Madame Ples - 1978 GS Club

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hloni
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Location: Randburg, South Afrika
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Madame Ples - 1978 GS Club

Post by hloni »

Hey guys. I'm based in South Africa and was wondering what specification is the Total LHM hydraulic oil. Reading the net it seems as if Citroen went into partnership to design the LHM for their suspensions, but I'm sure post the patent expired, other manufacturers manufactured similar oils.
Castrol has an oil, but it's about £10/L which is rather pricey when I have to refill the whole 5L system.

The previous owner used and recommended I use a 10w oil. That's what he currently has in the system and ran it for the past 10 years. Where I am, winter temperatures do not drop below freezing (some frost), and summer temperatures are in the early 30 deg Celsius for 3 months of the year.

Do you guys reckon 10w is ok?
Last edited by hloni on 28 Nov 2013, 09:39, edited 2 times in total.
Never thought I'd own a Citroen after exploring a C2 and not buying it!
red_dwarfers
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Re: Hydraulic fluid replacement

Post by red_dwarfers »

Personally I wouldn't use anything other than LHM. I remember reading in an owners manual for the Xantia I think that there was a certain type of oil you could use in an emergency but at the soonest possible opportunity it should be flushed and refilled with LHM.

I think Comma do LHM too.
Kev

'19 C4 Cactus 130 Flair
Northern_Mike

Re: Hydraulic fluid replacement

Post by Northern_Mike »

Kev is right. It states in the owners manual that "normal" oil can be used *in an emergency only*.

It is solely my opinion but I wouldn't touch a car that's been ran with oil in the system for 10 years! Who knows what damage it might have done

LHM is about £10 a litre here too. If you can't afford LHM then don't buy a hydropneumatic Citroen. Seeing as it only needs changing once every blue moon, it's not really a great expense.

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macplaxton
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Joined: 08 Jun 2011, 18:09
Location: Ireland
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Re: Hydraulic fluid replacement

Post by macplaxton »

hloni wrote:other manufacturers manufactured similar oils.
Yep Total do LHM in your neck of the woods, as does Castrol and Fuchs. There are probably others.
hloni wrote:Do you guys reckon 10w is ok?
As an option of last resort I suppose. I have no trouble getting/paying for LHM, so that's what I use. If there were cost/supply issues then I'd be looking at Dexron ATF first. Have a look at the link below for various opinions: http://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/citro% ... fluid.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Northern_Mike

Re: Hydraulic fluid replacement

Post by Northern_Mike »

There's UK sellers selling 5 litres of Comma LHM for £24 with free shipping in the UK. I'm sure one of them would ship overseas if asked nicely and slow mail isn't too expensive.

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macplaxton
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Location: Ireland
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Re: Hydraulic fluid replacement

Post by macplaxton »

I'd reckon the shipping:

a) wouldn't be entertained by the seller, or
b) wouldn't be entertained by the carrier, or
c) be outrageously expensive.

Based on experience of getting anything from the UK the short distance over the water to Ireland (RoI) and asking nicely makes no difference.

10 quid a litre for local supplies isn't the end of the world.
Northern_Mike

Re: Hydraulic fluid replacement

Post by Northern_Mike »

I never have problems sending items to my daughters in Sweden or my dad in Greece. Last thing I sent was a guitar and that cost me less than £25..

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macplaxton
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Re: Hydraulic fluid replacement

Post by macplaxton »

In fairness a guitar isn't very liquid though.

Even non-liquid, to SA, a five kilo box would be nearly 60 quid. Plus all the customs hassle as it's non-EU.
citronut
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Re: Hydraulic fluid replacement

Post by citronut »

macplaxton wrote:In fairness a guitar isn't very liquid though.
unless the player of it is very fluid :rofl2: :roll: :wink:

i think to add to what has been said regarding emergency use of engine oil, i think it also states a low viscosity mineral oil
Regards, malcolm.

current ride a BX 1.7 TZD estate
1986 MK1 BX 1.9na D Auto(in Mothman Andy's stable )
layed up roppy 1.9TD XANT estate, now gone to meet her maker
purple and lilac metalic 2CV(VIOLET)registered to her in doors
1972 DS special been layed up aprox 31 years
Northern_Mike

Re: Hydraulic fluid replacement

Post by Northern_Mike »

citronut wrote:
macplaxton wrote:In fairness a guitar isn't very liquid though.
unless the player of it is very fluid :rofl2: :roll: :wink:
No, it was the sax player in the band that was fluid. So bladdered that he'd quite literally be playing the wrong song.. I recall my brother, who plays bass, wandering across the stage and kicking him in the shins to make him stop. I've seen him fall off the stage, and on one memorable occasion sit in the van and ask if we were going home yet. So drunk he didn't realise he hadn't been on stage yet.

He's no longer in the band. Shame. Great player. Great drinker too.

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hloni
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Re: Hydraulic fluid replacement

Post by hloni »

Thanx for input guys. I've been able to source LHM for £8/l, so I'm kinda happy with that.
Question though is "is there a difference between LHM & LHM+"?

Might have to service my spheres and replace seals so I don't drip.
Never thought I'd own a Citroen after exploring a C2 and not buying it!
macplaxton
Posts: 168
Joined: 08 Jun 2011, 18:09
Location: Ireland
My Cars: 1978 GS X2

Re: Hydraulic fluid replacement

Post by macplaxton »

hloni wrote:Question though is "is there a difference between LHM & LHM+"?
http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... p?p=150455" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; there's a link inside that link.

I think the summary is, there is, but there's not much in it.
hloni
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Re: Hydraulic fluid replacement

Post by hloni »

Is the "pulsating" tick-tick sound I get from my pump when the engine is running normal?
I loved how after topping-up reservoir upon turning the key the car lifted up. It used to take a while as there wasn't enough oil in the system I suspect.
Never thought I'd own a Citroen after exploring a C2 and not buying it!
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myglaren
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Re: Hydraulic fluid replacement

Post by myglaren »

It is normal, it isn't the pump but the regulator.
However, it should not tick more than once every thirty seconds or more. If it is down to ten seconds or less your accumulator is flat and needs replacing or the pump will be damaged and your braking reserve is all gone - the accumulator supplies the braking system if the pump stops as well as acting as a 'smoothing' capacitor for the system.
citronut
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Re: Hydraulic fluid replacement

Post by citronut »

myglaren wrote: If it is down to ten seconds or less your accumulator
sphere that is :roll: :-D :wink:
myglaren wrote: or the pump will be damaged and your braking reserve is all gone - the accumulator supplies the braking system if the pump stops as well as acting as a 'smoothing' capacitor for the system.
well its more like the regulator will become damaged if the accumulator sphere is flat, as the ticking is the internals of the regulator banging against each other,

the accumulator sphere acts as a damper on the regulator, as well as being a reserve of pressure for the brakes
Regards, malcolm.

current ride a BX 1.7 TZD estate
1986 MK1 BX 1.9na D Auto(in Mothman Andy's stable )
layed up roppy 1.9TD XANT estate, now gone to meet her maker
purple and lilac metalic 2CV(VIOLET)registered to her in doors
1972 DS special been layed up aprox 31 years
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