Here's a hypothetical question
Moderator: RichardW
-
- (Donor 2022)
- Posts: 2632
- Joined: 14 Mar 2001, 23:41
- Location: Epsom, Surrey
- My Cars: 2010 Citroen C5-X7 tourer
1998 Citroen Saxo 1.5D
2018 Citroen C4-B7
1998 Peugeot 306. 1.9D
2011 Citroen C1 - x 72
- Contact:
Here's a hypothetical question
But it's really a hydropneumatic question. My C5 is going to be loaded almost to its maximm payload in a couple of weeks and it will have to stay loaded for four or five nights. What's best? Leave the suspension at its normal ride height. Lower it down to the bottom. Or doesn't it make any difference?
2010 C5 X7 VTR+Nav 160
1998 1.5 Saxo
1998 Pug 306 1.9D
2018 C4 B7 VTR+
2011 Citroen C1
1998 1.5 Saxo
1998 Pug 306 1.9D
2018 C4 B7 VTR+
2011 Citroen C1
Re: Here's a hypothetical question
put it on it's belly, then there's no stress on the spheres.
i also do that with cars that will sit for a little bit of time as well as a sphere under no pressure (i.e. car on low) lasts a lot longer
i also do that with cars that will sit for a little bit of time as well as a sphere under no pressure (i.e. car on low) lasts a lot longer
2006 C5 HDi 170
1998 Xantia Activa S1
1971 D Special
2006 C3 1.6 HDi SX,
1998 Xantia Activa S1
1971 D Special
2006 C3 1.6 HDi SX,
A 1/3 of Team WFA 'Clarkson'CitroJim wrote: I'm a pink fairy
Re: Here's a hypothetical question
Honestly, on the long life, low leakage multi-layer diaphragm spheres used on a C5 it's not going to make any meaningful difference in the life of the sphere whether you leave the suspension up or down with extra load in it, especially for just a few days. I wouldn't worry about it at all.
I left my Xantia on full suspension height (which is a harsher test for the spheres than just a heavy load) for nearly a week while it was off the road with a broken exhaust and didn't think twice about it.
Although the leakage rate of a sphere is less when the suspension is fully depressurised due to the metal dome in the middle of the diaphragm sealing against the bottom, the leakage when the sphere is operating at normal load and operating at increased load is the same - there is always equal pressure on both sides of the diaphragm, the only leakage is due to random diffusion through the diaphragm. It's not like a balloon or a tyre which has a pressure differential between both sides of the diaphragm material accelerating the leakage.
So there's no more benefit to depressurising the suspension with a heavy load than there would be with a normal load.
I left my Xantia on full suspension height (which is a harsher test for the spheres than just a heavy load) for nearly a week while it was off the road with a broken exhaust and didn't think twice about it.
Although the leakage rate of a sphere is less when the suspension is fully depressurised due to the metal dome in the middle of the diaphragm sealing against the bottom, the leakage when the sphere is operating at normal load and operating at increased load is the same - there is always equal pressure on both sides of the diaphragm, the only leakage is due to random diffusion through the diaphragm. It's not like a balloon or a tyre which has a pressure differential between both sides of the diaphragm material accelerating the leakage.
So there's no more benefit to depressurising the suspension with a heavy load than there would be with a normal load.
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