Save our Sills!

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!
User avatar
MTXM
Citroen God!
Posts: 4895
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:45 pm
Location: Aylsham Norfolk

Save our Sills!

Post by MTXM » Fri Nov 11, 2016 7:43 pm

After a couple of my cars recently needed welding on the sills I decided to have a go at something I ought to have done before now that was to pump waxoil into the cavities! The Germany 24v sills look near perfect with no damage to jacking points or serious corrosion visible and there has also been no welding to my knowledge, which was a further incentive for the work. I recently invested in a pump/spray device and a 5ltr tin of the clear waxoil and had a crack at the task earlier today.

Earlier I had confirmed that good access can be obtained after removing the plastic threshold strips and screw plugs and the pump came with a hose of just the right size. In general the work went well, although I should probably have diluted the waxoil further as the pipe regularly blocked and several buckets of hot water were required to keep things flowing! I also sprayed inside the lower doors through the drain slots that worked quite well but unfortunately in the case of one front door the damage has been done with quite severe rust. The drain holes in both the sills and doors were checked and cleared before and after the operation.

The Poland car sills were treated when major welding was done and I now just have to do the doors on that car and the other cars and preferably during nice warm dry weather!

Regards,

Matthew T.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
1989 V6 Exclusive (Poland car) - Now living in a local Motor Museum!
1990 V6sei auto (grey auto)
1990 V6sei manual (gold car)
1990 V6.24 Pallas (Germany car)
1990 V6.24v (Scotland car)
Other previous XM sold and broken too many to mention!

Dieselman
Global Moderator
Posts: 13734
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 6:44 pm

Re: Save our Sills!

Post by Dieselman » Fri Nov 11, 2016 8:39 pm

If one has access to a compressor, the access bung at the rear of the sill allows a larger pipe to be fed in the complete length of the sill. I recenty did the mandarin car and need to do the cobalt one.
92 2.1SED M.RP5740 ECZ Sable Phenicien
92 3.0 V6-24.Rp 5713 EXY Black
92 2.1SD M.RP 5685 ENT Blue Sideral
Prev
90 2.1SD M.RP 5049 EJV Mandarin
92 2.1SD A.RP 5698 EJV Mandarin
94 2.1SD A.RP 6218 ERT Triton Green
91 2.0SI M.RP 5187 EWT White

User avatar
MTXM
Citroen God!
Posts: 4895
Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:45 pm
Location: Aylsham Norfolk

Re: Save our Sills!

Post by MTXM » Fri Nov 11, 2016 9:30 pm

That is correct Will there is access from the rear bung, but I thought filling the whole sill might be slight overkill! The access from above along the whole length also gives greater certainly of even coverage and I also quite like the control of a low pressure spray. From my experience it is mainly the bottom section that fails where the water collects! Regards, Matthew T.
1989 V6 Exclusive (Poland car) - Now living in a local Motor Museum!
1990 V6sei auto (grey auto)
1990 V6sei manual (gold car)
1990 V6.24 Pallas (Germany car)
1990 V6.24v (Scotland car)
Other previous XM sold and broken too many to mention!

Dieselman
Global Moderator
Posts: 13734
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 6:44 pm

Re: Save our Sills!

Post by Dieselman » Fri Nov 11, 2016 9:59 pm

Hi Matthew. I didn't mean fill the sill cavity, just use the rear bung for access using a long tube.

I have an 8mm ID tube and a spray head, which sprays a fine layer of rustproofing wax-oil onto the inside of the cavity.
92 2.1SED M.RP5740 ECZ Sable Phenicien
92 3.0 V6-24.Rp 5713 EXY Black
92 2.1SD M.RP 5685 ENT Blue Sideral
Prev
90 2.1SD M.RP 5049 EJV Mandarin
92 2.1SD A.RP 5698 EJV Mandarin
94 2.1SD A.RP 6218 ERT Triton Green
91 2.0SI M.RP 5187 EWT White

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: Save our Sills!

Post by White Exec » Fri Nov 11, 2016 11:24 pm

That's how I last did our sill cavities - through the large bung at the rear end. Used a Sealey waxing gun, on a compressor, and slowly withdrew pipe as the spray went in. Found 4CR brand cavity wax rather good.
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

User avatar
russ92xmsed
Global Moderator
Posts: 5733
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2012 5:23 pm
Location: Cheltenham
Contact:

Re: Save our Sills!

Post by russ92xmsed » Sun Nov 13, 2016 6:54 pm

Don't forget the sills are in two sections. The outer making up the biggest cavity. The inner is far more tricky to get too. I found a useful hole in the footwells Wherei pumped oil into, and also removing the front puddle light switch in the door frame, you can poke a tube through it and you will find there is a handy hole in the metal pressing which you can then get to the inner cavity. Trouble is, it's harder to reach the further you go back. But as most of the rust issues are at the front, typically, hopefully it will help. I have a peice of floor and front sill section cut out of a mk2 car, and it's quite interesting to see the front cavities and how the panels are all joined.

Matthew with your large sill sections from Dave's car, can you see the different cavities and how to access the rear inner parts?
Russ

1992 K reg XM 2.1 Auto SED RP 5712
1992 K reg XM 2.1 Auto SED RP 5705 (D)
Also
2003 C5 2.2 HDI Exclusive

I sell Engine bay, 1990 COTY, Total & Club XM Sticker Decals
http://www.rjwcreativedesign.co.uk

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: Save our Sills!

Post by White Exec » Sun Nov 13, 2016 7:14 pm

Russ, you've reminded me of all those half-hidden holes where wax/oil can be injected. I also unbolted the seat-belt reel, and used that central opening. Also lifted sill protectors, and went in through there. Hopefully, swatted all the surfaces - it certainly took a bit of time to get to everything.
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

User avatar
russ92xmsed
Global Moderator
Posts: 5733
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2012 5:23 pm
Location: Cheltenham
Contact:

Re: Save our Sills!

Post by russ92xmsed » Sun Nov 13, 2016 7:45 pm

I used the door catches too by removing a screw. At least it can track down to the sills and coat everything on its way.
You are right Chris, you can spend ages tearing the car apart just to find that access point.

I must look for this bung though and try the cavity wax method too.
Russ

1992 K reg XM 2.1 Auto SED RP 5712
1992 K reg XM 2.1 Auto SED RP 5705 (D)
Also
2003 C5 2.2 HDI Exclusive

I sell Engine bay, 1990 COTY, Total & Club XM Sticker Decals
http://www.rjwcreativedesign.co.uk

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: Save our Sills!

Post by White Exec » Sun Nov 13, 2016 8:15 pm

Bung/stopper is on the rear vertical face of the sill/box-section - bottom front end of the wheelarch. Just pull the plastic liner aside.
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

xantia_v6
XM Guru
Posts: 1656
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2013 5:09 pm
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand or Beaune, France

Re: Save our Sills!

Post by xantia_v6 » Sun Nov 13, 2016 8:37 pm

At the front, where the A pillar meets the sill and goes down to the jacking point, there is a third skin and cavity, which appears to catch water which has run down the inside of the A pillar. Sorry I dont have a picture, but I suspect that this is a starting point for rusted out jacking points, because there is no exit for water trapped there.
1999 XM Exclusive V6 24V ES9 Manual (LHD) 105,000 km
1997 Xantia Exclusive V6 (RHD) 45,000 miles

Post Reply