Why are citroen head gaskets so crap?

[VTS123]

Mine started leaking oil at 46K (usual place at front corner), had to replace it at 52k. Now at 108K after no abuse (oil changed every 5k, never overheated and never driven hard until fully warmed up) and it's started leaking oil in the same place as it started before.

I think this is crap. All TU's are the same. Why do they do it?

[Jorge-]

Chavs that drive them before they are warm... I would hazzard a guess at.

[D--R--E--W]

None of my 5 saxo i have had have ever had the head gasket go on them

[Stevo123]

Both my VTR's went at about 60k miles, old vauxhall 8v engines suffered as well but not at 60k miles though, usually around 90k miles. Had old escort XR3 i's and XR2's up to 150k miles and head gasket was okay - weird isnt it. Maybe they could have specified a higher torque value for head bolts than they did? Perhaps the design of the oil galery seal if bad? Its jus one of those things with the 8v TU I guess. They got lots of good points like strong bottom end, rev nicely etc though

[Liam_]

Did you have the head skimmed each time the gasket went?

[Sparco_Tom]

depends if the head was torqued up right. Remember they use stretch bolts which usually causes a few leaks after a while.

They should be ok providing all mating faces are clean and straight