If you think we have problems...

Off topic chat about anything you like. Doesn't have to be about XMs (though they will inevitibly come up!). You can even discuss non-Citroens :o in here!
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White Exec
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Orga / RP numbers: RP7165
1996 2.5TD saloon, Exclusive, Polar White
1992 BX19D Millesime, Sable Phenicien
Location: ex-Ealing, Cheshire, W.Sussex & Surrey. Now living in Sayalonga (Malaga, Spain)

Re: If you think we have problems...

Post by White Exec » Fri Apr 01, 2016 4:52 pm

With the system sealed, stress on the tank is continual all the time the car is being driven (suspension movement) and also after it has been parked up (thermal effects, and less-than-perfect anti-sink). You are right about the tank needing to be strong, and maybe the material which it is made from has turned out to be not the best, although Citroen appear not to have changed it. The only 'cushioning' in a sealed system is the air space above the reservoir fluid, which equals pressure.

While DOT4/5 brake fluid is highly hygroscopic, I suspect that LHM and LDS are far less so.

You're probably right about the effect of a sealed (= pressurised) tank on air ingress between reservoir and pump. Hopefully a leak here will show up as just that - a leak of fluid, rather than the suction situation we have on ours.

Not the first time Cit have got plastic tanks wrong. Seems Xantia coolant tanks go pop regularly, too. Nothing wrong with plastic - just needs to be of the right type and thickness.
Chris
1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive RP7165 Polar White
1992 BX19D Millesime RP5800 Sable
1989 BX19RD Delage Red Deceased; 1998 ZX 1.9D Avantage auto Triton Green Company car 1998..2001; 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto Wicked Red Company car 2001..2003

Dieselman
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Re: If you think we have problems...

Post by Dieselman » Fri Apr 01, 2016 5:24 pm

It's the welded joint of the two halves that fractures, indicating a manufacturiung weakness, which goes undetected until the joint is under contatnt pressure and thermal cycles.

I'm not sure whether LDS is hygroscopic, but possibly so, much like the original vegetable oil in early DS, which caused many failures. Vegetable oil ester amy be being used again as it is good for drawing water away from brake caliper seals and pistons, to reduce the incidence of seizure due to corrosion.

What is the change period recommendation on LDS?

I suspec the tank pressurisation is to aid pump priming as it is a sealed sytem...and because electric pumps are rather poor. Ask any owner of a Mercedes with ABC or air suspension... :D ABC is Mercedes version of Hydracive3 with added body control and thousands of times less reliable.
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User avatar
White Exec
Citroen God!
Posts: 6642
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:38 pm
Orga / RP numbers: RP7165
1996 2.5TD saloon, Exclusive, Polar White
1992 BX19D Millesime, Sable Phenicien
Location: ex-Ealing, Cheshire, W.Sussex & Surrey. Now living in Sayalonga (Malaga, Spain)

Re: If you think we have problems...

Post by White Exec » Fri Apr 01, 2016 5:35 pm

LDS is, apparently, simply a synthetic version of LHM, and with similar hydraulic properties and viscosity.
Not sure about hygroscopicity - the Total sheet doesn't seem to detail this.
Chris
1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive RP7165 Polar White
1992 BX19D Millesime RP5800 Sable
1989 BX19RD Delage Red Deceased; 1998 ZX 1.9D Avantage auto Triton Green Company car 1998..2001; 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto Wicked Red Company car 2001..2003

Dieselman
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Re: If you think we have problems...

Post by Dieselman » Fri Apr 01, 2016 5:38 pm

If it's synthetic, I suspect that is unlikely.

Vegetable esters tend to cause system corrosion and attack nitrile rubber seals, which is why Citroen went for mineral LHM. As already said, Esters do draw moisture...but who changes their brake fluid religeously every two years...apart from me...?
91 3.0 sei M. 4852 EXY Black
92 2.1 sed M. 5740 ECZ Sable Phenicien
92 3.0 V6-24. 5713 EXY Black
92 2.1 sd M. 5685 ENT Blue Sideral
Prev
90 2.1sd M. 5049 EJV Mandarin
92 2.1sd A. 5698 EJV Mandarin
94 2.1sd A. 6218 ERT Triton
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Dean
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Re: If you think we have problems...

Post by Dean » Fri Apr 01, 2016 5:45 pm

I do. but im sad too Will :D

D
92 Citroen XM Prestige 3.0i Auto R.P5678
14 Mitsubishi L200 Trojan
89 Talbot Express 2.0 coach built Auto-trail Chinook

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Dieselman
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Re: If you think we have problems...

Post by Dieselman » Fri Apr 01, 2016 6:21 pm

I'd rather change brake fluid than a master cyclinder or seized caliper.

I've got all the High-tech kit to do it, so why not...

Image
91 3.0 sei M. 4852 EXY Black
92 2.1 sed M. 5740 ECZ Sable Phenicien
92 3.0 V6-24. 5713 EXY Black
92 2.1 sd M. 5685 ENT Blue Sideral
Prev
90 2.1sd M. 5049 EJV Mandarin
92 2.1sd A. 5698 EJV Mandarin
94 2.1sd A. 6218 ERT Triton
91 2.0si M. 5187 EWT White

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