LDS question, from,a,totally confused hammer man!!!

[Xantianut]

Ay up!

As you know Otterchops was a bit of a bargain and, as such, Imknow nowt about her previous history, althoughmI suspect that this was "very little" for a while until I adopted her.

I've tried Google and got no answer so here we go.

Is LDS hydroscopic? DOT 4 brake fluid is but the usual sources are stumm on this one. LHM wasn't but then it was a mineral oil, LDS though is synthetic AFAIK.

Anyone got the definitive answer?

Or know where I can find it?

[Stickyfinger]

Technically I believe No.

[lexi]

If LDS is Ether based it may be slightly more Hygroscopic. Whether that make any difference in CIT suspension, I don't know.
It may have slight effect on an older system with proper CIT brakes though. Best with LHM I think. Is LDS not just to get extra money out of us?
Would be like me putting fully synthetic in an old school diesel. Totaly OTT.

[SaabC5]

Is LDS not just to get extra money out of us?

Don't think LDS is too expensive TBH, you can get Total LDS delivered on Ebay for £9 a litre. Its not like you constantly need to top up unless you have a leak.

[lexi]

£6.59 for Total LDS where I buy. £9 a litre for any oil is too rich for me. I am running Donk on Millers fleet oil that I got for 68 pence a litre!!
The Jazz is run on halfords fully synthetic, bought at sale time.........a tenner for four litres!
Why do you think Yorkshireman and Scotsman get on so well together

[RichardW]

Despite what they say LHM and LDS are nearly the same - both are mineral base. Some parts were carried over from LHM cars to C5s so the rubber is compatible (eg the front strut returns). It's non-hygroscopic.

[Mandrake]

Yep, the difference between LDS and LHM+ is similar to the difference between a modern fully synth engine oil and the equivalent semi-synthetic oil - the fully synth version of the oil is longer lasting and provides better protection but in terms of compatibility much the same and they are both mineral based.

LDS is fully synthetic and whilst the original LHM was a conventional non-synthetic mineral based oil, LHM+ has been semi-synthetic for many years now. (Probably since the name change from LHM to LHM+ in fact, some 25 years ago...)

Whilst I wouldn't substitute LHM in a car needing LDS (since the service schedules are designed with the fully synth spec oil in mind) should the day ever come that LHM+ becomes "unobtainium" and there are a few green blooded Citroen's left, I can't see any issue with running LDS in an LHM system - if anything it is over spec'ed for the job. (And presently, more expensive too)

[DickieG]

Not so sure about the comments about LDS being longer lasting than LHM, look at the instruction label on a bottle of LDS and you'll see a note stating that once opened it must be used within a couple of weeks or so, very similar to food products, work that one out!

Some parts were carried over from LHM cars to C5s so the rubber is compatible (eg the front strut returns).

No front strut return pipes on an X7 C5.