xm td waterloss/oil in coolingwater

This is the Forum for all your Citroen Technical Questions, Problems or Advice.

Moderator: RichardW

Post Reply
jtindle
Posts: 2
Joined: 09 Sep 2003, 01:21
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

xm td waterloss/oil in coolingwater

Post by jtindle »

On my XM 2.5TD I've got oil in the engine coolant and am losing coolant & power is now dropping off.
Local repairer says oil cooler is OK (cost £300 to find out)& if head gasket has gone will cost £5-700 to do.
Help needed!
User avatar
AndersDK
Posts: 6060
Joined: 21 Feb 2003, 04:56
Location: Denmark
My Cars:
x 1

Post by AndersDK »

What kind of help do you need ?
Your symptoms is most likely a headgasket job.
Ther's no need to use a Citroen dealer for this work - the XM 2.5TD engine is a pretty straightforward PSA (Citroen & Peugeot) engine type.
You should consider why the problem appeared - the radiator may be clogged - giving in-adequate cooling - which for sure blows the head gasket over some time.
If you're not in a position to do this work as DIY - then the only option is ....[B)]
NiSk
Posts: 1422
Joined: 24 Jan 2002, 20:11
Location: Sweden
My Cars:
x 1

Post by NiSk »

Definitely sounds like the head gasket - do a compression test just to confirm it.
Changing the head gasket on an XM diesel is not for the faint hearted! Both Citroën and Haynes maintain that the engine has got to come out first, but this is entirely true - if you have a car lift, you can actually do it with the engine in place, but it's fiddly and you have to undo the r.h. engine mounting and move the engine block down and forward to make clearance for the head. The reason why you need a car lift is that you have to help the exhaust manifold/turbo from underneath. And then that head - it may be aluminium, but it certainly weighs a bit, especially when your trying to lower it gently back onto the block without disturbing the gasket!
Apart from the new gasket, you will need to check the head for warping and probably plane it. Also replace all the head bolts - they are not meant to be reused. While your at it, change the cam belt and rollers.
The price you have been quoted sounds about right - try ringing round to independant Citroën specialists, it may be worth traveling a bit to get it done cheaper, but make sure its done properly - you don't want to be doing it again! And as Anders says, find out what caused the condition in the first place.
On my TD12 it was a stupid little hose made from (obviously) poor quality rubber that split at motorway speeds and by the time the BIG RED lamp and warning buzzer had made any impression on me, it was too late. Check out the small hoses around the waxstat - I've had two go there (fortunately i caught the second one in time, other wise it would have been another gasket).
Sorry to sound so disheartening, but its better that you know the truth!
//NiSk
jtindle
Posts: 2
Joined: 09 Sep 2003, 01:21
Location: United Kingdom
My Cars:

Post by jtindle »

Thanks for the help. Guess it's run till bust!
wrinklet1
Posts: 706
Joined: 23 Nov 2002, 19:15
Location: Bolton, England
My Cars:

Post by wrinklet1 »

On my Xantia I had a coolant loss problem and luckily for me there was a bleed cap on the coolant hose that goes over the engine from rear to front on the drivers side. Maybe if your lucky enough you will have one too. If so, warm the engine and turn it off, release the coolant cap carefully with a rag over the top, then attach an electric tyre pump to vent cap (its a tyre dust cap on my Xantia), put the coolant cap back on and then pressure the system up to about 15psi. If you have a hose or for that matter a radiator leak it will show up then. On my car it was the radiator that had gone, £85 cost but a lot less than having the head done.
GOOD LUCK
Paul
Post Reply