Hydraulics disaster with old Katy!

[aerodynamica]

Faced with the red stop light flickering this morning and then going constant told me the lhm level in the tank was slowly reducing... everything was still working and after about 4 miles (6 miles to work) I jumped out to check and there's a spray of lhm at the back of the engine driver side. Not the brake valve and seems to be a leak that stops as soon as the engine so I reckon it's the feed to or return from the power steering. Pas works fine so I suspect return pipe that I think is rubber.

Question if anyone can help: I'm away with work but will see car again on Friday. Does anyone have a hydraulic circuit diagram for the early mk1 Xantia? CitroJim?

It's a sinker Xantia with fdv valve and has a set up the same as bx or XM. I just need a kind of heads up on the possible pipe before I see it again on Friday.

Even better if anyone knows the rubber pipe diameter 11mm 13mm?

Thank you in advance!

[CitroJim]

I'll expect it's the usual suspect pipe Graeme..

Yes, I'm sure I have the info buried deep somewhere at home. I'll take a look later...

[aerodynamica]

Cheers Jim! You reckon it might be the rubber return from the steering pinion? That's what I suspect but didn't have time to investigate

[CitroJim]

You reckon it might be the rubber return from the steering pinion? That's what I suspect but didn't have time to investigate

More than likely... If it's coming out at low pressure and not spraying any great distance... The fact that all is working suggests it might be that but you won't know for sure until you look again.

I'm home now so will take a look soon at my documentation...

[aerodynamica]

Thanks Jim. Yes it isn't high pressure leak but it's enough of a spray to land a fair bit of lhm over the rh strut top. I hope it's just the rubber return hose...

[CitroJim]

I had a look Graeme but the diagrams I have are all just schematics and don't show any physical piping...

Have a good look at all rubber and most importantly, look at the pipes with steel to rubber transitions on them as this is often the point at which the rubber fails as it goes over the 'barb' on the steel pipe...

My best thought would be a bit of rubber has failed and most likely the return to the pressure regulator...

A splice should fix it for now until you can do it properly...

[lexi]

If it's coming out at low pressure and not spraying any great distance...

Yeah, Roy Hattersley was like that...

[aerodynamica]

Haha the real spitting image doll

[aerodynamica]

Hi Jim it's def bit the return from regulator because it's at the back of the engine. Think it is the pas return

[CitroJim]

Think it is the pas return

And on the bit where the pipe transitions from metal to rubber very possibly - on the barb(flare) - they always start to perish there, I guess where the rubber is more tightly stretched over the flare...

[chinkostu]

Think it is the pas return

And on the bit where the pipe transitions from metal to rubber very possibly - on the barb(flare) - they always start to perish there, I guess where the rubber is more tightly stretched over the flare...

Exact place as mine except mine wasn't vicious in spewing it out, more a leaky tap!

If you're careful you can cut the damaged part and pull the hose a bit tighter and not need to splice a new stretch in

[aerodynamica]

Hmm I wonder why such a larger flow Congress comes from here on mine. Last year the same pipe kept popping off at the job at the LHM tank return. I thought it was just down to bad clip and heat by I did note it was pulled tight

[aerodynamica]

Ha my typos are epic at times. (On mobile in my defense)

Would anyone have an idea what size the rubber return from the pas to the tank is? Maybe 8mm inner diameter?

Basically I'm in London and will be heading back today after a work visit in Hayes so I'll get back late afternoon or even after dinner time (likely) and old Katy is at work car park. I'm hoping to pick up some LHM and piping on the way back so just trying to be forearmed for the job. Thanks for the help so far folks!

[CitroJim]

8mm ID Graeme... Use hose rated for unleaded petrol... That is known to be LHM proof...

Hope that'll put Old Katy back where she belongs - on the road

All the very best!

[aerodynamica]

Thanks Jim! Where where we be without you!