My LHM is ORANGE o_O

[skog77]

When you buy a used car you always have some surprises waiting for you from previous owners.

I was fitting comfort spheres to my Xantia, and this is what came dripping out as i unscrewed the first sphere.
As you can see it has the green tint when spread thinly but it's actually orange.



There are two options:
1. There is some orange hydroflush product i don't know about
2. Some IDIOT has put ATF fluid in the LHM tank!

[Trainman]

There's a third option........ it could be LDS off later Citroëns

[DHallworth]

That just looks like very old, very dirty LHM as you can see green stains on the edge of the bag. When I first got my Activa it looked like that. Do a couple of changes back to back and all will be good!

David.

[skog77]

There's a third option........ it could be LDS off later Citroëns

I had no idea LDS looked like that, but after looking on line it may very well be LDS.

[xantos]

If it is LDS change it quckly! It eats o-rings in LHM sytem! If not change it anyway...

[daviemck2006]

If it's lds it is very old and very dirty lds. The stuff in my c5's tank is a lot brighter than that.

[skog77]

If it is LDS change it quckly! It eats o-rings in LHM sytem! If not change it anyway...

ATF does that too. s**t, i'll change it as fast as i can.


Why do people do this stuff

[Northern_Mike]

That just looks like really old LHM to me. The stuff that came out my Activa was like that

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[CitroJim]

That just looks like really old LHM to me. The stuff that came out my Activa was like that

Yep, agree fully. It's just very old LHM. I believe there is no dealer service schedule to change it so if the car has always been rigorously dealer serviced it will not have been changed...

[Mandrake]

If it is LDS change it quckly! It eats o-rings in LHM sytem! If not change it anyway...

ATF does that too. (-expletive removed-), i'll change it as fast as i can.


Why do people do this stuff

Where do you both get that idea from ?

LHM+ is a low viscosity semi synthetic mineral oil, LDS is a low viscosity fully synthetic mineral oil. They're different but not from a seal compatibility perspective.

Most ATF is also low viscosity semi synth or fully synth mineral oil and won't eat the seals. The problem with ATF is the friction modifiers are harmful to the sliding metal surfaces in valves etc and may cause accelerated wear, but we're talking about over years not weeks. (My first Xantia came filled with red ATF in the hydraulic system for who knows how long and a couple of LHM changes saw it good - no problems with seals)

If DOT.4 fluid (or the ancient LHS) had been in there you could scrap the car as every single hydraulic unit would have destroyed seals (and the sphere membranes would probably be damaged too) but with LDS in there there is no seal apocalypse - just change the oil a couple of times and it will be fine.

Just looks like dirty LHM to me anyway - my new V6 LHM has a light green/orange colour to it too so needs an LHM change. Orange is also the colour of Hydraflush so it may be remnants of being hydraflushed.

[CitroJim]

As you say Simon, LDS won't destroy seals. I think the confusion is arising from LHS, the old original red glycol-based fluid used in hydraulic systems up until 1967 on the DS.

It was evil stuff ad terribly hygroscopic..

That stuff will rot LHM seals. It was the original reason LHM equipment was all marked with green all over it so that there could be absolutely no confusion. LHS stuff was black...

Both LDS, ATF and 10 grade motor oil can be used in Citroen Hydraulic systems in dire emergency with no lasting danage as long as it's drained, flushed and changed for LHM promptly.

[addo]

I know that mineral oil based fluids will damage the rubber compounds used for glycol-based fluids, but I'm not sure it also applies in the other direction.

There's also an amount of Citroën stuff that's marked with a white dash/stripe; this is compatible with both fluid types. I've mostly seen this on Dee suspension boots.

[skog77]

Well thanks for all the input

Glad to hear its probably not eating away at everything inside, i'll change to the proper stuff soon anyway.

[addo]

I believe the green dye is supposed to break down with heat, loss of the vivid colour could certainly mean it's just old LHM.

[skog77]

Well i've pumped out about 3,2L of the old stuff and put in fresh LHM. Feels like it made the car happy, at least the streering feels smoother.

I poured some of the old stuff out on a white napkin. Hopefully it's just really old LHM.