Simon's new Xantia V6 and Leaf blog

[myglaren]

Simon, didn't you have to tow start that car at one point to get the oil to fill the hydraulic tappets. Perhaps after being stationary for so long they need that again.

[Mandrake]

Simon, didn't you have to tow start that car at one point to get the oil to fill the hydraulic tappets. Perhaps after being stationary for so long they need that again.

Nope not me - you can't tow start an Automatic anyway!

[Mandrake]

The replacement swirl pot has arrived and to be honest I'm quite disapointed.

As I feared from the picture, the two halves are just held together by a tapered clamp similar to an exhaust pipe clamp on a tapered shoulder:

When I removed the clamp it just comes apart:

Inside I found and removed a big chunk of plastic swarf so I'm glad I opened it.

My issue is how can this be trusted to seal with only a clamp ?? Yes it has a lip machined in one half which pushes into a groove in the other half, but surely there is no way this will make a reliable, long lasting seal under high pressure and exposed to temperature extremes ?

I imagine it would need some kind of sealant applying to the groove joint before clamping it together to have any hope of a reliable seal ? But what could be used that would bond well with the material its made of (and I don't know what it is made off) and be compatible with engine coolant and also withstand over 100 degrees ?

I expected to see an o-ring of some kind in the groove but there is nothing, just plastic to plastic. (Or whatever it is made of, some kind of plastic material)

One thing is for sure - I won't be using it without fixing the coolant level sensor warning system.

With the clamp necessary to hold it together it doesn't look like it will fit the original mounting bracket either.

[mickthemaverick]

I'd suggest this Simon, I used it to seal a leaky oil filter canister to the block and it stayed sealed until I sold the car some 3 years later.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195010160898 ... 9991d29291

[Armidillo]

I'd suggest this Simon, I used it to seal a leaky oil filter canister to the block and it stayed sealed until I sold the car some 3 years later.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/195010160898 ... 9991d29291

Yes, but is it coolant resistant? No petrol should ever touch this device - just coolant.

I have recently discovered that there is an "appliance" grade of silicon - made for repairing things like dishwashers - which is good for 250 degrees C. I have used some on a related problem, but haven't tested it yet. The unknown is of course it's resistance to pressure...

https://www.mitre10.com.au/sikasikaseal ... d_source=1

The related problem is the bleed plug at the top of the radiator (near side) - some PSA vehicles of that era have them (including my XM and 406) but it's not only the V6s. One of my plugs took a knock and lost the lugs that retain it in place. Am hoping this high temperature silicon might do the trick until I finally locate a suitable replacement.



Cheers
Alec

[mickthemaverick]

According to the manufacturers it can be used to seal head gaskets and is chemical resistant including coolants. However a call to the manufacturer will answer that:

https://www.pedparts.co.uk/c/asset/flye ... -Flyer.pdf

[Stickyfinger]

I would be tempted to find a O Ring to fit that rather than use a sealant.

[Mandrake]

I would be tempted to find a O Ring to fit that rather than use a sealant.

I'm dismayed that it didn't come with an o-ring designed in and I have half a mind to go back to the seller and ask WTH ?

The problem with trying to retrofit one is the centre groove where it would have to go is very narrow - around 1mm I think (it's currently reassembled) so that would be a very thin large diameter o-ring.

There is also no relief in the groove to limit the compression of the o-ring to a pre-set amount when the thing is clamped together - the shoulders on either side of the middle groove would never clamp together so all the force would be compressing the o-ring alone.

[Mandrake]

According to the manufacturers it can be used to seal head gaskets and is chemical resistant including coolants. However a call to the manufacturer will answer that:

https://www.pedparts.co.uk/c/asset/flye ... -Flyer.pdf

Thanks.

I'll check it out. I also still have the black RTV sealant I used to try to seal the sump on the engine a while ago - if its still good I'll look up the specs for that to see if its suitable. I think a thin ring of sealant in the groove before final assembly is probably the only thing I can do to try to ensure it is leak free.

[Mandrake]

I've emailed the seller of the swirl pot to express my concern over the "dry seal" and lack of any kind of o-ring or sealant, lets see what they say...

If the part is custom moulded/machined to their own design it seems to be a major oversight if the joint was not designed in such a way to accommodate an o-ring. With a trivial change to the profile of the flange they could have fitted an o-ring but I don't think there is room for one with the current design.

Close, but so far.

[Stickyfinger]

With great care can you not modify the "ridge side" (flat block sanding ?) to reduce its height to fit an O ring ?

[Mandrake]

Got a reply back from the seller.

They're questioning why I opened it in the first place, (I took the clamp off because it wasn't installed straight and was biting into the shoulder on one side) and are saying that there is supposed to be a thin flat o-ring in the groove and that they have opened 3 others to check and they are present there.

Does anyone else see an o-ring in the full size version of my image ? I don't! That's not to say that there couldn't be and I missed it though. I will check tonight!

[mickthemaverick]

Not from the image you posted, or I'm sure someone would have mentioned it already. Interested to see what you find tonight!

[RichardW]

This bit looks to be a different material, and could be an O-ring?

[Mandrake]

This bit looks to be a different material, and could be an O-ring?

Maybe, but it could just be glare from the light.

I was holding up a fairly bright LED inspection light to get enough lighting for a good photo.

If it is an o-ring it will make me happy as I can start working on the repair this weekend! (Weather permitting, which it may not)