What type of brake fluid should I use in my Citroën 2CV ?

This question recently was sent in and here is my answer:

1. If you have a pre 1980s Citroën 2CV (that is a Citroën 2CV with four wheel drum brakes), then you want to use a good quality DOT 3 or DOT 4 brake fluid . My own personal choice is a DOT 4 product made by Castrol called Castrol LMA . (the LMA stands for low moisture absorbing ). As we all know, this is a good quality for brake fluid to have since it is by nature hygroscopic, or has a tendency to absorb moisture.
   Regardless, the other bit of info I can’t stress enough is to completely drain and flush out the system at least every 2 years in your Citroën 2CV . More problems and troubles with brakes seem to be caused by neglecting to do this fairly simple procedure, and moisture builds up in the system and corrosion occurs.
2. OK, second answer to the question: If you have a Citroën 2CV that is later then this date or has disc brakes on the front to be more accurate, then you want to be using LHM fluid . Yes, the same green stuff that you put in the hydraulic suspension cars of the same period.
   Here again you want to practice my advice of changing the fluid at least every two years. Changing the fluid is such an inexpensive form of maintenance, next to rebuilding or changing out brake parts. The more I find, as these Citroëns get older and enter collector status, people have a tendency to use them less and less, and this is where periodic maintenance becomes even more important.

So take care of those Citroën 2CVs because they just don’t make them anymore!

Later,

Denis

No related posts.

Do you want to know what the point gap is on your Citroen 2 CV ?

Here recently, someone wrote in and asked me what the point gap was on their 1975 Citroen 2 CV . The best way I figured to answer this would be to list the Ignition System Specs for the 2 CV-6 engines from 1970 thru 1990 . These have the engine code: AO6/634/5

• Ignition Coil Make: Ducellier

• IgnitionCoil Type: 4009

• Ignition Coil Supply Voltage: + with Balast resistor: 11,0

• Primary Resistance: Ohm: 3,4-3,8

• Firing Order: 1-2

• Distributor (ECM) Make: Ducellier

• Distributor (ECM) No: 605774

• Contact Breaker gap/trigger air gap mm: 0.4

• Dwell Angle: (%): 106-112 (60)

Hope that answers the question. I do have to say that because it is fairly hard to get at the points, ie: removing the fan blade, you might want to seriously consider going to a 123 Ignition System . It is a fantastic distributor for classic Citroëns . It will give you a much more accurate and powerful spark and you won’t have to mess with it ever again.

The 123 Systems are distributed here in the states by Erik deWidt and you can contact Erik at erikdewidt@aol.com in the eastern part of the country and in the west at French Parts Service at: http://www.2cvsource.com

Take care of those little engines in your Citroen 2CV and they will take care of you.

No related posts.