Leaking Fluid

[richard0212]

Hi my 08 Citroen c5 exclusive tourer is leaking fluid , it seems to be inline with the front wheels but its just the other side of the rubber cover on the trackrod its leaked a bit over the past few weeks but I've also noticed there's 4 little black pipes that run down the middle of the car one of them seems to be loose ...the fluid drips like water but has a oily texture with no smell to it so it could it be the suspension fluid ????

[coastline taxis]

08 was the year they brought the mk3  c5 out. So really need to know if yours is the last of the mk2,s or the 1st of the mk3

[paul.h]

The lds suspension fluid is a slight orange colour. The 2008 on C5 is known for steering rack oil leaks from the steering column input shaft seal and also the pipe to rack O-ring seals close to this so sometimes the 2 leak sources can be mistaken.

[richard0212]

The fluid is almost clear looking its a lighter colour than brake fluid

[Parkesie]

Is the rear right hand side of the subframe covered in it? If it is check the steering rack seal. Also could it be fuel?

[andyb82]

hello,  I have similar problem with my C5,  initially thinking it was a suspension issue I have traced it back to the steering rack seal..  now I have the problem of getting the seals/O-rings, ive contacted my local citroen dealer and they say they cannot supply the O-rings separately I have to buy the pipes complete amounting to over £200.  this is not an option for me as all I need are the O-rings.  im aware that I cant use any o-ring as the LDS fluid will destroy them but I am unable to find LDS tolerant O-rings anywhere..   any help or ideas on where I might find some would be greatly appreciated .  many thanks..

[richard0212]

Hi Its deffo not fuel ....what are the thin black pipes that run under the centre of the car coz like i say one of them even tho its clipped up you can slide it backwards and forwards

[richard0212]

Where the rubber boot is on the trackrod its wet with the fluid all around that area

[andyb82]

Richard is the leak yellow in colour??  if so that is almost certainly power steering/ hydraulic fluid,  if you can remove the drivers side front wheel you can look through to see the steering box and rack. two steel pipes go into to the unit and this is where they commonly leak from.

[andyb82]

correction its nearer orange than yellow in colour. sorry my bad !!

[richard0212]

Hi its a very pale yellow its almost a clear fluid

[richard0212]

Andy if it is them pipes how much roughly will the cost of repair be or how much worst case senario

[andyb82]

if its just a leak on the pipe coupling it should be just a seal kit or 0-ring,  this is what the problem is with my car but im finding it very difficult the find the right O-rings for the job.  but the oil is quite expensive. if its the same hydraulic system as mine you have to use LDS fluid,    'NOT' the standard LHM mineral based stuff

[richard0212]

Yeah i think weve found the problem it looks like the alloy pipe at the bottom of the steering rack maybe corroding where it goes to the metal clamp ....but apparently it maybe that the subframe may need to be removed to fix it ...not sure about the cost also atm it shouldnt get any worse than it is just keep the fluid topped up

[richard0212]

Andy mine is the lds fluid also

[paul.h]

LDS fluid is about £10 to £14 a litre depending on where it is bought.

 

This is from the C5 Technical Section Common Problems pinned topic

 

25. New C5 (mark 3/X7) steering rack oil leaks - at least 5 cases so far.

We have 2 members jefflad and Howiec with steering rack leaks that are proving difficult to fix. Where the supply and return pipes join the rack, the seals are leaking fluid. It seems Citroen want to replace the pipes to fix this and that just replacing the O-ring seals does not work. Citroen also do not sell the seals separately. An additional 2 members, Parkesie and johnfing, have found a leak from the steering column shaft input seal on top of the steering rack, which initially was thought to be the pipe seals. This seal also is not available so replacement racks have been fitted. The column shaft has badly rusted so may be the cause of the leak - applying grease could possibly prevent this. See http://www.citroen-o...uid/#entry75684 . See also this topic for info on replacing the rack

http://www.citroen-o...ent/#entry81594

[andyb82]

ive been looking into another option for fixing my power steering leak,, a product called 'Lucas car power steering stop leak repair fluid'. this is apparently guaranteed to stop any leak in the power steering system,  I was just wondering if any of you guys have heard of this and weather its likely to work. thanks

[richard0212]

I rang citroen at chesterfield yesterday apparently if one of the pipes are leaking the ive got to buy a complete pipe which from citroen is £203 inc Vat.a aftermarket rack from sdl motors factors is i think they said around £236+vat

[paul.h]

I would be careful of adding anything other than the correct fluid to the power steering, particularly if you have hydractive suspension where the fluid is shared. It may not be compatible with all the components and something designed to stop leaks may do it by causing seals to swell or by bunging up holes.

[andyb82]

yeah I think ill just stick to the correct oil..

 

Richard I have the same same issue with my car,  citroen wont supply the 0-rings to fix the leak separately you have to buy the complete new pipe and it looks like a major ballache to replace the pipes, ive managed to source some O-rings from Ebay  and Im going to fit them today at some point,  ill let you know if its a success or not

[richard0212]

Apparently you will have to drop the subframe to do it im thinking of replaci g both pipes and have done with it itl cost around 400-450 , citroen is nearly 700quid .....if its the alloy pipe u need its £203, for both pipes plus fluid its around £280ish ....im not sure if you can replace just the seals but also that alloy pipe goes into a metal clamp theres a v.good possibility that the alloy is corroding

[richard0212]

By the way sdl motor factors sell the fluid in a red bottle £13 ish for a litre

[paul.h]

If you have the hydractive suspension, Total LDS (liquide-direction-suspension) is the correct fluid and from GSF is £10.39 a litre http://www.gsfcarparts.com/980aa0720

 

With coil springs/shock absorbers suspension the French RTA manual for the C5 (X7) gives Total Fluide DA for the power steering.

[richard0212]

Its quite a dear do having a citroen but the the tourer i have to say is worth it lol

[paul.h]

Before we started with Citroens we had various makes and a few Saabs. I have found Citroen parts prices reasonable compared to others but most of all the Citroens have been reliable so maintenance costs and my time fixing them have been minimal. The Citroens have all been lower mileage which may help and they do not seem to rust. If you look at older Fords, BMWs and some Mercs, the body work can be rusting away.