TU Engine - Oil leak from corner of head gasket again!

[Ady2021]

Hi all

I have a 207 with the TU engine in which suffers from the common problem of oil leaking from the front corner of the head gasket. I typically use the BGA head gaskets from my local motor factors and find they only last 1.5-2 years before they start leaking oil again. Can anyone recommend a better brand of head gasket that will last longer than 2 years as I have already replaced it 4 times now and am feeling really fed up with keep repeating the work - same oil leak problem each time.

Thanks

[Arkis]

Hi, this is really common place for leaking gasket, but every 1,5-2 years is very excesive. Is the engine overall in good condition? Isn't head warped a little? Isn't there excess pressure in the engine?
Considering headgaskets I am usually going with Elring or Victor reinz.

Also, are you using correct coolant? For my Peugeot 206 1.4i 55kW it is G33 (original PSA coolant). Most people are using G12 coolant which corrodes engine and is dissolving headgasket.

[PaulC5]

Have you tried a gasket from a Peugeot dealer ?

[Arkis]

Unfortunatelly original head gaskets for TU engines (especially TU3s and TU5s) are actually the problematic ones. In this case the aftermarket gaskets are really better than the original.

[ekjdm14]

I'd second the recommendation for Elring/Victor Reinz gaskets, not just for the TU engine but I've had really good results with them on most engines. Also definitely would want to confirm the head surface is perfect before going back together, at this rate I'd be concerned about how long the threads in the block would last if it continues to have a gasket every couple of years! Not to mention the time and money being dumped into it.

[CitroJim]

I'd second the recommendation for Elring/Victor Reinz gaskets

Thanks!

Running two TU-engined cars I'm going to make a note of that.. I've been lucky as I've only had one really let go in this common place for a leak and that was back in the 90s...

Both my current two are - touch-wood - bone dry... I guess now I've said it I'll soon find one of them leaking!

[ozvtr]

The problem is the metal "key hole" insert in the gasket. The insert detaches from the body of the gasket.
I've replaced head gaskets in two C3's with TU3JP engines. I chose Elring gaskets as they do not have the metal insert.
However, if the engines have ever over heated at some stage, get the flatness of the head checked! The heads tend to warp very easily. They are made of french cheese!

[ekjdm14]

Agree, if it's ever overheated then I'd say have the head skimmed as a matter of course. We had a 206sw a few years back that was well cooked & I just threw it back together for "faeces and fun", original bolts, cambelt & all (using a Reinz gasket though, had to give it a fighting chance).

That lasted all of 25 minutes before it blew between cylinder 1 & the water jacket... Extreme case mind, the plastic intake manifold & thermostat housing had melted & turned into an Aero bar in places & would not be surprised if the liners had moved too, it had been HOT hot! No scoring on the cylinders & good oil pressure still though...

[CitroJim]

Extreme case mind, the plastic intake manifold & thermostat housing had melted & turned into an Aero bar in places

Gosh! Not only cooked but roasted too! Amazed it lasted as long as 25 minutes!!!

[ekjdm14]

Yes, think the original failure was plastic thermostat housing cracked & old fella who owned it drove aircooled style 'til it wouldn't drive any further.

[Ady2021]

Thanks to everyone for your input. It looks like our 207 is particularly bad for oil leaking from the corner of the head gasket. I did check the flatness of the head when I last had it apart and it was within limits. It does appear be the metal keyhole that is the problem in the gasket and all the other brands of gasket seem to be the same design. If the head gaskets on the TU3 engines are so prone to this problem then why on earth have Peugeot not designed a solution. Something like a metal insert could help reduce the oil pressure in that area of the oil passage.

[ozvtr]

I'm not a fan of this "fibrous" type of head gasket. I have seen plenty of head gasket like this, but these seem to be laminated. The coolant and oil gets in between the laminates and cause the gasket to de-laminate and swell.
The problem with the metal "key hole" insert is that the adhesive does not keep the insert attached to the rest of the gasket. Again, the gasket breaks down and the adhesive lets go and you loose the seal.
From what I can see, the aftermarket gasket manufacturers just copy the OEM design...flaws and all! Elring are the only manufacturer (that I have found) that does not use the metal insert. So in the very least, those gaskets cant fail because of that fault!!

Oh! and just as an aside, while the TU3A and the TU3JP engines are virtually identical, the head gaskets are not! While the gaskets look the same and have that stupid keyhole thing, the size and number of holes for coolant flow into the head are different!

[Arkis]

I will repeat myself, but I think it's important to stress to use the correct coolant! Usually services just slap G12 in there but my TU3JP engine calls for G33 coolant, which is only provided by PSA group and is the only safe coolant for my engine. Every other coolant dissolves the headgasket and that's why there is so many failed headgaskets in these engines.

[myglaren]

A long time ago now but SAABs were blowing head gaskets a lot, mainly in the US.
It was found that Mercedes coolant put a stop to that.
Coolants have changed a lot since those days though.

[Paul-R]

That was the engine which was shared with the Triumph Dolomite, wasn't it? Of course that slant 4 engine was basically a chopped off bank from the V8 engine fitted to the Triumph Stag which had its own set of cooling problems.