C5 Lds Tank

[Dircon]

Last week my local Citroen Dealer replaced some Hydraulic pipes on my car. After I got the car home, I looked at the Level of LDS showing through the side of the Tank, and I wondered if the Dealer had left it a little Low.

Therefore, on Saturday morning I took my 2001 C5 Exclusive SE V6 Auto back to my Citroen Dealer, and asked them to check my LDS Level. They were busy, and did not have any of their usual mechanics on duty. Nevertheless, they took my car in and said they would check the Level while I waited.

When they handed the car back to me, they informed me that they had Topped Up the level. But, it had only required a very small amount of LDS.

After I had driven home, (approx’ half a mile), I lifted the Bonnet and checked the LDS Level myself.
I found that the Seam around the centre of the LDS Tank was leaking fluid. This seam had always been bone dry.

After using several rolls of kitchen paper, it is now only leaking if the car’s Suspension is placed into the Low position.

Obviously, I will be contacting my Dealer on Monday. What I hope you guys may be able to advise me on is……..

What is the correct procedure to Top-Up the LDS Level on my car?

Could the Dealer’s LDS Top-Up on Saturday have caused the Tank to Leak, had they not followed the correct procedure?

The Dealer gave me a Print-Out which states……………….
Checking and Topping up the LDS fluid.
“Start the engine.
Wait for the vehicle height to stabilise.
Put the vehicle in the “high†position.
Lower the vehicle to the low position.
Turn the steering from lock to lock in each direction.
Stop the engine.
Check the LDS fluid level.

The Print-Out then has a diagram which shows that the LDS Min Level is just below the Lip of the Lowest Half of the Tank. Therefore, just below the Tank Seam.

They then state that if the LDS is below this Min Level, 1 litre of LDS should be added.

They then give another diagram which shows the Top of the Tank and the LDS Level Window.
The Window has 3 Marks shown.

At the Top is the word MAX. They state that this is the LDS Max Level.

The Centre Mark, i.e. HYD they do not mention.

They finally state that the lowest Mark, i.e. BASE is the correct Level for my car.â€

What also concerns me, is that the Print-Out refers to Hydractive Suspension 3. Whereas, my car has Hydractive Suspension 3+.

I queried this with the Dealer, and he replied that this Print-Out was the same for all C5s.

If someone could through some light on this before I contact the Dealer on Monday, it would be really useful.

Many thanks,
Paul

[paul.h]

The oil on the seam may be a bit of spilt oil and just need wiping off. The tank is normally under a bit of pressure and when the cap is slackened some air will escape, similar to a radiator cap, so if there is a leak you will soon know since there will be no pressure built up.

[Dircon]

Thanks for the reply. However, it is a Leak. If I put the Suspension into Low mode the Tank Leaks all around the Seam.

 

I have heard of cases of this Leak being caused by Topping Up using an incorrect method. However, is is proving impossible to find out which actually is the correct method.

 

Any advice welcome.

 

Paul

[paul.h]

According to the Haynes manual, if the oil tank has been drained (presumably then the pump is also drained) then 0.5 barg pressure is applied to the tank after filling with oil to prime the pump - if the tank was split at the dealer, then I would think it is more likely that applying air pressure would cause it to fail than a slightly wrong oil level. Just for a top up though, air pressure would not be applied - only the car lowered and the level observed and if needed the cap removed and oil poured in. The tank will need to be replaced, I guess it is deciding who will pay is your concern.

 

Again according to Haynes, with the car in the low position, the oil level should be between the min and max for hydractive 3 and between min and HYD for 3+ for cars up to RPO 09064. For later cars the oil level is checked by removing the tank cap and looking at marks in the filler neck. The procedure for raising/lowering/steering use is just to remove air out of the system.

[Dircon]

Dealer has replaced the LDS Tank with an updated model.

I have paid for the Tank.

Dealer has paid for the Labour and the LDS Fluid.

All appears to be sorted now.


Thanks for your replies.

Paul

[paul.h]

That seems like a good result since the tank may have been weak after 12 years and could have failed at any time and from memory, LDS fluid is about £17 a litre.