CitroJim's AX, C3 Picasso, Cycling and Running Tales

[mickthemaverick]

Another AX, another crank oil leak



I have a seal in stock and a stock replacement item on order... I've done this job so often now...

About time you did it right then!!

[CitroJim]

Another AX, another crank oil leak



I have a seal in stock and a stock replacement item on order... I've done this job so often now...

About time you did it right then!!

Much more progress whilst the builders crack on creating the the best downstairs loo in the world! although I found I didn't have a seal in stock; I thought I did but it was a diff oil seal eBay to the rescue!

I drained the coolant. Looks very clean

A compatibility test with the new, just in case the old stuff was OAT or otherwise not ethyene-glycol. Happily, it seems not. Checked as it's the first time I've change coolant on this car...

The water pump looks very clean

I now await the new oil seal. All else is done, even to working Plus-Gas around the front caliper bleed nipples ahead of a brake fluid change. I've not tried loosening the nipples yet; that will be after a week of Plus-Gassing - at least

I started rust-proofing using Bilt Hamber aerosol cans. I had to rapidly stop due to the fumes, especially from the UC stuff

I need a high quality face mask before I continue. Advice on what to get please?

I did get some Dynax SX50 into a few box-sections though using a long lance...

Work will continue today if the seal arrives; else tomorrow

[CitroJim]

Are these ax known for that seal to leak often ? Or is it something that's just naturally happened?

Yep, a very common issue... Most would ignore the amount mine was leaking but me being me I won't permit any oil leaks...

[xantia_v6]

I started rust-proofing using Bilt Hamber aerosol cans. I had to rapidly stop due to the fumes, especially from the UC stuff

I need a high quality face mask before I continue. Advice on what to get please?

I bought one of these(3M 6200 series) a few years ago when doing some floor sanding, and would not be without it:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/358806884029 ... 6822573553





they are not cheap, but widely available, reasonable comfortable and very effective. Different grade filter cartridges are available.

[CitroJim]

Thanks for that Mike

[mickthemaverick]

That mask is probably better quality than mine but I use one like this, from Draper I think, because I like to protect my spectacles from drips, splashes and splutters when under the car.

My safe spraying mask

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/316677287787

[mickthemaverick]

I was close, it is not Draper but Drager, the current version looks like this:

The current product

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dr%C3%A4ger-Re ... 1_8?sr=8-8

and is obviously expensive. Mine was issued to me by BT when I was seconded to the asbestos clearance team for Watford ATE !!

[Huskyxantia]

Are these ax known for that seal to leak often ? Or is it something that's just naturally happened?

Yep, a very common issue... Most would ignore the amount mine was leaking but me being me I won't permit any oil leaks...

Then the belts get messy if left, well done for being on the ball Jim

[myglaren]

If you can I would recommend a mask that incorporates an activated charcoal filter as it is a vapour giving you trouble. I have found them to be very useful, following Covid. I had a stack of them here but can't find them and having difficulty with replacements.
These are the N95 paper/fabric masks, not the WW1 gas mask type, a bit much for going shopping in.

Like this:-

A search for "activated charcoal breathing mask" reveals a variety of them.

[CitroJim]

Then the belts get messy if left, well done for being on the ball Jim

And the last thing I want is a car with a wet belt engine The oil seal is out for delivery today so fingers crossed.

Thanks for the recommendations Steve, the full facemask variety is quite tempting and means I can keep my glasses on...

And Mick, that's given me a wide choice to think about - thanks

Those 3M 6200 Masks Mike, I note on eBay the prices vary wildly with many claiming to be the 3M one ranging in price from £21 - your link - down to £8 and around £15... All identical listings... I'm suspicious. Are these respirators subject to fakery? I ask as I see the same on the 3M site is around £50... And the bare mask less filters for £26 on Amazon. I'm very iffy about buying any of those from eBay to be honest... I see Amazon has lots of clones...

It's a bloody minefield

[Huskyxantia]

Screw fix have even been victims of fake tools aswell so to be honest theres so much of it on the market now its a mine field. If this has been a personal recommendation then I'd take there word its the real deal as they have one themselves.

[xantia_v6]

I bought mine with carbon filters and dust filter in NZ from a reputable supplier, it cost (the equivalent of) about £35, so depending on the filters £20 is believable for a genuine item, but they seem to be twice that at some suppliers.

[CitroJim]

Screw fix have even been victims of fake tools aswell so to be honest theres so much of it on the market now its a mine field.

It's terrifying Screwfix have been victims Husky - normally, a very well respected outfit. Is nothing safe from the scammers?

And Mike, thanks for the confirmation that mid-£20s is abut right for the IBM one...

The new oil seal arrived so I cracked on with Strawberry despite the record temperatures prevailing; it's quite shady under my carport so ideal really. That carport has been, without doubt, one of my best automotive investments ever

The old seal came out in the traditional way:

In with the new:

Setting the cambelt tension is a weighty job on these engines...

I make up the 1.5Kg weight on a pair of kitchen scales by adding a series of smaller sockets to the big one

In my experience, this is the only way to reliably and accurately set the tension.

I refilled the coolant and bled the system. I'm a bit concerned that the fan seems a bit late to the party; I need to get a gun-type infra-red thermometer to see at what temperature the fan cuts in.

One small issue is a few tiny specks of what looks like copper floating on top of the coolant in the expansion tank; the old coolant came out completely clean so I'm at al loss... Looking at the impellor of the new Gates water pump, it looks about the same colour so it just may be dust from it? Else that, I've somehow disturbed some old K-Seal in the system. Opening the bleeders certainly revealed some red coloured stains on the threads in areas where no coolant normally circulates and moreso on a spigot when I lifted the small bleed-back pipe on top of the thermostat housing to bleed the head.

There's been no coolant loss overnight so hopefully, just something to keep my eye on...

Something a little more concerning is a bit of rust on the offside inner wing; the car has had problems here in the past on the bit above the washer bottle - a known bad place for AX rust.

I don't think it's serious but definitely needs to be rectified. That's way above my abilities so I'll be looking for some skilled assistance.

Bluebell can now go back to her usual slumbers...

[RichardW]

Something a little more concerning is a bit of rust on the offside inner wing; the car has had problems here in the past on the bit above the washer bottle - a known bad place for AX rust.



I don't think it's serious but definitely needs to be rectified. That's way above my abilities so I'll be looking for some skilled assistance.

Looks like that need the attention of the sparkly stick! Might be one where you can strip out the stuff around it, then get someone to come and weld it up on the drive. The hole will always be much bigger than it first appears once poked

[mickthemaverick]

These may come in handy:

The top panels

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/287223894073

The vertical panels

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/287392534165