Citroen XM Forum

My Citroen XM, today (17 and 18 Sept 2016) on display on the Classic car show in Manchester leaks oil into the coolant. I have asked two independent garages for the repair costs, and I can't afford it. I hope to keep the car, and this would be possible if someone is happy to repair it for me. The diagnosis from both, with some reservation, was: leaking head gasket and broken turbo. I am happy to pay £800. Is that possible? I have no idea; I understand that it is quite an operation and both garages said that it is also a problem given the age of the car. The car is corrosion-wise in a very good shape, I have been told, and it passed the last MOT in March without ANY problems!!

Thanks for reading, and I maybe have to accept that I have to loose my car.

Hans

Buying another car will cost you a lot more than headgasket repair on Xm and used turbo for it!

I doubt that turbo failed if it was ok before blown headgasket.

Headgasket is pretty cheap...the labour is what costs more than everything.

If you have a friend who knows how to wrench,the whole job can be completed in ONE day for cheap.

What engine & transmission the car have?What year is it?

Dear Misha,

Thank you for your response. I am in Alsager, close to Crewe.

It is a 1996 Citroen XM CT Turbo Automatic Transmission.
The Turbo was actually broken/non-functioning for some time, but the car could drive without any problems without it I have been told.

The problem is finding such a friend; both garages made it sound it was a terrible job to complete, costing thousands of pounds.

Best wishes,

Hans

If oil in water, and no water in the oil (= mayonnaise at the filler cap, usually) do check out the water-oil heat exchanger, if fitted. This sits under the oil filter, and will have two water coolant pipes connected to it. If antifreeze/coolant-mix is neglected, these items can internally corrode, and allow high pressure engine oil to be injected into the coolant.

Remove the two hoses, and join them together with a short length of 15mm tube and hose clips. If the heat exchanger is leaky, it will seep engine oil when the engine is run. If gone, cheap to replace.

Where are you??

Id do it for half that price.. BUT it would not be done in a week or so..

Alsager, nr Crewe (see above).

If oil-cooler/exchanger is definitely ok (the cheapest and easiest item to check and fix), then oil-in-water is almost certainly the head gasket. How much oil is in the water? It is awash with black stuff, or just a small quantity appearing at the top-up cap?

The non-functioning turbo is another issue entirely, and will not be putting oil into the water. You'll be down on power, but the engine will be running in a very unstressed state.

Might make sense to get the two items fixed at the same time, if head removal makes access to the turbo easier. Other folk know the TCT better, and can advise.

Like the td engines chris head off complete with turbo and manifold.

The XU petrol engines arent "As tall" in the engine bays as the xud and also a narrower cam house as they are 8v in line so there is more room to play on them. .

Hello Hans,

Sorry to hear of your car issues, did you resolve this or at least diagnose conclusively?

I work in Crewe during the week and could take a look one evening.

Regards, And911

Andrew, the car is with me here on anglesey! Getting sorted!

Glad to hear it's in good hands, maybe we should talk when it's time to (properly) sort out the blowing exhaust manifold on my PRV 12valve!