2.0 HDI Xantia engine under tray?

[Stepto1]

Is the large tray that sits under the engine necessary?

Mines come away at the back and the bolts that hold it on have rusted solid and many have come away so I've just removed the whole thing. No more oil trap/tool thief/nut and bolt hider.

It won't cause any problems?

Will make the oil change much easier!!!!

[Ratheram]

Bin it. Makes working on them 1000 times easier.


(edit: thats my view on them, may not be everybody elses.)

[Gibbo2286]

Do you really think Citroen would have wasted money fitting it in the first place if it.........................

[Stepto1]

I know, I did wonder. But loads of cars don't have them.

What it would save in fuel (reduces drag?) it costs me in lost tools!!!

[Xaccers]

It protects the engine and ancillaries from water spray and other potential damage from debris in the road. May also act as sound deadening.

[Stepto1]

Well, I'll need a new one to go on and will need to drill out and tap three captive nuts then.

Bet I can't find a new one at sensible price.

Sure it will be ok without it. My old 1.8 16V managed without one, although it wasn't keen on puddles....

[Ratheram]

The 16v didnt cope very well as there is a very long distance on the aux belt between the hydraulic pump and the A/C pump and if water gets in there, *squeeeeel*. My 2.0i 16v Xantia doesnt have 1, dont see a point of it. Everything works as it should. Inner wing covers though I say are needed, if you loose your undertray, they would need to be secured at the front properly.

I fitted an undertray to a Citroen GS I once had... Road sign, measure up under car, make new fixings with man sized bolts that wont snap (but being a GS, everything down there is well oilled up) cut holes out for oil drain plug, cut pipe in half longways and put round hole made for draining oil so no sharp edges. Sorted.

[Gibbo2286]

I found one for mine on Ebay, breaker was offering other C5 bits, I asked if he had the tray and he posted it to me for £20 including the postage.

[DickieG]

Sure it will be ok without it. My old 1.8 16V managed without one, although it wasn't keen on puddles....

Maybe that's because petrol engined Xantia's didn't have them

The HDi tray is different from the TD one and doesn't have the large vent running across the tray.

[Stepto1]

I've bolted the wing liners up at the front so all is secure.

The old tray weighed a ton! Soaked in spilled oil.

I'll look out for one but not going to go mad.

[charentejohn]

When mine was removed it did make a difference to engine noise, better now replaced.

If you can get the bolts out the the tray may be reusable if you use large washers to bridge the damaged tray sections, worked on a friend's golf. If really big holes use aluminium squares, as long as it clamps and supports the tray it will do till a replacement turns up ?

[HDI]

Before I lost the last one on my HDi due to someone throwing it out by mistake (!!!!), I'd got sick of the retaining bolt hassle so I just cable tied it on !! Cut them off at service time and use new ones afterwards !!

[Peter.N.]

I think they are mainly to reduce outside engine noise, they don't make a lot of difference inside, my 406 has one but the C5 doesnt, it does sound noiser but then its a different engine.

Peter

[CitroJim]

Rattiva did have a tray but has not had one since shortly after I did the first oil change...

I've run her right through the winter without one and no problem at all.

It's there to assist with protection, noise (as is the top engine cover) and maybe a slightly faster winter warm-up.

I'd not get too overly concerned about fitting it unless you plan to do a few rally gravel stages...

The mudshield extension that shields the auxiliary belt and crank pulley is, on the other hand, absolutely essential. If left off stones can get on the auxiliary belt and wreak havoc with the pulley grooves...

[myglaren]

I'd say better to have it than not.

Lost it on the outgoing C5 and the wind tore the wheel arch liner out which in turn allowed the induction circuit to pull in water, sand, grit etc. that ruined the air filter, filled the air box with water and gravel and destroyed the MAF.

Possibly contributing to poor starting performance during winter and slowing the warm-up process too.

Xantia was better with the trap door to access the sump drain.