Which Fluid? - C5 (X7) Power Steering

[c5greener]

Hi, I am new to this forum and hope someone can help me with this - I have a C5 x7  2010 and my car does not possess Hydroactive suspension. I need to replenish the power steering resorvoir, but when I consult the handbook; it says this is a Dealer task and it doesn't give any details of the oil type to be used. I believe with a combined power steering and suspension systems, the oil is shared and should only be filled with LDS type oil. With my car the resorvoir only supplies  the power steering system and in this case will it still contain LDS? It doesn't say anything on the cap.

Thanks.

[Johndouglas]

Hello & welcome to the forum. The correct fluid makes for a confusing problem with the handbook giving no help at all. My car is also a steel sprung C5-X7 and I've just looked at my power steering reservoir. It looks virtually empty yet it recently had a service at Citroen so presumably it's at the correct level. I've removed a couple of drops with a plastic tube and it looks like LDS. It's certainly not red ATX. Maybe Steve can give a definite answer.

[paul.h]

Have a look here http://www.citroen-owners-club.co.uk/citroen/topic/22117-c5-2008-power-steering-fluid/

 

I will pin this topic and edit the title since it has been asked a few times.

[c5greener]

Thanks for the replies - Ok so it looks like i need to buy total DA - The LDS and the DA look identical in colour in the bottles pictured on sights that sell it, so it would be difficult to tell just by colour what was in the system!

I do have a sneaky feeling that i probably have a leak somewhere on the rack - however I will buy some oil first so I can see how much has gone missing.

just out of intereset what does RTA stand for.

thanks 

[paul.h]

RTA - Review Technique Automobile http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rta-B737-Citro%C3%ABn-Depuis-2008/dp/2726873758/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1436020238&sr=1-12&keywords=citroen+c5

 

I would ignore the Amazon customer review, the RTA manuals are similar to Haynes but are in French. If you do a lot of work on your car you could get the Citroen service box dvds from ebay.

 

This is the section on steering rack leaks from the pinned Common Problems topic in the C5 Technical section:

 

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

[Johndouglas]

Ok so it looks like i need to buy total DA

I don't think so........................... EDIT>> Go to post No 8 and compare the specification for LDS and Fluide DA and see they are both the same spec.

[c5greener]

Yes exactly the same by the looks of it - a close look at the containers shows LDS:   "for citroen hydroactive suspension"    and DA for power steering.

The dealer said they spec a different oil for models with hydroactive suspension than they do for models with just power steering resorvoir, but he couldn't tell me the names of the oils!!  I've gone and ordered some DA from amazon for £10.49  v  Â£37 from the stealers!!  but as there specs seem to be identical i don't suppose it matters which one.

[Johndouglas]

Compare these two documents from the Total website - one for Total LDS; the other for Total Fluide DA. As you can see, the specification - PSA S71 2710 is the same for both.

 

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i53/Johndug/Total%20DA_zps8bnyj0as.jpg[/url]

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i53/Johndug/Total%20LDS_zpsvzi33vm5.jpg[/url]

[Richiejh]

Just been into the stealers for a price and they informed me that LDS was being superceded by DA at £30 per litre!

[paul.h]

£6.59 seems to be the going rate for Total DA a litre https://www.nielsencdg.co.uk/acatalog/Total-Fluide-DA-TOT_166222.html

[Richiejh]

Good link Paul, better than the £30 I was quoted today. I bought some LDS from GSF to keep my system topped up until I change the rack, £15 is a better price but not as good as your find.

[Richiejh]

Does anybody know how much fluid you need to replace the rack?