Power Steering Fluid in LDS

JT · Unread post by JT » 15 Jan 2011, 19:08

Hi folks,
A friend of mine has a 2005 C5 1.6 HDI.
Recently he had occasion to remove the LDS fluid resevoir and consequently lost about 1.5 litres of fluid.
However, after reassembly he topped up the resevoir with Power steering fluid.
Will this mix with the LDS or does he have to drain the system and replace with LDS?
Could this fluid do any damage to the suspension?
Oh! and if if it has to be drained and replaced, guess who'll be doing it!!

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 15 Jan 2011, 19:18

In the longer term it may not offer ideal durability, compared to the qualities of pureed Mormon. However there likely won't be any issues with seals or mixing.

Citroenmad · Unread post by **Citroenmad** » 15 Jan 2011, 20:52

Im not exactly sure, but i know LHM and LDS doesn't mix, so chances are the power steering fluid will have an effect too. Id not be leaving it in there.

Pleiades · Unread post by **Pleiades** » 15 Jan 2011, 21:00

Hi JT.

The power steering fluid I take it is ATF? This will not hurt the system, the LDS fluid is mineral and other mineral fluids although not correct for the system will not cause any damage.

In this case I would still be draining and re-filling with fresh LDS fluid, just be aware that these cars can be a bit of a bitch to get primed back up after they have had all the pressure dumped off.

Regards
Martin

addo · Unread post by **addo** » 15 Jan 2011, 22:11

Citroenmad wrote:...i know LHM and LDS doesn't mix...

They mix just fine.

cachaciero · Unread post by **cachaciero** » 16 Jan 2011, 09:58

Oh dear Oh dear!

First sorry Pleides LDS is a synthetic based oil LHM is mineral based other than that they are identical spec.

LHM and LDS do mix at least statically.

Many power steering fluids are actually LDS but not all so it depends on which power steering fluid. I seem to remember that Beamers and Mercs are two that use a power steering fluid which is under the skin actually LDS. (Caveat my memory aint what it was

)

cachaciero

galonki · Unread post by **galonki** » 16 Jan 2011, 10:51

i know my lds tank is full of green stuff which i am almost certain is LHM dont know for sure cause a garage filled it but i get the feeling they put LHM in because LDS is orange.

I have had that LHM in for over a year now and no problems e.g leaks etc.

So of course best to redrain etc, but alot of effort and considerable cost.

Also been warned if i completely empty the system it may not come up again by a local garage.

Pleiades · Unread post by **Pleiades** » 16 Jan 2011, 10:55

Sorry to argue, but they are both a mineral fluid.

They do talk about LDS being a synthetic oil but only meaning that it is a blended sort of man made mix. When we talk of synthetic, we think of brake fluid, that is a no no.

Regards
Martin.

Unread post by **Paul-R** » 16 Jan 2011, 11:40

galonki wrote:because LDS is orange.

Not necessarily.

Total LDS from a Citroen dealer is certainly red/orange but the aftermarket LDS (is it from Comma - can't remember) is green.

JT · Unread post by JT » 16 Jan 2011, 12:04

Thanks for all the info folks.
The fluid he put in was Fortech ATF power steering fluid.
Looks like the general consenus is to drain and refill!

cachaciero · Unread post by **cachaciero** » 16 Jan 2011, 14:03

Pleiades wrote:Sorry to argue, but they are both a mineral fluid.

They do talk about LDS being a synthetic oil but only meaning that it is a blended sort of man made mix. When we talk of synthetic, we think of brake fluid, that is a no no.

Regards
Martin.

Well I got my info from the Total Specs for LDS and LHM
See:- http://www.lubadmin.com/upload/produit/ ... 1/4003.pdf

http://www.lubadmin.com/upload/produit/ ... 4308.pdfic

I suggest that your interpretation of synthetic is very narrow, you may think of synthetic oils as being brake fluid which is one type of synthetic i.e man made chemical soup but I feel sure that those of us who put synthetic oils into our engines i.e another kind of man made chemical soup don't think of brake fluid

And those of us wot work on "proper" hydraulic systems also don't think of synthetic oil as being DOT4.

Synthetic aka sometihng synthesised from raw chemical components.

cachaciero

cachaciero · Unread post by **cachaciero** » 16 Jan 2011, 14:05

JT wrote:Thanks for all the info folks.
The fluid he put in was Fortech ATF power steering fluid.
Looks like the general consenus is to drain and refill!

'Fraid so if for no other reasons than the one of viscosity.

cachaciero

cachaciero · Unread post by **cachaciero** » 16 Jan 2011, 14:11

Paul-R wrote:
galonki wrote:because LDS is orange.
Not necessarily.

Total LDS from a Citroën dealer is certainly red/orange but the aftermarket LDS (is it from Comma - can't remember) is green.

As I remember last I researched this in depth the conclusion was that the spec for LDS says it has to be orange in colour so therefore the Comma oil which is LDS in all but color couldn't be called LDS because it isn't the right colour and being green is a recipe for confusion and scammers.

Viz:-- No sir it we havn't filled your tank up with LHM (cheap) it's Comma LDS (more expensive) which is green.

cachaciero

cachaciero · Unread post by **cachaciero** » 16 Jan 2011, 14:21

Just found what I wrote last April which actually refers to the LDS data sheet which actually shows that LDS is not a pure synthetic but only semi synthetic.

See:- http://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/v ... hp?t=31974

cachaciero