LHM leak ! what to do ?

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:16 pm

Good job it was an honest garage - I'm sure some would have charged for a new octopus...

cacaolat · Post by **cacaolat** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 5:39 pm

4 days later ...thought it was finally all sorted but today red lights came on again...and i realised it is leaking again ! or still...? be back to the garage soon.
Had to buy more LHM because of it an realised why people calls them Halfrauds...they charged me £ 10.49 for a litre of LHM, last time I went to GSF and there it was only 4.80

mnde · Post by **mnde** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:14 am

Jeez, are you sure they didn't have a mixup with the price codes?? I've bought LHM from Halfords before - from memory they sell the Castrol and own brand 1L bottles. I'd take it back there because no way should it cost over £10

unless I've missed something. I've not been recently. Even the proper TOTAL LHM Plus stuff you can get (if you're lucky

) from Total filling stations is what £5-6 ?

Mark.

cacaolat · Post by **cacaolat** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:55 pm

At the shelves it said £ 9.99 but then at the till it was even £ 10.49. I asked about that, but the usual bored sales guy just said no this is the price. I did not want the hassle to go back and check it by myself.
I am just checking the till receipt and it does say
622027 HAL B/Fluid LHM 1 LITRE £10.49

Way2go · Post by **Way2go** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 6:27 pm

I seem to remember when I bought some at Halfrauds 2 years ago when GSF was closed it cost £6.99 which I thought was outrageous but £10.49, that is really taking the p*** out of their customers!

CitroXim · Post by **CitroXim** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 7:46 pm

Way2go wrote:but £10.49, that is really taking the p*** out of their customers!

Supply and demand

I'm sure they sell very little and thus hold small stocks. GSF buy in massive quantities, shift loads and pass the savings on. The biggest cost for the likes of Halfrauds is storing in in their warehouse and on retail shelves. That gets passed on. I guess the bean-counters will soon decide it's not worth stocking very shortly.

I always stock up at Citroen rallies. Got a a load at the CCC National at a very good price this year.

It keeps for ever so don't be scared to buy in bulk

cacaolat · Post by **cacaolat** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 8:17 am

In the end the garage still changed the octopus. They seem organised and professional and citroen specialists, so I hope it will last now.

cacaolat · Post by **cacaolat** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 8:33 pm

did not use the car in last 2 days but despite the new octopus spotted signs of more leakage under the car. less than before but still !! I will check again tomorrow

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 9:38 pm

Bummer! Strut return pipes, PAS (pinion?) valve and FDV plus that spirally wiggly bit of pipe (to use the technical term) are prime suspects - IMO having been in a similar position with that GTi F***RLO... (hope it's well!).

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 10:33 pm

It could be LHM still dripping off the subframe

cacaolat · Post by **cacaolat** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 4:54 pm

dripping from the subframe, hopefully.... I am still trying to find out...so far I have only driven about 30 miles....any remaining lhm should dry out after that ? will look closer now...

cacaolat · Post by **cacaolat** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:28 am

Just to update the whole story. Meanwhile the garage has changed some other pipe as well and a y piece. But since that day, there is a small leak from a nearby location. It drips from the unit with a sphere just behind the radiator. not from the sphere itself but just behind it.
The mechanic checked the metal lhm pipes connections on the unit, but say that this is now another leak and has nothing to do with the previous one ?
I simply do not believe in all this coincidences anymore, it must be connected to the repair, especially because it leaked from the new location since exactly the day of the repair.
what can I do now ? any idea why this happened ?

ken newbold · Post by **ken newbold** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:53 am

To be honest I cant see why a leak from the PR or FDV should have anything to do with your previous leaks. It could just be coincidence.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 10:14 am

Its worth having a good look at the pipes round the FDV and regulator and seeing if any look wet. If the do try tightening them - not excessively - the correct torque is only about 10 or 12 lb ft.

I've had one come loose and leak heavily (I may not have fitted it straight) and seal up permanently when tightened. I saw another looking slightly damp when I was under the car a couple of months ago and tightened it - and when I looked before the MOT it was bone dry.

It is important that the pipes go straight into the union and the socket. Slight sideways stress can make them leak (distorts the seal)