On the 2.1 diesel how easy is it to do the head gasket?
My green p reg 2.1 turbo XM has started using more and more coolant. Now when you top up with the engine running there is a lot of froth coming into the header tank from the small hose going to the head. Am I right in thinking this must be a blown gasket, there is no water in the oil or oil in the water but I guess the cylinder could be open into the water jacket.
I hope it is not too big a job, pity its not the rad. I have an almost new rad. on a 2 litre petrol turbo that is now being used for spares!
cheers
Neil

Good news and bad news:
Good news - not particularly difficult, but...
Bad news - lots of stuff is pretty awkward to get at, unless you take the engine and box out. This is the way I do them these days. The first couple I did with the engine in, but found it to be a pain in the ass. I reckon it takes me about a day's work to remove/refit the lump, and the gasket is about another 2 hours, assuming no head work needed. Personally I'd rather spend the extra time to get the lump out rather than struggle with all the inaccessible bits, but someone on here may have a cunning plan?

I have to agree with Neil, I replaced mine with the engine in situ and swore that next time I'd remove the engine.
This would be a good time to replace the timing belt and the waterpump too.

Good luck, Colin.P

Hi Niel

I too changed mine with the engine in situ. There is a lot of work to do prior to even reaching the head, once there I found it was easier to remove the head complete with the manifold and turbo as its almost impossible to get to the bolts otherwise, this requires some 'intricate' work removing the turbo feed and return oil pipes. I wouldn't describe it as an easy job by any means - but I am nearly 70! It is certainly well worth doing though, these engines are almost bomproof and a new gasket should see at least another 150k miles from the engine.

Peter.N.

agreed and make sure you use a "steel" gasket not an el cheapo like they try to sell you unless you want to be doing it all over again fairly soon, promise you.

So where do you purchase a steel gasket as opposed to a cheapo one. Most head gaskets are sintered material with steel rings and seem to work.

From Citroen. About £60 mine was but they look almost indestructable.

No, the original one was the usual copper type which was falling apart due to the lack of antifreeze, the Citroen one, called a 'repair gasket' is laminated steel, only comes in one thickness, looks like a set of feeler gauges and is much heavier than the copper one - looks almost indestructable.

In view of the ammount of work involved in changing it, I would go for the good one, it should be good for at least another 150k. Mine has done about 60k now with no problems whatsoever.

I think that would make it 0209T4 part number.

I'd be interested in price checking that somewhere I've found that supplies genuine parts but need a valid VIN number. Can anyone PM one?

The stockist said the gaskets come as the regular different thicknesses with holes to indicate which, as opposed to a standard repair gasket.

Hi Dieselman.

Ask at six different suppliers (including main agents) and you will get six different replies on choice of gasket.

Citroen themselves actually list gaskets both by thickness and the 'repair' version Peter mentions, giving a total of six or seven different part numbers.
Those I've done, I've used aftermarket of the appropriate thickness, although I think it was only GSF whose aftermarket ones came in varying thicknesses. Only had trouble afterwards with one and I don't think that was down to the gasket. I always have the head pressure tested and skimmed if required, though --- followed by a substantial, permanent proportion of anti freeze.
Don't be under any illusions -- it is a sod of a job on the 2.1 and there are two distinct schools of thought on the forum as to whether it's better to pull the whole lump, or not. Either way, not an afternoon quickie.

Mike.

Hi Dieselman, the 2 i did, i used the 0209t4 repair (laminated steel) supplied by citroen dealer, happily never to do another one these past 9 years.I did both in situ, over 3 days each, not hurrying and resting with a cuppa when my dander was up over some really awkwardly positioned bolt/fitting.I drank a lot of tea!Yes they are a sod.Icouldn't find an after market retailer of the repair gasket,but that was before i had the internet.