Engine Bay Undertray

Penguin · Post by **Penguin** » 04 May 2011, 09:10

Chaps, a couple of weeks ago I was driving home and all of a sudden I heard a horrendous noise coming from underneath my car. I pulled over to find the engine bay undertray (does it have a better name?) dragging on the floor as the rear bolts had gone missing. I undid the front bolts and removed the tray. It was pretty oily so I left it in the hedge until I could get some plastic sheeting and then I could go pick it up. Following morning I went to get it only to find the usually innefficient council had suddenly discovered efficiency and removed it. I would like to fit another but my question is...... Are all the trays the same? i.e. would a tray from a petrol model and/or a series 2 fit? Or do I need to get one made specifically for a series 1 1.9TD?

Ta.

HDI · Post by **HDI** » 04 May 2011, 09:54

I've used a TD type on my HDI. Doesn't fit exactly, it touches the lower intercooler pipe, but it didn't seem to be a problem.

stedmancinques · Post by **stedmancinques** » 04 May 2011, 12:15

Only the diesels have the undertray; I was given to understand that it was because they couldn't get them to stop leaking oil, so the undertray disguised the fact until it was safely out of warranty..

Chris570 · Post by **Chris570** » 04 May 2011, 12:37

stedmancinques wrote:Only the diesels have the undertray; I was given to understand that it was because they couldn't get them to stop leaking oil, so the undertray disguised the fact until it was safely out of warranty..

Hmmm i don't buy that sorry. My HDi doesnt leak oil at all. sounds a bit like an urban myth

HDI · Post by **HDI** » 04 May 2011, 12:53

Most certainly an urban myth. The most likely reasons are, air control for aerodynamics and engine temperature, and, noise suppression.

mongoose100 · Post by **mongoose100** » 04 May 2011, 13:17

My 2.0 Petrol (MKI) has one but V6 (MKII) doesn't

stedmancinques · Post by **stedmancinques** » 04 May 2011, 13:25

Well possibly an urban myth, then. My 2.0 petrol S1 doesn't have an undertray- but it does leak oil!

xmexclusive · Post by **xmexclusive** » 04 May 2011, 13:28

On XM diesels the recommendation is to remove and junk the undertray.
Due to a foam edging strip they trap moisture and salt water against the bottom of the front subframe. Quite a few XM MOT failures from rusted through bottom plates. No rust treatment on XM subframes just thin black paint. Would expect other Citroens to be similar.
Nasty catch 22 here as well that I got caught on a couple of years ago.
MOT tester fails the car on subframe rust, declares that the subframe it is a suspension component. Warns that weld repair of suspension components is not permitted and that he must fail the car if it is returned newly welded.

John

Penguin · Post by **Penguin** » 04 May 2011, 14:25

Well, thanks for all the replies. My TD definitely leaks quite a bit of oil (the main reason I want to replace the tray!) and the tray dissperses it around the countryside far better than it does now! My drive has started to resemble a dalmation. I guess its on the blower to all the scrappys in the area and see if they've got one.

Post by **myglaren** » 04 May 2011, 17:30

Mine came off on Saturday.
The Antipollution fault had disappeared last Thursday but has now returned and I am wondering if there is a connection.
I hadn't refitted mine very well, a lack of nuts 'n bolts and places to nut'nbolt them to.
Job for the weekend

The leak thing I agree must be a UM - mine leaks not in the slightest - except when I am clumsy with refilling after a service there is no oil on the engine or under it at all. No top-ups between services either.

Never had any leaks on the TD either.

Post by **CitroJim** » 04 May 2011, 17:41

mongoose100 wrote: but V6 (MKII) doesn't

I don't think the V6 ever had one...

I find this a bit odd about the oil leaks... All PSA engines (diesel included) seem reasonably oil-tight if properly maintained.. Most oil seems to escape out of the turbo pipes..

It was expounded on here a while back that one reason* diesels have the tray in order to keep the oil in the sump at a nice temperature. Word was that if the tray is discarded then the oil can run a bit cool.

This is not a problem on the V6 and in this respect it needs all the oil cooling help it can get. An undertray would fry it...

* Other reasons were those of aerodynamics and sound deadening.

deuchebleu · Post by **deuchebleu** » 04 May 2011, 22:18

As far as I understand it the reason for fitting the undertrays to diesels only was so that they could meet the EU 'drive by' noise regulations.

John

mongoose100 · Post by **mongoose100** » 05 May 2011, 08:35

CitroJim wrote:
mongoose100 wrote: but V6 (MKII) doesn't
I don't think the V6 ever had one...

This is not a problem on the V6 and in this respect it needs all the oil cooling help it can get. An undertray would fry it...

Do the 6's get rather hot in the oil department? Do they have a cooler?
Was contemplating putting one on at some stage too, doing a fair bit of towing around NZ's hilly terrain!

Xaccers · Post by **Xaccers** » 05 May 2011, 09:17

You could always take out a second mortgage and treat yourself to a brand new one

Post by **CitroJim** » 05 May 2011, 10:20

mongoose100 wrote:[Do the 6's get rather hot in the oil department? Do they have a cooler?

Yes, they do as soon as the mercury hits a reasonable figure and you are pushing on a bit...

In an S2 V6 you're oblivious to it as there's no oil temperature gauge, it's place being taken by the gear position repeater. The S1 V6 has an oil temperature gauge and it's a bit of a frightener really...

Maybe that's why they deleted on the S2....

There is no coller fitted as standard but I reckon one wouldn't come amiss in warmer climes...