You say your gasket has blown,so take the head off.The notches/holes denote the thickness of the gasket.
You will not know which gasket to order until the cylinder head face has been checked.If it needs to be skimmed you order a thicker gasket,depends on how much machining has been done? when I`ve had a head skimmed I`ve asked the machine shop to supply the appropriate gasket.
Its all about keeping the compression ratio correct.Mind you we are talking the size of a nats dick. I think there are five sizes,one notch/hole 1,35mm thick up to five notch/hole 1,45mm.
To be honest its Peugeot being correct and making life difficult, any doubt just fit the thickest one,it will be OK.

 

Thanx for your reply. There are 9 different gaskets for a 1.4 hdi.
Since the model is produced from 2001 to 2009 - I thought a " notch/hole " for a year of production e.i 2003 - 3 notches, 2006 - 6 notches.
If its only about the thickness, then I was Way off. What happened to " keep it simple, stupid "?

 

It IS simple you simply remove the head check the notches on your old gasket and order the correct one !

The different gaskets are as stated above for different tolerances and to allow for rebuilds

If you have a 3 notch gasket and skim your head you will need a 4 or 5 notch gasket to allow for materiel removed its a good system as some engines you cannot machine the head as only 1 gasket is available so if head needs skimmed its scrap and you need a head !!

I know which i would rather have

 

I agree that its a great system. Just sad that I have to write to the UK forum, when I can't get a clear explanation from several Peugeot support here in Denmark. Thank you both for the answers. Sincerely Jesper :thumb:

 

check with the dealer that they have every gasket thickness in Stock If they have then proceed to take the head off once it is off get an engineering shop to run a straight edge along the length and width to check if the head is bowed distorted If it is out of tolerance get the shop to skim the head

when a head gasket blows it can distort the head badly and without checking if it is distorted it will just Blow again very quickly

the bolts should be undone in reverse of the procedure for tightening