C5 2.0 Hdi Using Water - Is My Cylinder Head Gasket Going?

[Guest S&M Inc]

Greetings to all,

I bought my C5 three weeks ago from a local dealer. It had a new cam belt being fitted 8 months ago.

 

The first weekend I owed it I went for a run (approx 90 miles) on leaving the coolant low message appeared so I filled the expansion bottle to the upper mark visible through the neck of the expansion bottle.

 

Checked the car the following morning and it took approximately 1.5 litres to return the level to the upper mark again.

 

I booked the car into my local garage who checked for leaks and diagnosed either a faulty expansion bottle cap or the head gasket.

 

(I don't think they did a pressure test or sniffer test but I'll ring them tomorrow)

 

The Expansion bottle cap was replaced and I went for a run yesterday (approx 95 miles).

The car needed a litre of water this morning.

 

There is no emulsified oil on the dipstick or the underside of the oil filler cap.

 

I've looked into the expansion bottle and there was no visible bubbles but there was a stream of small bubbles visible in the water being pumped into the expansion bottle inlet (The hose closest to the bulkhead)

 

So is my head gasket on the way out or could there be another explanation?

 

Many thanks for reading this far, your thoughts please?

[iannez]

make sure the engine cover has not come loose and damaged the bleed screw on the thermostat housing.

[Guest S&M Inc]

Thanks for the advice.

 

I took the car to a different garage this morning as they had a pressure tester. When they opened the thermostat bleed screw there was air for about 2-3 mins so having topped up the expansion bottle they left the system pressurised whilst the engine idle for ten minutes, as there was no increase in pressure the mechanic doubts it's the cylinder head.

 

I've been advised to monitor the coolant level for a few days.

[Guest S&M Inc]

Greetings all,

Brief update time. I took the car to a local Citroen specialist who carried out a sniffer test and an exhaust analysis, said it wasn't the head so the pump and the thermostat housing have been replaced.

 

Did around trip of 190 miles yesterday without any warnings but the expansion bottle needed 1.6 Ltrs of top up this morning.

 

Can anyone offer any advice?

 

Thanks for reading this far

[DaveHerns]

Greetings all,

Brief update time. I took the car to a local Citroen specialist who carried out a sniffer test and an exhaust analysis, said it wasn't the head so the pump and the thermostat housing have been replaced.

 

Did around trip of 190 miles yesterday without any warnings but the expansion bottle needed 1.6 Ltrs of top up this morning.

 

Can anyone offer any advice?

 

Thanks for reading this far

Take it back to the garage

They haven't fixed the fault you paid them for

Otherwise check for leaks , steam from the exhaust , overheating etc

It could be an air lock - does it use water on another run or just the once ?

[iannez]

check for water stains along the bottom of the radiator.

[Randombloke]

Some garages use a UV sensitive dye in the water.

 

You can then see it with the right UV fluorescent.

 

Check the cooling system has been properly bled.

 

If it just lost the water once as has already been suggested then it wasn't bled properly.

[Guest S&M Inc]

Many thanks to all who've replied.

 

When the car goes on a short run the water level doesn't drop, after a long run 50 miles+ the expansion bottle needs topped up the following morning.

 

The car was left unused for 10 days and no water was lossed.

 

Confused I is

[paul.h]

There must be a leak somewhere from what I have read.

The checks so far appear to exclude the obvious ones such as the water pump and a head gasket leak into the cylinders and oil systems.

Others include

- head gasket leak to the outside of the engine block - look for stains down the side of the engine. I had this on a Saab 900, only appeared when the engine was hot but the water evaporated immediately since the block was hot.

- a hose leak.

- cabin heater matrix leak - with the heater on (but not the air con) does the air into the cabin smell a bit. Once the engine is hot have a look under the car to see if there are any signs of water (or staining) dripping out from approx under the driver's seat where there is the air con water drain which exits above the fuel cooler.

- engine radiator leak.

- engine core plug leak.

- expansion bottle cap problem.

- bleed screw cap leak.

If you are just topping up with water then there is a chance there will not be any staining to see so a leak will be harder to find.

[Guest sunbeamman]

Hi

 

I had this problem as described. I filled up the header tank as required over many months without a problem.

3 weeks ago the top hose blew off on the M25. Very Expensive especially as I was on my way to Germany at the time! It was a blown head gasket. You have been warned

[Guest xsaraiihdi]

HI

Here's a quick and simple test to see if the headgasket has gone between waterway and cylinder. Top coolant if necessary leave the expantion tank cap off. Start the car run at tickover whatch to see if water comes out of the header tank. If it does the I suspect the head gasket has gone.

[osrecko]

My C5 HDI 2.2 is losing coolant ont tap of the expansion bootle. I made about 30 kkm with this peramnet leakage of coolant. She used about 1 liter each 300 km.

I change the tap, then thermostat and problem still exist. We pressured the cooling system and there was no leak od the pressure. They told me that carbon dioxide was detected in the coolant after three measurements in 3 diffrent garages. Then I decide to repair head gasket but problem still exist.

 

I got info from guy working in Citroen garage that "early" series od HDI engines had problems with head gaskets anbd the only remedy was to change it.

 

Are there any experience about this?

 

It is not expensive to fill a 2-3 liters each time I fuel the car but...

[Guest gtbscot]

Hi

 

Just bought a second hand C5 2.0ltr HDI and have found out exactly the same,after a trip of about 90 miles or so the Stop light comes on and the display states that coolent level low. Have just taken it to my local garage who have checked the head gasket and state it will need to be replaced. Dont know if you are getting the same warnings, but another symptom was that when left overnight and engine cold, when I opened the expansion bottle it still had a fair amount of pressure in it.

So I am biting the bullet and will get the head gasket fixed

[Guest xsaraiihdi]

Hi All

 

I had the same problems on my C5 2ltr HDI. I ran the car with the filler cap off and within a few seconds I has Mount Versuveus. I replaced the head gasket myself and on removing the head I found that the head was badly corroded around the waterways and I had to replace the head £275.00 on EBAY exchange. I also checked the water pump and found all the vains missing. Also replaced the thermostate.

 

Mark

[osrecko]

Same in my case. I fixed head gasked (removed 0.2 mm + new seel + ..) and it costed me but problem still exist.

 

At the end, I'll have to buy new or second hand good one :)

 

Did any body face blowing head gasked in these case of losing small amounts of coolant?

Maybe it is is losing colant just shortly while warms up? (whishfull thinking :()

[paul.h]

"Xsaraiihdi - I also checked the water pump and found all the vains missing."

 

The lack of vanes on the water pump would seriously reduce the circulation of the coolant and lead to overheating. Maybe this should be one of the first checks although it needs the timing belt removing.

[Guest gtbscot]

Hi

 

Just bought a second hand C5 2.0ltr HDI and have found out exactly the same,after a trip of about 90 miles or so the Stop light comes on and the display states that coolent level low. Have just taken it to my local garage who have checked the head gasket and state it will need to be replaced. Dont know if you are getting the same warnings, but another symptom was that when left overnight and engine cold, when I opened the expansion bottle it still had a fair amount of pressure in it.

So I am biting the bullet and will get the head gasket fixed

Garage have just rung to say the cylinder head is knackered and needs to be replaced something about the waterways are all corroded, found a replacement recon head on ebay for £250 so not too bad

[Guest xsaraiihdi]

Hi gtbscot

 

Make sure the garage check the water pump I suspect its faulty.

[Guest gtbscot]

Hi gtbscot

 

Make sure the garage check the water pump I suspect its faulty.

 

Thanks for tha,t the fault has been found, it was a large crack in the thermostat housing (when spoke to citroen this is quite a common problem according to them) got a second hand one from a scap dealer, so hopefully all will now be well !