Rattiva the Second...

[Northern_Mike]

That Ive not updated this blog in a while is a good sign in that Rattiva is going about her daily duties without a hitch and doing them splendidly too...

She's been brilliant in the recent cold snap too and firing up her Eberspacher without fail to keep me warm and her screens nice and clear

As a treat for her today I changed her LHM which looked more like best bitter rather than Vulcan's blood. It was manky in the extreme!

I also found more past butchery.

This was nothing to do with me! I never changed the LHM in her , as you can tell. I did change the LHM in the green Activa, which I'm sure I sent you a picture of at the time. It was worse than what came out of Rattiva..

[CitroJim]

This was nothing to do with me! I never changed the LHM in her

I'm not blaming you Mike! As you know, that car was one in the hands of a butcher of the highest calibre I'm still wondering how on earth an LHM filter head could be so damaged. It takes a special skill in butchery to do that...

I'm happy to report that I seem to have no leaks from the seal where the filter head sits on the LHM reservoir. Always, whenever I disturbed a filter head on any car I was always annoyed by leaks from there arising directly, it seemed, from my own actions.

I tried something new on Rattiva and it seems to have worked. I'm not telling for a bit in case it's just a false hope...

[Xaccers]

Many Xantias, even those with full service histories, have never had their LHM changed.
It is not likely to make a noticeable difference in ride during the ownership of the car as it will be gradual, but flushing out the old does highlight the difference it makes.
Which reminds me, Cassy is coming up for a change.

[Chris570]

the part number I can see is 6447EL and it is the same part the pug 406r2 uses (if it has aircon) until RPO 8443 (Coupe included) and the xantia from 8197.

I'm too nice to you Btw I checked against the xsara, xsara picasso and c5 use different parts

[CitroJim]

Thnaks Chris

[CitroJim]

Quite impressed with the el-cheapo Suntek tyres fitted to Rattiva in this snowy weather

Although the roads were clear on the way to work I arrived early enough to find the works car park empty of cars totally but still covered in two inches of fresh virgin snow. Time for a few experiments on the tractive ability of those tyres...

They passed muster in a most satisfactory way I'm pleased to say. No need for winter tyres with those fitted...

[Chris570]

No need for winter tyres with those fitted...

there was no way you'd get away with that comment when you know i'm watching

Maybe a little back to back test is in order. My snow tyres were fantastic and i simply wouldnt be without them, the level of grip i had over conventional tyres was astounding.

I'll be round later to pour sand into your gearbox for that comment

[CitroJim]

I'll be round later to pour sand into your gearbox for that comment

Somehow I reckon that would just hasten the inevitable Chris but on the other hand it may just fix it

[Citroenmad]

Quite impressed with the el-cheapo Suntek tyres fitted to Rattiva in this snowy weather

Although the roads were clear on the way to work I arrived early enough to find the works car park empty of cars totally but still covered in two inches of fresh virgin snow. Time for a few experiments on the tractive ability of those tyres...

They passed muster in a most satisfactory way I'm pleased to say. No need for winter tyres with those fitted...

Good stuff Jim, often some budget brands can be quite good and other horiffically dangerous.

Im starting to think the same, I went for winter tyres this year and even with the snow im struggling to justify them. I was impressed with the grip on my summer Michelins in snow and winter conditions and these have only improved things slightly. Im definitely of the opinion that its the driver/driving rather than the tyres which makes the most difference. That said they are a little better, braking is almost as if its a wet road, not snow covered.