citroen hdi head gasket

hiluxman

im looking for some advice or ideas on what to do with a '00 citroen xantia 2.0 hdi, it was mixing oil into the water so i tested the oil cooler and it was ok. I removed the cylinder head, got the head skimmed and refitted it with a new gasket.
The problem i have now that wasnt there before is a huge amount of pressure in the cooling system. Its so bad that within 20 seconds all of the coolant is pushed out of the system. Ive done a cylinder leakage test and there is pressure from all 4 cylinders leaking into the cooling system. what has gone wrong?

An Ri rua

Hi

I drive the same car. With 200K on it. No idea how to solve your problem myself but have you looked here? https://www.google.ie/search?client=opera&rls=en&q=pressure+cooling+system+xantia+HDi+site:frenchcarforum.co.uk&sourceid=opera&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&channel=suggest

www.frenchcarforum.co.uk

Nissan doctor

hiluxman wrote: »

im looking for some advice or ideas on what to do with a '00 citroen xantia 2.0 hdi, it was mixing oil into the water so i tested the oil cooler and it was ok. I removed the cylinder head, got the head skimmed and refitted it with a new gasket.
The problem i have now that wasnt there before is a huge amount of pressure in the cooling system. Its so bad that within 20 seconds all of the coolant is pushed out of the system. Ive done a cylinder leakage test and there is pressure from all 4 cylinders leaking into the cooling system. what has gone wrong?

Did you have the head pressure tested? Changing the gasket and skimming the head is potentially a waste of time if the previous over heating has cracked the head.

Did you also check of the block deck was not warped?

Presuming that you checked that the head bolts were still within spec and followed the proper tightening procedure?

hiluxman

it would be very uncommon for the block to warp?
I didnt get the head pressure tested but i think ill get it done tomorrow.
ive torqued the head correctly but the issue of the combustion gases in the coolant wasnt there before i removed the head and i cant understand why its there now. it would be very unusal for a crack to effect all 4 cylinders

Nissan doctor

hiluxman wrote: »

it would be very uncommon for the block to warp?
I didnt get the head pressure tested but i think ill get it done tomorrow.
ive torqued the head correctly but the issue of the combustion gases in the coolant wasnt there before i removed the head and i cant understand why its there now. it would be very unusal for a crack to effect all 4 cylinders

It would be strange for it to be on all 4 alright, if your loosing pressure on all 4 into the cooling system, and are certain(tested) that is wasn't like that before removing the head, then it would have to be a HG sealing issue, so either incorrect HG fitting or a damaged/warped block, assuming the head was skimmed properly.

It wouldn't be unheard of for the block to warp as well, it depends on the length and nature of the overheating although it is much more common on alloy blocks. Did you do a cooling system pressure test to determine where the loss was?

hiluxman

i was trying to think, would it even be possible to skim a head incorrectly?

Nissan doctor

hiluxman wrote: »

i was trying to think, would it even be possible to skim a head incorrectly?

Your talking in thousands of an inch when skimming so, yes, it would be very possible for someone who wasn't competent or had poor equipment.

George Dalton

Leakage to that extent across all four cylinders would suggest that the head isn't seated or torqued down properly. Did you maybe fit new head studs and forget to transfer the washers over from the old ones or something like that?

hiluxman

right, i suppose the only thing i can do is get the head rechecked, im sick to the teeth of it at this stage. Ive spent all day yesterday and today it it, Ill let ya know how it goes, thanks for the advise

hiluxman

George Dalton wrote: »

Leakage to that extent across all four cylinders would suggest that the head isn't seated or torqued down properly. Did you maybe fit new head studs and forget to transfer the washers over from the old ones or something like that?

That what i thought myself, I deffinitly have the washers on the head bolts and ive checked that they are not bottoming out. I think the head mustnt be skimmed correctly because i also have a slight weep of coolant visibal along the joint between the head and block

Nissan doctor

hiluxman wrote: »

That what i thought myself, I deffinitly have the washers on the head bolts and ive checked that they are not bottoming out. I think the head mustnt be skimmed correctly because i also have a slight weep of coolant visibal along the joint between the head and block

Do you have access to a decent straight edge and feeler gauge to check the head and block?

shamwari

hiluxman wrote: »

right, i suppose the only thing i can do is get the head rechecked, im sick to the teeth of it at this stage. Ive spent all day yesterday and today it it, Ill let ya know how it goes, thanks for the advise

I really sympathise with you, there's nothing worse than breaking your back on a sh!tty job like this and not have a result to show for it.

Could it be that
(a) you were supplied with the wrong gasket
(b) the gasket was fitted the wrong way around (possible with some engines)
(c) coolant system not bled properly

As regards too much meat being skimmed from the head, that is possible and it would cause the bolts to under-torque as such if the bottomed out in the block. But if this was the case, it should be noticed that the bolts won't angle-tighten properly. Other possibility is that the head bolts have stretched, in which case new ones are required.

Irrespective, if the engine started and the HG hasn't sealed right across cylinders then i'd fear the whole lot might have to be done again.

hiluxman

just an update, Ive given up with the original engine and have replaced it with a secondhand one, the car is now sorted and the customer is happy.

Im going to pull the original engine apart and check it and try and see whats gone wrong and ill keep u posted. Just so you know, it is possible to change a citroen xantia engine on the ground with a socket and two 3 tonne trolley jacks

Greyfoot

hiluxman wrote: »

Just so you know, it is possible to change a citroen xantia engine on the ground with a socket and two 3 tonne trolley jacks

So is on an E36..:D

Glad you sorted, keep us posted!

George Dalton

The customer is happy? I thought this was the DIY forum???

Nissan doctor

I was hoping that when he said customer, he meant mate he did a favour for on his driveway.

If its an actual paying customer...that's a very different story.