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Contaminated Brake Fluid

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Old Feb 25, 2005 | 06:56 PM
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Default Contaminated Brake Fluid

After getting my tire patched at goodyear they said my brake fluid was contaminated. Its a 2002 6speed with 30,000 miles on it. They used this little tester and it turned blue so they said that was bad, Should i just bleed it all out and add new fluid and if so is there a link for step by step? Thanks.
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Old Feb 25, 2005 | 07:07 PM
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I would bleed the brakes until the resovour is low and add new DOT 4 fluid. Continue bleading each caliper until you get new fresh fluid out of each caliper. Just remember to not let your master cylinder go dry! That would be BAD!

It is NOT difficult to do, just time consuming. I do mine every two years.

Bill
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Old Feb 25, 2005 | 07:09 PM
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So I can do one at a time until the fluid looks new, by doing one at a time the dirty fluid wont contaminate the new fluid in the brake i have already done? How would i know if the master gets low? thanks

Last edited by matt24; Feb 25, 2005 at 07:12 PM.
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Old Feb 25, 2005 | 07:39 PM
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Nevermind i did a search and i think i will just take it in and get it done
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Old Feb 25, 2005 | 07:55 PM
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Default Bad Fluid ?

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[matt24]Nevermind i did a search and i think i will just take it in and get it done
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Take it somewhere else and ask for a second opinion.
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Old Feb 26, 2005 | 01:02 AM
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1) Buy a $3 turkey baster and remove as much of the fluid as possible from the brake reservoir.

2) Top up with new fluid.

3) Bleed brakes.
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Old Feb 26, 2005 | 01:18 AM
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Originally Posted by 6SPD98
Take it somewhere else and ask for a second opinion.

Sounds like Goodyear was setting you up to pay for unneeded maintenance, BTW what was the supposed contamination
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Old Feb 26, 2005 | 09:19 AM
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Bake fluid ( even in a closed system ) can get contamintied very quickly. Brake fluid can hold 2-3% water. Which is the contaminatieng elelment. Under normal use brake fluid is fully satureated 3% water ( Contaminated ) with in 18 months. Yes the brakes will work however, 3% water in the brake fluid may cause the car to take up to 25% longer to stop.

That is way too much.

I use to use the turkey baster but then I found a 50 cc suringe for mixing oil and gas at HomeDepot.

I suck out the old brake fluid from the tank, making sure with a rag that the brake fluid does not drip on the paint. Brake fluid will stip paint faster then Gypsy Rose Lee takes her cloths off.

then replace with new brake fluid. Bleed each caliper with a motive power bleeder. It takes about a full liter to do all the calipers and brake system.

I replace my brake fluid each year on my car / truck. On the vette I bleed my brakes before each track weekend, about 3 every two months. Mainly to make sure there is fresh fluid in the calipers, not the whole system.

I use Castrol SRF brake fluid in the vette and Ford HD in the pick up and other cars.
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Old Feb 26, 2005 | 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by matt24
Nevermind i did a search and i think i will just take it in and get it done

The search worked for you?
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Old Feb 26, 2005 | 03:46 PM
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Sure did, it costs 39.99 to change the fluid so i think i will just do that, dont feel like taking a chance and getting air in the lines. thanks guys!
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