chaps, if my xantia is carrying lots of weight. would this imply the hydraulic pump/compressor is working harder than usual, and therefore causing a drop in fuel economy?
I should be able to work this out, but I haven't tried
JOhn G
Xantia Suspension, with 'load' in car
Moderator: RichardW
Short answer: no.
The hydraulic pump is only doing additional work with a heavier load for the few seconds the car is lifting up to the normal ride height. Once it gets there the pump has nothing extra to do for a heavier load than a lighter one.
Leakage from the cylinders and height correctors (causing gradual height loss) is probably slightly higher with more load in, but the pump is only correcting for losses of height in the order of a couple of seconds every half an hour or so of driving time...eg negligible.
Regards,
Simon
The hydraulic pump is only doing additional work with a heavier load for the few seconds the car is lifting up to the normal ride height. Once it gets there the pump has nothing extra to do for a heavier load than a lighter one.
Leakage from the cylinders and height correctors (causing gradual height loss) is probably slightly higher with more load in, but the pump is only correcting for losses of height in the order of a couple of seconds every half an hour or so of driving time...eg negligible.
Regards,
Simon
Simon
1997 Xantia S1 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive in Silex Grey
2016 Nissan Leaf Tekna 30kWh in White
2011 Peugeot Ion Full Electric in Silver
1977 G Special 1129cc LHD
1978 CX 2400
1997 Xantia S1 2.0i Auto VSX
1998 Xantia S2 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive
1997 Xantia S1 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive in Silex Grey
2016 Nissan Leaf Tekna 30kWh in White
2011 Peugeot Ion Full Electric in Silver
1977 G Special 1129cc LHD
1978 CX 2400
1997 Xantia S1 2.0i Auto VSX
1998 Xantia S2 3.0 V6 Auto Exclusive
Most of the time the height correctors will be shut - so the suspension is isolated from the rest of the system. When topping up (necessary due to operation of the height corrector or due to leakage) the accumulator will provide some LHM - but due to the operation of the regulator this will be at normal pressure - which is the only pressure the regulator can operate at.
So - yes slightly more high pressure LHM will be required to lift the car initially (gas in spheres will be a bit more compressed and occupy a smaller volume) and the frequency of topping up might increase (but might decrease as well I suppose as the back end may not rise and fall as much)
A heavy weight in the back may also have the effect of making the steering lighter by reducing the load on the front - so it may not need as much assistance! - which in turn may reduce the hydraulic system's consumption. I think this will depend on the positioning of the load which would have to be right at the back behind the back wheels and I would have thought the self levelling suspension would minimise this.
So - yes slightly more high pressure LHM will be required to lift the car initially (gas in spheres will be a bit more compressed and occupy a smaller volume) and the frequency of topping up might increase (but might decrease as well I suppose as the back end may not rise and fall as much)
A heavy weight in the back may also have the effect of making the steering lighter by reducing the load on the front - so it may not need as much assistance! - which in turn may reduce the hydraulic system's consumption. I think this will depend on the positioning of the load which would have to be right at the back behind the back wheels and I would have thought the self levelling suspension would minimise this.
jeremy
the hight corectors will be on the move all the time the car is moving along,as they are linked to the roll bars,also you have the constant movment of the suspention rams,i agree not as much as when the car is rasing up to start with,and the regulator cycling is topping the system up with presure
regards malcolm
regards malcolm
i don't think the steering would go light as much as other cars would, maybe just slightly as you said, but i don't think this is an issue because of the self levelling suspension, hence the lack of headlight height level adjusters (which like you get in many other basic cars such as mondeos)jeremy wrote:A heavy weight in the back may also have the effect of making the steering lighter by reducing the load on the front - so it may not need as much assistance! - which in turn may reduce the hydraulic system's consumption. I think this will depend on the positioning of the load which would have to be right at the back behind the back wheels and I would have thought the self levelling suspension would minimise this.
also remember the xantia/bx/xm have clever brakes in the back that work in accordance to the weight in the back of the car, the more weight you have, the better the back stops, quite a clever system really, some would suggest loading her up from time to time to excercise the back brakes as they get used maybe at a ratio of 80/20 most of the time.