The Xantia rear sill rust trap

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The Xantia rear sill rust trap

Post by RichardW »

Looking the rear wheel arch with the wheel off today I noticed that the blanking plug in the front of the arch was loose - looks like the water has got in and started some corrosion which has pushed the plug out of place. No wonder the water gets into the sill cavity and rots it out. Have pushed this plug back in, but might add some duct tape and underseal, and look at the other side too.

Worth a look if you're in that area....!
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Post by Peter.N. »

Fill all the cavities with oil - stops rust stone dead. I use an empty Schulz can on the airline but if you dont have air, squirt it in with an oil can - stops your cills rusting too.

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Post by mongoose100 »

Peter.N. wrote:Fill all the cavities with oil - stops rust stone dead. I use an empty Schulz can on the airline but if you dont have air, squirt it in with an oil can - stops your cills rusting too.

Peter
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1994 Citroën Xantia 1.9TD
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Post by Peter.N. »

There is that, but which would you rather have a clean drive or a rust free car. :D

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Post by davetherave »

I use peters method, and top it up fairly regularly, rather cheaper than waxoyl which does not penetrate as wel!
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Post by Peter.N. »

Yes, I have had that trouble with waxoil, if you do it on a very hot day its not to bad but otherwise it stops short of the seams which is where the corrosion starts, oil goes on creeping and its suprising how long it stays in there.

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Post by Xantidote »

Used to use Waxoyl on the chassis of my Reliant GTE,and outriggers, and it would build up nicely over several applications, but then one day, I found that what I thought was good a solid layer of waxoyl was lifting from one edge, and wondered whether it was then trapping water behind. I always wondered how far it penetrated into weld seams.

Nowadays I occassionally use Waxoyl on surfaces that are already painted, to improve weather protection, but on most surfaces such as the Xantia's hydraulic pipes, height corrector and chassis (particularly the rear end), I use old engine oil (but sparingly to minimise marks on the drive). Apply little & often

I agree with Peter and Davetherave that oil certainly has good creep properties, and used oil is pretty cheap!
Martin

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Post by Peter.N. »

Waxoil is good for flat exposed surfaces you can get at but as has been established not so good for concealed areas.

I use cheap new engine oil for rustproofing, use oil is a bit messy :(

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Post by Xantidote »

You're right Peter. I'll try some unused (ie. not black) oil next time. As you say, less messy, or rather, less visibly messy! Wish I'd kept the oil from when I changed the gearbox oil.
Martin

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Post by Peter.N. »

It would have smelled of cats for ever more if you had used that :D
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Post by mongoose100 »

Ok, now I'm intrigued. Where is said rust trap & said hole to put oil in? Getting a tad nervous now... I Live in very salt laden air, directly across from the beach
Regan.

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Post by Peter.N. »

They are all over the place Regan, sills are the first target, if you remove a screw from the tread plate you can squirt it in with an oil can, or take a door catch/hinge bolt out. It will not only rustproof the sills but the surrounding metalwork too. All the box sections would benifit, most have holes where you can squirt/spray the oil in. For the length of time it takes and for what it costs its got to be worth doing to stop your pride and joy rusting away.

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Post by KP »

Used oil is for when you can leave the car parked off your drive, ie street for a week or two to let the worst seep out :)
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Post by RichardW »

The particular rust trap here Regan is the seam on top of the sill at the inside back of the rear door opening. It seems to affect estates more than hatchbacks.
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Post by Xaccers »

RichardW wrote:The particular rust trap here Regan is the seam on top of the sill at the inside back of the rear door opening. It seems to affect estates more than hatchbacks.
Although S2 hatchbacks suffer nearly as much as estates. The other place of rust on a S2 hatchback is roughly where the fuel cap would be if it were on the passenger side.
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