How Many XUD Engines are still in use UK?

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.
1080
Posts: 47
Joined: 07 Apr 2018, 00:15
x 16

How Many XUD Engines are still in use UK?

Unread post by 1080 »

Well I have two: a 38k Xantia 1.9D and a mint 306 1.9D. Both are non-turbo.
I've worked on the XUD engine for over 40 years. I've rebuilt literally hundreds of them and worked at three main Citroën dealerships, including being foreman mechanic at one (as best foreman in the world, myself and the other chaps sorted all of the 'difficult' jobs before lunch.
The afternoon was Worker's Playtime...
And yet we won some dealership of the year award with the prize being a free holiday in Madrid.
Happiest time I ever had whilst working for someone else.

I then set up a Peugeot Citroën specialist garage and eventually ruined my back...

As I have a workshop, still love being an (elderly) mechanic, I am considering starting up as an XUD engine specialist. It only needs to cover my modest overhead.
And that's why I want to know. Thanks.
User avatar
mickthemaverick
Forum Admin Team
Posts: 20834
Joined: 11 May 2019, 17:56
x 8023

Re: How Many XUD Engines are still in use UK?

Unread post by mickthemaverick »

Good to know you are there!! :)
I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure!
I used to ride on two wheels, but now I need all four!
User avatar
CitroJim
A very naughty boy
Posts: 54888
Joined: 30 Apr 2005, 23:33
x 8255

Re: How Many XUD Engines are still in use UK?

Unread post by CitroJim »

I'd say there's a good few :D A classic engine that's almost bullet-proof and eternal so long as the camblet is replaced regularly, oil and filter changes carried out frequently and the cooling system maintained in top condition.

I wish you all the best with your specialist business - I'm sure there's a demand :D

As there would be for the TU engine. Definitely still several million in regular use, including one here! Another classic PSA engine :cool:
Jim

A bit of a Citroen AX fan...
aerodynamica
(Donor 2025)
Posts: 1689
Joined: 26 Dec 2007, 18:10
x 215

Re: How Many XUD Engines are still in use UK?

Unread post by aerodynamica »

I could have done with some advice a few years ago changing the head gasket on my '93 Xantia XUD9. I found it quite difficult to work on with the engine in the car and a small garage. First head gasket had to come back out because it turned out to be the wrong one supplied. It had been all metal. It must have been for another variety of the engine. The right one is a composite item with rubber bits.
Second go with the correct gasket and all new head bolts, refurbished the thermostat housing, a full engine block flush and new water pump saw it survive. Car still survives with another owner.
It's a good engine that does well without any electronics and I think someone specialised in it would be most welcome.
Could you be persuaded to cover HDi units too? :o
Graeme M
2008 C5 Exclusive Tourer 2.0 HDi
Online
User avatar
MattBLancs
Donor 2024
Posts: 5234
Joined: 25 Apr 2022, 09:03
x 2296

Re: How Many XUD Engines are still in use UK?

Unread post by MattBLancs »

As others have suggested, if you expand your scope to include the HDi engines too then you've got a huge market available. Could stick to "mechanical elements" if wanting to stay away from electronic diagnostic work.

I enjoyed my XUD9TE 306, have to be honest having driven my dad's previous DW8 (essentially an XUD update) equipped 206, I've come to conclusion I do have a "minimum" when it comes to power requirement! :rofl2:

Key memory was when I borrowed it to tow a small trailer (filled mostly with two guinea pig hutches - not that heavy but definitely not aerodynamic!) and a fairly full boot/dropped back seats. M62 has a few LONG climbs, that wasn't fun! Foot flat to the floor for minutes, nope, still loosing speed, down to fourth, foot flat to the floor, nope, we're still slowing! Try third, ah maintaining speed at least! Think about 45 or so!
Nevermind, was a one off trip, and it made it :)

Hello from a fellow Lancastrian =;
User avatar
Huskyxantia
(Donor 2025)
Posts: 3703
Joined: 30 Jul 2018, 22:11
x 847

Re: How Many XUD Engines are still in use UK?

Unread post by Huskyxantia »

My old estate 1.9D gets a start up about once per calendar month and left to run for an hour while I'm checking it all over , the engine sounds great and it drives too.
Attachments
This one girl gets a start up every 4th week to keep everything....
This one girl gets a start up every 4th week to keep everything....
Husky. :? Thinking outside of the box is better than sitting in a dark one.
:-D
1080
Posts: 47
Joined: 07 Apr 2018, 00:15
x 16

Re: How Many XUD Engines are still in use UK?

Unread post by 1080 »

Thank you for all the replies.
I made up my mind, and I'm having a go!
I can do the electronics side of more modern diesels, but the unit opposite mine is so good in this area, I usually recommend them. Besides I love all-mechanical diesels. They can get home without a working alternator, diesel fuel (vegetable oil) or even a battery. I'd like to convince my wife to allow us to go 'off-grid' and use an XUD powered generator running on used cooking oil.
Two/three years per engine. Always having another unit to take its place?

I can well remember around 1988 having thirteen XUD-powered cars engines in bits. All nearly new cars, their total value approaching half a million GBP in today's money?

Car Number Thirteen (obviously), and with the other twelve finally back on the road, #13 had a strange clicking noise.
Wrong head gasket!
100% my fault: I was 100% sure the car was a BX 17RD. The pistons were 'kissing' the head gasket's metal sealing area on what turned out to be a BX
19RD engine.
Idiot!
Thanks for all of the comments.
Happy New Year.
1080
Posts: 47
Joined: 07 Apr 2018, 00:15
x 16

Re: How Many XUD Engines are still in use UK?

Unread post by 1080 »

Every Single Fortnight The Little Van that Could was in our workshop.
Not for repairs: but for servicing!
You see it - somewhat like a Canadian freight locomotive engine - ran continuously almost 24/7/365 and clocked up well over a 700,000 miles. Original injection pump, and head-gasket etc. Just engine oil and filters. And seemingly endless headlight unit replacements from the seemingly endless stone-chip damaged glass.

I mention the above in case you were wondering if an XUD motor could really run a generator all year round?

It can. The LVTC would leave our dealership, onto the M65 and would then be Hammered up and down the M6. Flat out.
All day and night with five or six different drivers.
Amazing.
If only PSA had chosen cast iron for the cylinder head material, it would be unbreakable.
User avatar
bobins
(Donor 2025)
Posts: 6846
Joined: 05 Jul 2012, 18:07
x 3567

Re: How Many XUD Engines are still in use UK?

Unread post by bobins »

Wasn't there a chap on here a year or two ago who was marinising an XUD to go in his boat ? I believe the kits to do so aren't too difficult to get still.
Online
User avatar
MattBLancs
Donor 2024
Posts: 5234
Joined: 25 Apr 2022, 09:03
x 2296

Re: How Many XUD Engines are still in use UK?

Unread post by MattBLancs »

bobins wrote: 01 Jan 2026, 09:46 Wasn't there a chap on here a year or two ago who was marinising an XUD to go in his boat ? I believe the kits to do so aren't too difficult to get still.
Yes I remember reading that - will have a dig.

EDIT here you go, rather ambiguously titled "My Engine"
viewtopic.php?p=611963#p611963
User avatar
Paul-R
Moderating Team
Posts: 9173
Joined: 07 May 2009, 16:24
x 1908

Re: How Many XUD Engines are still in use UK?

Unread post by Paul-R »

bobins wrote: 01 Jan 2026, 09:46 Wasn't there a chap on here a year or two ago who was marinising an XUD to go in his boat ? I believe the kits to do so aren't too difficult to get still.
Try six and a half years ago!

viewtopic.php?t=62872&hilit=boat+XUD
As I get older I think a lot about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened.

"Trying is the first step towards failure" ~ Homer J Simpson
Online
User avatar
MattBLancs
Donor 2024
Posts: 5234
Joined: 25 Apr 2022, 09:03
x 2296

Re: How Many XUD Engines are still in use UK?

Unread post by MattBLancs »

If you are going off grid, then the big opportunity with a generator setup would be to do "CHP" Combined Heat & Power, so recover as much heat from the engine as possible.

Obviously the "easy bit" to recover is from the engine cooling system which the thermostat will keep at a temperature very suitable to feed household radiators.

XUD turbo models had the oil filter housing mounted oil-water heat exchanger, not sure if non-turbo XUD did without? (Think the 206 DW8 didn't have one, from memory...) But heat recovery from the oil also easily taken care of.

More difficult is the exhaust, on a small scale you could use readily available EGR coolers, but you'd need a fleet of them to cover the full exhaust flow.
User avatar
bobins
(Donor 2025)
Posts: 6846
Joined: 05 Jul 2012, 18:07
x 3567

Re: How Many XUD Engines are still in use UK?

Unread post by bobins »

Isn't it a feature of some marinising kits that they have water cooled / silenced exhausts ?
Online
User avatar
MattBLancs
Donor 2024
Posts: 5234
Joined: 25 Apr 2022, 09:03
x 2296

Re: How Many XUD Engines are still in use UK?

Unread post by MattBLancs »

bobins wrote: 01 Jan 2026, 10:28 Isn't it a feature of some marinising kits that they have water cooled / silenced exhausts ?
Ah, good idea, I'm not sure if they are set up to "recover" the water (to feed into a heating system) - thinking of the bacon (EDIT: should read "the back of" :rofl2: ) of a canal boat where exhaust gasses and water all come out together (I think!!)

I must have a read of that marinising thread, some of the answers are likely in there :)
Last edited by MattBLancs on 01 Jan 2026, 10:50, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Paul-R
Moderating Team
Posts: 9173
Joined: 07 May 2009, 16:24
x 1908

Re: How Many XUD Engines are still in use UK?

Unread post by Paul-R »

Bacon? Genuinely don't know what this means.
As I get older I think a lot about the hereafter - I go into a room and then wonder what I'm here after.

Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened.

"Trying is the first step towards failure" ~ Homer J Simpson