I don't know if you read my post elsewhere here but my engine started pluming out white smoke. Took it apart to do the suspected head gasket but gasket looked fine. Overhauled the head, put everythign back together with new seals and after about 5 minutes of beautiful performance - white smoke
As a matter of last resort I put some of the miracle crack sealent into the system but that did not help either.
I am reluctant to scrap the car. I did not visually spot any crack in top or bottom of the engine. If I knew it were the head, I'd go to find another one perhaps.

Has anybody some ideas on how to determine which might be the culprit?

BTW the car has never overheated in my possession, no red warning lamps came on at the incident and the temp was normal.

Seems more likely to me that a cast iron block would crack instead of the Al-head.


Michael

Maybe a leak down test could shed some light on the matter?

My problems are a badly cracked head and the fault was obvious once it was removed.

Steve.

Petrol engine I guess and see!!

Then it has wet liners and not a cast bottom end. Only the Diesel engines were cast, petrols are unfortunally wet liners...

My gues then, a failed liner seal, but this would put water in oil, or a cracked liner, if you have over hauled the head, it cant be much else...

I have a 2.oi Block here in good order, and it did run well, but the milage may put you off it.. but it would be cheap if you wanted it...

Its a complete unit actually, and not a Turbo, exhaust manifold missing too..

Regards
citroenxm

Pictures of the head and block, if you are interested:

http://www.godmachine.demon.co.uk/xm/head.jpg
http://www.godmachine.demon.co.uk/xm/block.jpg


Michael

Michael,

VERY interesting, the block picture!

The 1.6 and 1.9 XU engines are wet liners!! I have to admit thats the first time I've seen the inside of the 2.oi block.. I was certain it was a wet liner, but, nope that does look like cast to me!!

That makes the diagnostic a bit harder then!

There will be some one else with 2.oi Petrol engine experiance here some where I'm sure..

Sorry for any misguidance.

Regards
citroenxm

PS: The spare engine I have was out of a 1989/90 H reg 2.oi Prestege

That looks like a turbo engine, (I don't recall dishes in the 2.0i I change the head on) Is it possible there is water entering the inlet manifold? is the T25 water cooled? as if there is a crack this could have this effect.

STewart

That piston's crown doesn't look like a 2.0i 8v to me either!?
The valves and the head look right though.

Not sure about the white smoke issue mind...

need to have a mull over that one!

Andrew

My reasoning is the turbo I am guessing has a lower compresion ratio, which would normally be done by putting a recess in the piston crown.. as here really!

Stewart

One suggestion. If the head gasket was stuffed could all the moisture be water trapped in
the exhausts/cat burning out. The exhaust warming up could be steaming the water out
and could take quite a while!! How long has it been left running?

Andrew

Very true, When I swamped my TCT in a flood (even with the supesion rasied to max!) it took a good few miles to stop it form blowing clouds of steam!

Stewart

I've checked the manuals and it must just be me getting confused with
another engine as the head is recessed like the one in your pictures;
nothing to get concerned about on this score at least!!

Was the head 100% all checked out before reusing it? Was it torqued
down as accurately as the stupid angle palaver permits. I hate the angles
nonsense with the stretch bolts and would prefer a set final torque setting
so I could always go round the head with the torque wrench checking after
it's run up to temperature after reassembly.

Andrew

Hi all

That is definitely the right block and head for a 2.0 8v and the bores are cast not lined.
If there was serious water leakage you should just be able to see the cracks on the bores, but more likely when you took the head off the cylinder getting wet would have no carbon build up on it because the water would clean the piston crown off during use.
Is the inlet manifold cracked? and as previously mentioned are you sure it is not just the cold weather giving a large quantity of condense in the exhaust?
Sorry to hear of your troubles anyway, hope you get it sorted soon.

Dean