C5 2.2 HDI Auto Head Gasket Change

acrowot · Post by **acrowot** » 22 Jun 2010, 16:21

Going to change Head Gasket shortly, this engine is not covered in the BOL are there any pitfalls to look out for, is it any more difficult than the 1.9 td, I have done a few of them. Any help gratefully received.

wheeler · Post by **wheeler** » 22 Jun 2010, 16:45

The biggest pitfall i can think of is getting the injectors out without wrecking the head. They can be a total nightmare & loads of 2.2 engines have been written of due to this. Some of these injectors wont even budge with a slide hammer attatched to them.

acrowot · Post by **acrowot** » 22 Jun 2010, 16:55

wheeler wrote:The biggest pitfall i can think of is getting the injectors out without wrecking the head. They can be a total nightmare & loads of 2.2 engines have been written of due to this. Some of these injectors wont even budge with a slide hammer attatched to them.

Thanks for your reply wheeler, do they have to come out to do a gasket change, I will be trying to remove them but do I have to do just for the gasket or only for a head skim?. This head was removed by a so called professional garage about 2 years ago as a result of a cambelt snap before it belonged to me, I noticed the injectors were leaking a few months ago and I was able to stop the leaks by tightening the nuts which were quite loose so maybe they will come out, fingers crossed.

wheeler · Post by **wheeler** » 22 Jun 2010, 18:31

If I remember right I dont think you can get the head off without removing injectors, The studs hold the camcover down.

acrowot · Post by **acrowot** » 22 Jun 2010, 20:29

wheeler wrote:If I remember right I dont think you can get the head off without removing injectors, The studs hold the camcover down.

I thought the injectors were held down with 1 nut but that is the injectors on the 2.0 HDI, the 2.2 injectors are held down with 2 cap heads per injector I think 7mm. It does look like the cam cover will come off without removing the injectors but the inlet manifold may be a problem. Is this engine 16 or 8 valve engine, the cam cover seems quite small for a 16 valve. I have also ordered a Chinese Lexia 3 today as the engine has other problems, this should be fun.

h2ocooler · Post by **h2ocooler** » 22 Jun 2010, 20:41

The 2.2 is a 16 valve, I had to change the fire seal and washer on one of my injectors, it did come out easy (the cap bolts are 7mm, I use the tool for escort brake calipers i think)
Rob

cachaciero · Post by **cachaciero** » 23 Jun 2010, 00:52

I have read a lot about 2.2 injectors being difficult to remove, some where on this list I did see a recommendation to soak them overnight in cokacola.
One thing I read somewhere else apparently on the Mercedes A series diesels the injectors can be a pig to get out probably for the same reasons, the solution there was to apply paint stripper around the injector allow it to soak in overnight and then the injectors would come out easily.

Don't know if this will work or not but I pass it on on the basis that one day somebody might be desperate enough to try it, if you do please let us know if it works

KP · Post by KP » 23 Jun 2010, 07:58

Be carfeull with paint stripper as if it gets on any rubber bits it won't do much good.

i think the reason the injectors are a problem is that as the diesel and soot mix trys to get past them and is heated up in a very hot head it hardens and almost becomes like coal.