specification for most Citroen diesel engines (HDi, BlueHDi without SCR) and older petrol engines. It requires SAE 5W-30 with low-SAPS content based on ACEA C2. This spec covers the widely used 1.6 HDi (DV6), 2.0 BlueHDi (DW10), and naturally aspirated petrol engines found in the C3, C4, Berlingo, and Dispatch. It is the most common Citroen oil spec.
PSA B71 2312 — PureTech & BlueHDi SCR (0W-30)
PSA B71 2312 is required for all 1.2 PureTech turbo engines and newer BlueHDi diesels with SCR (AdBlue). It requires SAE 0W-30 with ultra-low-SAPS chemistry. For PureTech engines with the wet timing belt, this specification is absolutely non-negotiable — the oil's additive package directly affects belt material integrity. Using ACEA C3 oil instead of B71 2312 will accelerate rubber degradation and can lead to belt disintegration.
PureTech Wet Belt — The Oil-Critical Design
The 1.2 PureTech engine (EB2) used across the C3, C3 Aircross, C4, and Berlingo features a timing belt running submerged in engine oil. The belt rubber compound is sensitive to specific oil additives — incorrect chemistry causes swelling, cracking, and particle shedding that clogs the oil pump strainer. Stellantis issued a major recall affecting approximately 500,000 vehicles in 2021, and announced a compensation programme in May 2025. Always use B71 2312 approved oil and consider belt replacement at 6 years regardless of mileage.
Berlingo & Commercial Vehicles
Citroen's commercial range — Berlingo Van, Dispatch, and Relay — often operates under severe conditions: heavy loads, frequent starts, and extended idling. The oil specification remains the same as the passenger car equivalent, but oil change intervals should be shortened to account for the harsher duty cycle. The 1.5 BlueHDi in the current Berlingo requires B71 2290 (5W-30), while the older 1.6 HDi also uses B71 2290.
Total — Citroen's Official Oil Partner
Citroen has the same TotalEnergies partnership as Peugeot. Total Quartz INEO First 0W-30 carries B71 2312 approval, and Total Quartz INEO ECS 5W-30 carries B71 2290. However, the specification on the label is what matters — any oil with the correct PSA approval number is equally suitable for your Citroen.