break fluid death?
Pro
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 719
Likes: 156
in my experience, fresh fluid gives a firmer pedal feel than older fluid.
99% of the "improvement" that most people notice when they switch to "braided stainless" brake lines is from the fluid flush that happens when they replace all 4 flexible brake lines.
I'm not saying you'd notice the degradation over the years, it happens so slowly and gradually, but if you flush and refresh the brakes with fresh fluid, you'll definitely notice an improvement all at once.
99% of the "improvement" that most people notice when they switch to "braided stainless" brake lines is from the fluid flush that happens when they replace all 4 flexible brake lines.
I'm not saying you'd notice the degradation over the years, it happens so slowly and gradually, but if you flush and refresh the brakes with fresh fluid, you'll definitely notice an improvement all at once.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,691
Likes: 833
From: WI
It gets dark as it absorbs moisture.
Simple test: New = clear as gin. Old will be the color of a medium beer.
If it's a little less than clear I'd still use it if I was in a pinch. Brake fluid is cheap..
Simple test: New = clear as gin. Old will be the color of a medium beer.
If it's a little less than clear I'd still use it if I was in a pinch. Brake fluid is cheap..
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,232
Likes: 1,232
From: PHX AZ
Okay...even though this is a 5 year old thread...
You all seem to think that the 'issue' is whether the lid is screwed on tight....that is only ONE PART of this.
Polyethylene Bottles are made from the cheapest recycled plastic. Polyethylene is THE BOTTOM of the list of 'noble plastics'.
You all seem to think that PE is impervious to weeping in water vapor...IT'S NOT. Gradually, the bottle will absorb water vapor.
I went into the garage the other day to grab some pretty expensive rubbing compound. It was in a PE bottle. It was DRYED OUT SOLID. It 'wept the other way...out!
I would say that sub-one year, you're okay...after that CHUCK the DOT 3/4
Brake fluid is HYDROPHYLLIC...it absorbs water from air, RIGHT THROUGH THE BOTTLE!
If you REALLY want your brake fluid to last....put it in a glass bottle with a really good lid/cap.
Cheers Unkhal
You all seem to think that the 'issue' is whether the lid is screwed on tight....that is only ONE PART of this.
Polyethylene Bottles are made from the cheapest recycled plastic. Polyethylene is THE BOTTOM of the list of 'noble plastics'.
You all seem to think that PE is impervious to weeping in water vapor...IT'S NOT. Gradually, the bottle will absorb water vapor.
I went into the garage the other day to grab some pretty expensive rubbing compound. It was in a PE bottle. It was DRYED OUT SOLID. It 'wept the other way...out!
I would say that sub-one year, you're okay...after that CHUCK the DOT 3/4
Brake fluid is HYDROPHYLLIC...it absorbs water from air, RIGHT THROUGH THE BOTTLE!
If you REALLY want your brake fluid to last....put it in a glass bottle with a really good lid/cap.
Cheers Unkhal
1967 Pedal Car Champion
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 9,027
Likes: 4,174
From: US-PNW
Polyethylene Bottles are made from the cheapest recycled plastic. Polyethylene is THE BOTTOM of the list of 'noble plastics'.
You all seem to think that PE is impervious to weeping in water vapor...IT'S NOT. Gradually, the bottle will absorb water vapor.
Brake fluid is HYDROPHYLLIC...it absorbs water from air, RIGHT THROUGH THE BOTTLE!
Cheers Unkhal
You all seem to think that PE is impervious to weeping in water vapor...IT'S NOT. Gradually, the bottle will absorb water vapor.
Brake fluid is HYDROPHYLLIC...it absorbs water from air, RIGHT THROUGH THE BOTTLE!
Cheers Unkhal
. Besides, if you need to top off within 6 months, you've got bigger issues than questionable fluid.This may seem over the top, but maybe dropping a new clean steel nail when capping an opened container could be the litmus test for a DOT 3 or 4 fluid's viability. When you want to use the fluid to top off, if the nail has any rust appearing on it the fluid is past its water absorbing limit. Really, this conversation borders on penny wise and pound foolish.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,691
Likes: 833
From: WI
A couple yrs ago I bought a few brand new smaller bottles of brake fluid. Got home, opened them up. One of them the fluid was really dark just from sitting on the store shelf/warehouse, etc. It had absorbed moisture and was no good. The others were just fine, clear as water. It's possible the seal was not sealed, who knows? The store wouldn't take it back ...lol....
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,315
Likes: 1,585
From: Western NY
Okay...even though this is a 5 year old thread...
You all seem to think that the 'issue' is whether the lid is screwed on tight....that is only ONE PART of this.
Polyethylene Bottles are made from the cheapest recycled plastic. Polyethylene is THE BOTTOM of the list of 'noble plastics'.
You all seem to think that PE is impervious to weeping in water vapor...IT'S NOT. Gradually, the bottle will absorb water vapor.
I went into the garage the other day to grab some pretty expensive rubbing compound. It was in a PE bottle. It was DRYED OUT SOLID. It 'wept the other way...out!
I would say that sub-one year, you're okay...after that CHUCK the DOT 3/4
Brake fluid is HYDROPHYLLIC...it absorbs water from air, RIGHT THROUGH THE BOTTLE!
If you REALLY want your brake fluid to last....put it in a glass bottle with a really good lid/cap.
Cheers Unkhal
You all seem to think that the 'issue' is whether the lid is screwed on tight....that is only ONE PART of this.
Polyethylene Bottles are made from the cheapest recycled plastic. Polyethylene is THE BOTTOM of the list of 'noble plastics'.
You all seem to think that PE is impervious to weeping in water vapor...IT'S NOT. Gradually, the bottle will absorb water vapor.
I went into the garage the other day to grab some pretty expensive rubbing compound. It was in a PE bottle. It was DRYED OUT SOLID. It 'wept the other way...out!
I would say that sub-one year, you're okay...after that CHUCK the DOT 3/4
Brake fluid is HYDROPHYLLIC...it absorbs water from air, RIGHT THROUGH THE BOTTLE!
If you REALLY want your brake fluid to last....put it in a glass bottle with a really good lid/cap.
Cheers Unkhal
Indeed..........
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,691
Likes: 833
From: WI
On a counter-note, I have a brake exchange/bleeding machine which has a large 2-gal (new fluid) reservoir where there is still about a pint at the bottom of the reservoir even when it's 'empty' that you can't really get out (one of my peeves).
One would think it would absorb moisture real quick and discolor. What's astonished me is how long the remaining brake fluid will go and NOT not become discolored ...even after a few months of no use. I had expected it to spoil fairly quick, and yellow/brown -- it hasn't. Obviously how long it'll takes depends on one's ambient humidity conditions and other factors. Anyway, just thought I'd share that....
One would think it would absorb moisture real quick and discolor. What's astonished me is how long the remaining brake fluid will go and NOT not become discolored ...even after a few months of no use. I had expected it to spoil fairly quick, and yellow/brown -- it hasn't. Obviously how long it'll takes depends on one's ambient humidity conditions and other factors. Anyway, just thought I'd share that....
Last edited by Mark G; Nov 20, 2021 at 11:33 AM.