Yup - It happened - I'm once again Activa-ted

[Armidillo]

Caught me out on my first Xantia in c. 2008. I knew nothing about hydraulic Citroens, so took a while to twig where all the LHM was going . It would have been about 11 years old at the time.

It was suggested to me that the Turbo CT might have caused the engine bay to be hotter than would be the case for a N/A 8 or 16 valve, shortening the life of rubber components.

[CitroJim]

Yes, the TCT does run very hot in the engine bay!

[yoseff]

More weird stuff going on (and available time to deeply look at it has been few)
As i turn off the engine , rear literally falls.
After engine off , rear will slowly rise once again , to fall once again as soon a door is open.
I suspect of rear electrovalve with too much leakage and also suspect some lack of pressure from some rear spheres not helping on sc.mac system...
Any other ideas?

[CitroJim]

I suspect of rear electrovalve with too much leakage and also suspect some lack of pressure from some rear spheres not helping on sc.mac system...
Any other ideas?

Indeed yes, a leaky rear electrovalve and/or flat rear corner spheres will cause this.

Electrovalve leakage can be checked by disconnecting its leakage return pipe and using a temporary pipe running into a small glass bottle, see how much LHM flows. It should spurt only when switching between hard and soft modes...

Whilst doing this test, be sure to block off the disconnected pipe for the duration of the test, else a lot of LHM will flow from it!

[yoseff]

Not much time available for now (Summer) , so not much have i done on the Activa.
However i was wanting to change LHM when i remembered of the old Hydraurinçage , and i think i found the last 2 of them for sale in Portugal (So i got them immediately)

I used it before in a Xantia, but however i have one doubt: As the car will not be used for quite a while, would it harm the circuit to let it inside for longer time? With my lack of time it will be a few months until being able to do 1000 or 1500km... The Activa is currently without LHM, so id prefer to put some fluid after clean the filters.

Whats your thoughts on that?

[yoseff]

Filters (almost) clean.
Need to give a final passage with brake cleaner (Thought i had more but ended in middle of process)

Yes. I have several sets of filters , that way next time i'll change them instead of cleaning immediately to make the process quicker.

Now busy again, so i must do more in other day.... Yup , that's summer

[Armidillo]

Not much time available for now (Summer) , so not much have i done on the Activa.
However i was wanting to change LHM when i remembered of the old Hydraurinçage , and i think i found the last 2 of them for sale in Portugal (So i got them immediately)

I used it before in a Xantia, but however i have one doubt: As the car will not be used for quite a while, would it harm the circuit to let it inside for longer time? With my lack of time it will be a few months until being able to do 1000 or 1500km... The Activa is currently without LHM, so id prefer to put some fluid after clean the filters.

Whats your thoughts on that?

I am confident that leaving the Hydraurinçage in the system for a few months will do no harm. In any case, the 2 litres that you have won't fill the system - it'll take 4 or 5 litres. So if the other 2 - 3 litres are LHM you should have nothing to worry about.

I have a SII Xantia wagon which used to drop at the back - presumably sticking anti-sink valve. Another Australian recommended I use a "home brew" cleaning fluid - 50% ATF + 50% diesel fuel. I left this solution in the hydraulic system for 6 months or more - there was no sudden change, but over time the anti-sink valve started working correctly, and there was no indication of harm to any component.

[yoseff]

Not much time available for now (Summer) , so not much have i done on the Activa.
However i was wanting to change LHM when i remembered of the old Hydraurinçage , and i think i found the last 2 of them for sale in Portugal (So i got them immediately)

I used it before in a Xantia, but however i have one doubt: As the car will not be used for quite a while, would it harm the circuit to let it inside for longer time? With my lack of time it will be a few months until being able to do 1000 or 1500km... The Activa is currently without LHM, so id prefer to put some fluid after clean the filters.

Whats your thoughts on that?

I am confident that leaving the Hydraurinçage in the system for a few months will do no harm. In any case, the 2 litres that you have won't fill the system - it'll take 4 or 5 litres. So if the other 2 - 3 litres are LHM you should have nothing to worry about.

I have a SII Xantia wagon which used to drop at the back - presumably sticking anti-sink valve. Another Australian recommended I use a "home brew" cleaning fluid - 50% ATF + 50% diesel fuel. I left this solution in the hydraulic system for 6 months or more - there was no sudden change, but over time the anti-sink valve started working correctly, and there was no indication of harm to any component.

That's actually 2 x 5 liters , so i plan to fill the system with Hydraurinçage. I definitely trust more in this solution than an home brew one
My Activa is also doing that (rear falls after turning off engine), and i plan to manually clean the anti sink valves, height correctors and electrovalves. The goal of the flush is more other areas where is harder to reach by disassembling.

[CitroJim]

Indeed, it can stay in for an extended period and in fact, if not too manky when drained to refill with LHM, after passing through a fine filter - an old-school coffee filter perhaps - it can be re-used...

I giggled wen talking to a fellow forum member about this stuff when he referred to it as 'Hydro Carnage'

[yoseff]

Your replys assured me , so today having a bit of morning free time , decided to put the Hydraflush on the system , with clean filters , and also put a new tube on the aspiration side of the pump. (Transparent)
A few workout with the suspension , and after a while that behavior that the rear would literally fall when turning off engine stops and rear, that was solid as a rock even on normal position, is now moving on a much smoother way.
This Hydro Carnage is powerful stuff

Cant wait to try it on the road.

[CitroJim]

Excellent result That's good and you should notice a big improvement when you drive it!