Consensus?

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RichardW
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Consensus?

Post by RichardW »

There have been several discussions recently about which part of the indicator for the LHM level you should read. I looked in the handbook for my 95 Xantia TD, and it clearly shows that the disc to read is the UPPER one. I believe this was that same for my 88 BX in the handbook (and the one we have always worked to in 27 years [:D] of hydraulic motoring - broken only by a 3 month spell with an AllAgro[:I] when a GS rear subframe disintegrated[:0]).
Anybody got another source that actually shows the lower disc, or is it just an urban myth?[;)][?]
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Post by algieuk »

My BX book clearly shows the lower disc
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Post by franciscolunn »

Lower disc,by the way what happens if you put to much LHM in?like i have done will it affect the operation of the suspension.
xantia 1.8 16v
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Post by JohnD »

The Diesel Car Magazine in 1989 ran an aricle spread over two months about servicing the BX. A picture labeled "Hydraulic fluid indicator" clearly showed the 'top hat' right at the top of the plastic dome, with the lower ring between the two red lines. When I bought my TZD in 1991, I sent off for a back number of the article, and can clearly remember how it contradicted the BX handbook. I've since wondered if the early hydraulic Citroens did in fact use the lower ring as the level indicator.
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Post by JohnD »

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by franciscolunn</i>

by the way what happens if you put to much LHM in?like i have done will it affect the operation of the suspension.
xantia 1.8 16v
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Nothing will happen, other than if it overflows, it makes a mess.
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Post by Dave Burns »

Upper "yellow disc" in my handbook, to be between the two red rings on the plastic dome with suspension at full height.
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Post by vanny »

Ive seen it as both in different places.
In the '93 and '91 (gray) print of the Haynes it uses the 'Yellow indicator float'
Personally ive always kept the float all the way to the top (over filled) on the basis that it does no harm, and i dont trust the indicator!! My method of checking the height is to stick my middle and index finger in as far as possible and see where it comes up to! Scientific, you betcha'
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Post by alan s »

I used to be a bit paranoid (like a lot of hyd Cit owners tend to get) about exactly where the disc sat. Then I bought another car & with it where it "should" be it set the warning buzzer off when I went around corners, so I topped it up.
I've found that is teems no two cars are the same after a bit of time, so I have used the deep & meaningful approach that Vanny mentions.
I find that at normal height setting, if I can get the nail wet on my index finger, then the level is spot on.[:D][:o)]
Alan S [}:)]
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Post by vanny »

Just thinking about this, i had a Xantia that came to me with braking problems. Vibrations when braking, worse at higher speeds. The guy had been told it was warped discs, or stick hand brake or a few other things and guess what, it was the hydraulic level, very very low. And yes the stop light was on, but the owner was told that this was normal it was just like that. Topped it up, no more STOP light. The mind boggles sometimes!! It was at that point i realised that if i was a Citroen 'specialist' that could have been a good couple of hundred quid for labour and spurious parts, oh well
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Post by Catalin »

My brown Haynes Bx states that the the yellow “hat” should sit between the marks.
My experience shows that overfilling makes a huge mess if you drive like I do :)
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Post by alexx »

It is the upper disc, according to pictures in my BX manual, Haynes manuals for CX and BX and various papers from Citroen.
It can't be lower disc. Why? In highest indicator's position, lower disc is just leveled with upper mark on the glass. So, how would you know if there's too much LHM inside?
Alan's method is also OK.
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Post by Homer »

I've always used the upper disc, never had any problems with the light coming on around corners.
My (1998) Xantia manual says yellow but the diagram shows the upper disc as being yellow even though it is really orange.
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Post by alan s »

alexx,
The only way that my system can fail is if your finger is too long[:p]
Alan S [}:)][:o)]
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Post by alexx »

[:D][:D][:D]
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Post by adrianeaton »

In the UK (and other RHD markets) you'll often find BX's with 'overfilled' hydraulic reservoirs - because of the position of the tank, when cornering hard or going round roundabouts, the fluid moving to the left of the car is enough to cause the stop lamp to come on if the level is at the 'correct' position.
Putting a bit extra fluid in so the indicator is at the top of the glass bowl prevents this, and I've never managed to fill it so far that it comes out the top when the suspension has sunk :-)
Adrian
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