Dark Sarcasm

Reading over the threads about bleeding the brakes I kept seeing a repeated recommendation to not use brake fluid in the motive power bleeder. What is the reasoning behind this. I'm in the middle of bleeding all my brake lines, pretty sure it's never been done on this 02 Z, and it's a pain in the butt to constantly depressurize the motive pump and refill the reservoir. Seems easier to put brake fluid in the motive.

What is the reasoning behind not filling the power bleeder?

Thanks

JR-01

What do the instructions say for the Motive bleeder? I would follow their recommendations.
I used one of them on my C3 but that was a long time ago and I do not remember how I did it.

Dark Sarcasm

I read the instructions which say to fill the pump canister with brake fluid. I'm curious why others don't do it that way. I'm guessing it saves time on the clean up. Don't have to clean out the motive when done and a little less mess at the MC.

JR-01

I went by the instructions when I bled my C3. Clean up any spilled brake fluid ASAP.

Nowanker

It IS designed to carry the brake fluid under pressure into the M/C, pressurize the whole system with the fluid, then force the fluid out through each open bleed screw.
Any questions, just give them a call. Ask for Eric. They're very easy to work with.
I should know... I rent my shop space from them!

digi2t

Having fluid in the Motive is easier to see than what's in the master. Even if the Motive happens to go empty, your master will still be full, saving you from having to restart the whole bleed process again if you accidentally drain out the master. It's a guarantee of not introducing air back into your system.

Having to do the job just once, for me, is worth the time it takes to either refill, or clean up the Motive afterwards.

Patches

I always fill the Brake Motive pump canister with brake fluid and use it as the instructions say to. Never had a problem.

Choreo

What do you use to clean the Motive canister out afterward?

digi2t

I used brake cleaner, and a clean cloth for the pump. For the jug itself, brake cleaner, and I left it upside down to air dry. That's it.

blackzo6

I have always filled the bleeder. I use water to clean it out.

leadfoot4

AND, if, for some reason, the Motive cap for the master cylinder doesn't seal quite tight enough, you don't have brake fluid all over the place, destroying the paint on your car.

I've had several brake bleeders, over a 40 year period of time, and am using the Motive bleeder now. However, all I use it for, is to pressurize the master cylinder, to pump out the old fluid.

fuggles

The sealing issue is solved by buying the proper cap and adding a hose nipple. I have a motive bleeder and use it on several different makes. Never had any leaks.

Although I use speed bleeders on the corvette [track car]. Much easier than the motive.

Pounder

I use Brake Fluid with a Tech 2 Auto Bleed function and use rubbing alcohol to clean !!!

leadfoot4

I have 3 different caps (the upgraded, metal ones), for my recently purchased Motive bleeder, because the cars in the "family fleet" are different makes, and have different master cylinder reservoirs. HOWEVER, what you have to consider, in many cases, is that the m/c reservoirs of today are PLASTIC, therefore you can't tighten the crap out of the Motive cap, when you attach the bleeder, otherwise you'd damage/break the reservoir.

On my cars, I wasn't able to pressurize the m/c beyond 8 PSI, on the Motive gauge, before the cap started leaking air. While this is enough pressure to move brake fluid, it wasn't enough pressure to effectively overcome the internal spring on the speed bleeders that I had on my C-5. Therefore, I took the speed bleeders out, put the OE bleed screws back in, and the Motive bleeders works just fine....

k24556

The Tygon tubing hose is the problem. Brake fluid makes the tubing weak and it will rupture easily. If you have a liter of fluid in the bleeder it will end up in the engine compartment. Besides, if you are using high temp DOT 4 fluids, they tend to pick up water more quickly, lowering the wet boiling point. Leaving the good stuff in the bleeder will degrade it. Then all you have is ordinary DOT 4.


I always keep my Motive Bleeder dry and fill the master reservoir.

Quickshift_C5

I also always use the Motive container dry, using it to build pressure only. It only takes 15sec to relieve the pressure, unscrew the cap, put a little more fluid in, and pump it back up. You'll spend more time than that cleaning it up afterward. So doing it any other way seems like a waste of materials and time.

Dark Sarcasm

I kept it dry. The thought of the cap flying off and brake fluid going everywhere scared me enough. Might try speed bleeders again. Had them on my Jeep and loved them.

leadfoot4

I'm rather skeptical of the Speed Bleeders, only because the "thread sealer" that comes on them, no longer seals, after 3-4 usages. Then, you're sucking air into the calipers.

Having used both the Motive bleeder tank, as well as the Speed Bleeders, I'll just say that the Motive bleeder is fine. Just use it to pressurize the m/c, and refill the m/c after bleeding each caliper. Takes about 2 extra minutes per wheel.....

Dark Sarcasm

Good to know.

danh52

I have my Motive setup with connectors that have a check valve in them so the pressure is maintained when you refill the MC.





Keeping the fluid out of the Motive helps reduce the chance of contamination and eliminates cleanup.