Citroen XM Forum

Exhaust arrived, so I took it up to the garage. I spent a couple of hours cleaning the centre sphere and regulator. I then drove it around the yard, moved the suspension up and down a few times, and parked it up again. I couldn't find any leaks at all. The sphere and regulator seemed to be bone dry. Where exactly would it leak from?
Thanks

looking under the car any leak would be coming off the lower edge of the pressure regulator which obviously is mounted on the front of the gearbox.
It's not uncommon for MOT testers to fail hydro cits for leaks when they could just be seeing a damp patch left from a sphere change, although by the sounds of things that is unlikely in your case.

D

My blue car was failed MOT on leaking hydraulics a few weeks ago.
Lot of LHM under the engine and round the subframe.
He asked if I had had a pipe fail and failed to clean up because we could see no obvious source.
I took it away, checked all the usual suspects then hosed it all down.
Nothing returned and retest was fine.
It was then that I remembered the split return pipe by the regulator some 9 months before.
That had spewed out 4 litres of LHM and still failed to get it all the way home.
Can be surprising how long evidence of LHM leaks remain if you do not clean up.

John

An MOT tester should only fail it for noticeable leaking, not evidence of wetness. If in doubt the car should pass with an advisory noted. This applies to any testable item.

If you don't have an obvious high pressure leak, it will be either remnants of a previous leak or spill, a slightly loose union, the regulator base O ring or a low pressure return pipe.

Wash it down and observe.

So got a phone call today to say that the car is now MOT'd. Going to pick it up on Friday and see what's what. I also need to find somewhere nearby that can sort the rear suspension. Any ideas? Anywhere in Lanarkshire really. After that its a case of putting the interior back together. This is beginning to turn into a bit of a project thread

If I remember correctly the regulator should tick about once per minute and no more on tickover.

Norman

It's definitely ticking more often than that. That'll be another thing to add to the list.

So after 6 months of using this as a daily runner, and spending £1000's on it. The engine has gone. No warning signs, no overheating, just bang, and oil everywhere. Head gasket was done about 20,000 miles ago as well. I've had work done to the suspension, replaced the entire exhaust, new tyres, discs pads callipers cables all replaced. Fixed the heater, fixed the handbrake lever and god knows what else. Car is in really decent condition. Interior is spotless, climate control working. I'm going to have a look and see if its repairable, but if not, does anyone fancy taking it on as a project? The car is about 90 miles from home, so I dont even know how to get it home.

I was so sorry to hear about your calamity with the blown engine and I wonder why that happened! Hopefully you might effect a repair, or otherwise someone else can take the car on and fit a replacement engine! I note your location in Scotland. Regards, Matthew T.

I have a short block and bare cylinder head if you need one Morciii, should you choose to repair it.

D