Large leakage from around the LDS tank when car is on lift

[ivancro96]

Hello everyone. I had my tires changed today in a shop, and they called me over when the wheels were off to show me a 'oil leak'. I got there and there was a genuinely concerning amount of oil sipping down from around the LDS tank area. Afterwards I popped the hood and the cap and the tank itself were all greasy and covered in oil. I can't tell was it actually from the cap or not or maybe related to the front right strut which is allegedly bad.

Anyone got any ideas? I kind of pray it's not the strut, of course.

[Sloppysod]

Firstly, Did they loose the fluid cap before lifting the car so all the wheels are off the ground? If not then possible reservoir failure.
Set car to low position and check fluid level, top-up if required. If it's already at the level mark it may have been overfilled.
I think jet wash the reservoir, suspension leg and under the wheel arch, once dry, drive for a few miles check the level again, then look for oil leak.

Hi and welcome.

This is the correct method - the same for the 2004 model:
The fluid levels should be checked with suspension depressurised (ideally), but with engine running, you can put it on the lowest suspension level and wait for it to fully lower and on level ground. The following diagram shows the levels for a C5 X7 - the BLUE being the maximum fill level and he ORANGE the minimum level.

[Hell Razor5543]

The most likely cause is that the LDS reservoir has developed a leak. The suspension system is pressurised, and the cap has a simple valve built into it. If the car is lifted without the cap being loosened it is possible for air to be drawn into the system, and then (when the car is lowered back down onto its' wheels) this can cause the reservoir to be over-pressurised. Over time this (if it is repeated) can cause the seam to fail, allowing for pinhole leaks.

If I am right (and I am NOT saying that I am), while you have the reservoir out to be replaced, it would be a very good idea to strip down the hydraulic pump and clean it out thoroughly. The motor uses brushes, and as these wear carbon dust will accumulate. When this gets mixed with the LDS fluid you end up with a conductive sludge that will, over time, cause the motor to fail. I encountered this issue on my last C5, and (unfortunately) the motor burnt out and required replacing (I was able to source a motor that, once cleaned up, got the suspension working again).

[Kees]

This is caused by the wrong procedure by lifting the car!!
In the manual from Citroën says, if you want to lift the car, PUT IT IN THE HIGHEST POSITION!!
The reason is, when you don't do this, the system thinks, the car stand to high, because it stand in the normal position and therefore the system wants to lower the car down and then all of the LDS will return to the tank.

[ivancro96]

Thanks for all of your replies. I really don't know did they or did they know put it in the highest position nor do I know did they unscrew the reservoir cap (probably not). If they actually did put it to the highest position it is logical that there will be no spillage as it makes no sense that it is coming from the reservoir. I will clean up as much as I can, fill up how much is needed and find a shop to do the rest as I don't have access to a car lift, sadly. If they really forgot that is such a frustrating thing, because as Razor mentioned, the pump motor is at risk. And I do NOT want to pay 1800€ for a new one.
Once again, thanks everyone.

[Hell Razor5543]

What I suggest is that, if the reservoir has a leak, you take the pump out as well, strip the motor and clean it (brake cleaning fluid, toothbrush and an abrasive block to clean the commutator contacts), as you will have done 50% of the work just to get to the pump anyway. Even if the pump has not currently got an issue, cleaning it properly will add years to its life. This is because, over time, there will have been spillages that will have got into the motor.

[Kees]

If you went to a garage/mecanic while they are not specialist Citroën, they just don't know how the system works. You can't even blame them, because only the C6 and C5X7 has this system where you need to set the car in the highest position before you lift it up.

[PaulC5]

A topic about undoing the LDS tank cap viewtopic.php?t=62058

[ivancro96]

I've been told by the shop that they did in fact raise the car to its maximum level before they lifted it on their lift. It still is weird to me that it was dripping from the top of the cap, and not elsewhere. Oh well, to the shop it goes anyway, a thorough cleaning is needed no matter what.