2.1 Turbo D12 XUD11 BTE engine advice.

[Michel]

Should you require any assistance translating the reply from Doctor Chip just let me know.

I'm all in favour of a bit of meandering btw. So, just to summarise:
It's a very good engine, but the head gasket will fail at some point... sorry, *will* fail.

Yes, unless it's already failed and been replaced by the updated gasket, in which case it should be fine forever. The issues are the same as the 1.9TD version of the XUD. In my experience they last about 10-11 years or 150k miles then go. It is, I believe, caused by lack of coolant changes.

Thanks for the offer of translation but I've been married to a Colombian for the last 13 years and my Spanish is now fluent

[moizeau]

I stand corrected on the remapping regarding extra power. I was referring to the fact that pp2000 could talk to the pump ecu as well as doing tests. I presume this must refer to the timing and not the fueling.
Regarding the head gasket, I realise that many people have suffered this problem, I must be very lucky. I've had (and still got one) 3 Bx's, 2 19d n/a, 120k and 400k miles, a 17td, 220k miles, and the 2.1td, 340k miles, never had a gasket go. Having said that I've never boiled one, which apparently is what they don't like.
The 2.1 is a great engine, very good low down grunt for it's age, never needs to be revved and gives good fuel economy. Check the dual mass crank pulley for signs of wear and the aux belt tensioner for good alignment though. If it has the epic pump, put your hand underneath the pump to check for dampness, also visible next to the aux belt tensioner spring if more severe.

[van ordinaire]

" . . . never needs to be revved . . . " It's the highest revving engine in any car (with a rev counter) I've ever driven - but then I AM used to 4l sixes & slightly larger V8's.

[white exec]

The Achilles' Heel of XUD engines was air pockets forming in the cylinder head, which could cause localised boiling and overheating, distorting the head and causing HG failure. This could be brought on by failing to bleed the cooling system thoroughly.

Situation was not helped by some cars not having a proper coolant expansion/header tank (eg BX), instead relying on radiator side-tanks (and so an air pocket at the top of the rad) to cope with expansion. This left the head at pretty much the highest point of the system - not at all good design - so guess where accumulated air would migrate?

Fortunately, fitting a header tank (on BX anyway) was easy enough, transferring the pressure cap from rad to tank, and using a plain cap on the rad. Header tank could be connected in at the thermostat housing (engine water outlet) iirc.

[Rufus Baggsby]

Excellent information, many thanks to all. I'll take it onboard and consider it alongside the Activa's temperamental nature and the current war against diesel engine's in general.

On that note, a 'special' committee has been set up here in Spain to advise the government on how best to achieve the global carbon-free objective, or whatever they are calling it. The committee consist of all the major oil companies operating in Spain. Unsurprisingly they are recommending a 28% rise in fuel costs, an 8% rise in domestic gas (butane and propane bottles) and a 160% rise in bags of BBQ charcoal and ice cubes. Also they propose that the equivalent of road tax here should be assessed not only on the basis of carbon emissions, but also engine design, the condition of the engine and the use made of it.

So, the lunatics really are running the asylum now. The charcoal and ice thing was a joke btw, but you get the point I hope. Germany is now banning all diesels from main cities, regardless of pollution levels. The onus for what is perceived as 'the problem' is being placed firmly on car manufacturers, whilst the oil companies just sit back and laugh. Meanwhile no one is talking about synthetic fuel, which can be produced from carbon and hydrogen (2 of the most common elements around) by an electrical process which could of course be solar and/or hydro. It's formulation makes it non-polluting and there would be no need for a new supply chain to deliver it and none of us would need to change our cars, vans, buses or lorries. Bosch have already begun development and Bill Gates has apparently got in on the act as well... God help us. His outfit works slightly differently by extracting C02 directly from the atmosphere and converting it into fuel. I suppose he saw a window of opportunity...

[van ordinaire]

The problem is that the people who make the decisions (AND the meeja) are stupid, ignorant (in the true sense of the word) AND ill-informed; thus they are convinced that polution is caused by engines when, of course, it isn't - it's the fuel they burn, for which there are alternatives. It is odd that the LPG industry has chosen to keep schtumm throughout.

Seems like I'll have to go back to taking a Cadillac to Germany - oh, no, the Eldorado is too old, although it has the same engine as the STS & I have a Euro 4 green carnet for that!