My XM is due an LHM change at 72,000, having had one at 36,000. It's at 65,000 now.
The stuff is greeny-brown. Someone on another forum has suggested that something is breaking down to cause this colour change as theirs stays green throughout its life.
Correct? Or does the stuff just degrade with time?
I am new to the wonders of Hydractive II. Any ideas/ Everything seems fine.
Are steering racks a weak point on the 2.5TD XM?
rg
Brown LHM Means Trouble?
Moderator: RichardW
Anyone who hasn't had LHM change colour has obviously either changed it well before it was due or has a lot of leaks that keeps the stuff cycling. <img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>
It always changes colours. Although the oil companies won't admit to it, I personally believe that LHM is hygroscopic and whilst 60,000 klms is the recognised interval for changing, I'm inclined to do the changes on all the fluids based on appearance, smell & feel.
Here's a couple of shots of what used LHM looks like in comparison to new; this was from a BX that supposedly had it changed 30,000 klms earlier & was from Australia with a much dryer climate than yours. I do however suspect that the fluid was either changed & the filters not cleaned or not changed at all as I also found some pretty average service work done in other areas.
It pays to DIY this job as from experience I've found garages often just dump the old LHM out & replace it without either cleaning filters or tank which results in early contamination of the new fluid.
http://www.aussiefrogs.com/snippets/lhm_story.htm
Alan S
It always changes colours. Although the oil companies won't admit to it, I personally believe that LHM is hygroscopic and whilst 60,000 klms is the recognised interval for changing, I'm inclined to do the changes on all the fluids based on appearance, smell & feel.
Here's a couple of shots of what used LHM looks like in comparison to new; this was from a BX that supposedly had it changed 30,000 klms earlier & was from Australia with a much dryer climate than yours. I do however suspect that the fluid was either changed & the filters not cleaned or not changed at all as I also found some pretty average service work done in other areas.
It pays to DIY this job as from experience I've found garages often just dump the old LHM out & replace it without either cleaning filters or tank which results in early contamination of the new fluid.
http://www.aussiefrogs.com/snippets/lhm_story.htm
Alan S
I Agree completely with Alan,furthermore the problem is not confined to Australia it's universal the dealer's I suspect do not clean the filters, or perhaps the LHM is also left unchanged. I change mine (Xantia) at between 25,000 - 30,000 Mls,nearer 25K.If RG does this he will find a change for the better in his steering,brakes and the general feel of the car. Perhaps it might be advisable to use Hydroflush on this occasion,seeing what is in the tank is so contaminated. Alan might care to comment on this (Hydroflush)suggestion.
Sorry I am not familar with the steering rack of the XM 2.5TD. but I am sure they become weak, if Garages do not change the LHM,and clean the filters.
Edited by - jmd on 19 Dec 2002 00:16:43
Edited by - jmd on 19 Dec 2002 00:19:16
Sorry I am not familar with the steering rack of the XM 2.5TD. but I am sure they become weak, if Garages do not change the LHM,and clean the filters.
Edited by - jmd on 19 Dec 2002 00:16:43
Edited by - jmd on 19 Dec 2002 00:19:16
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
I Agree completely with Alan,furthermore the problem is not confined to Australia it's universal the dealer's I suspect do not clean the filters, or perhaps the LHM is also left unchanged. I change mine (Xantia) at between 25,000 - 30,000 Mls,nearer 25K.If RG does this he will find a change for the better in his steering,brakes and the general feel of the car. Perhaps it might be advisable to use Hydroflush on this occasion,seeing what is in the tank is so contaminated. Alan might care to comment on this (Hydroflush)suggestion.
Sorry I am not familar with the steering rack of the XM 2.5TD. but I am sure they become weak, if Garages do not change the LHM,and clean the filters.
Edited by - jmd on 19 Dec 2002 00:16:43
Edited by - jmd on 19 Dec 2002 00:19:16
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Hydraflush is a foreign subject to us out here, in fact if you read that whole thread that I referred to, it is explained there in graphic detail; we just can't buy it as it is never used. Companies that stocked it no longer do so due to lack of demand & I put this down to the dry conditions we've had in the past 12 - 15 years, which is the basis for me making the statement about it being hygroscopic.
Based on reports from the Northern Hemisphere though, it is common for owners to report an almost instant improvement in ride, brakes & steering once it is put into the system. The down side is that being a thinner fluid than LHM it will also make small leaks appear large & any areas with any weaknesses will start to leak as the thinner fluid finds its way through.
I think that if I was in the UK and had a system that was a bit mucky, I'd have no hesitation using it.
As regards steering racks, I can only comment on the BX type which can be adversly affected by dirt in the system. In their case, it isn't the rack that is the problem but the pinion which has seals that can tend to leak & cause problems not only through leaking but operation also. There are also quite a few filters in various components on a BX which again can affect the operation, so I would be inclined to try out the Hydraflush first before rushing into what could be a fairly simple job being made to sound serious.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>
Alan S
I Agree completely with Alan,furthermore the problem is not confined to Australia it's universal the dealer's I suspect do not clean the filters, or perhaps the LHM is also left unchanged. I change mine (Xantia) at between 25,000 - 30,000 Mls,nearer 25K.If RG does this he will find a change for the better in his steering,brakes and the general feel of the car. Perhaps it might be advisable to use Hydroflush on this occasion,seeing what is in the tank is so contaminated. Alan might care to comment on this (Hydroflush)suggestion.
Sorry I am not familar with the steering rack of the XM 2.5TD. but I am sure they become weak, if Garages do not change the LHM,and clean the filters.
Edited by - jmd on 19 Dec 2002 00:16:43
Edited by - jmd on 19 Dec 2002 00:19:16
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Hydraflush is a foreign subject to us out here, in fact if you read that whole thread that I referred to, it is explained there in graphic detail; we just can't buy it as it is never used. Companies that stocked it no longer do so due to lack of demand & I put this down to the dry conditions we've had in the past 12 - 15 years, which is the basis for me making the statement about it being hygroscopic.
Based on reports from the Northern Hemisphere though, it is common for owners to report an almost instant improvement in ride, brakes & steering once it is put into the system. The down side is that being a thinner fluid than LHM it will also make small leaks appear large & any areas with any weaknesses will start to leak as the thinner fluid finds its way through.
I think that if I was in the UK and had a system that was a bit mucky, I'd have no hesitation using it.
As regards steering racks, I can only comment on the BX type which can be adversly affected by dirt in the system. In their case, it isn't the rack that is the problem but the pinion which has seals that can tend to leak & cause problems not only through leaking but operation also. There are also quite a few filters in various components on a BX which again can affect the operation, so I would be inclined to try out the Hydraflush first before rushing into what could be a fairly simple job being made to sound serious.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>
Alan S