Brake fluid change -- Turkey baster method ok ?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
Likes: 3,151
From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Brake fluid change -- Turkey baster method ok ?
I have a 2011 GS that I purchased when new. So we are talking about a 9 year old car that has 21,000 miles on it ... car has never done any any Autocross or Road Racing.
A couple of days ago, I removed the brake master cylinder cover to check the fluid ... From what I could see is that it is a grayish black color and filthy.
Instead of buying speed bleeders or one of those $75 'Motive' brand DIY pressure power bleeder units, I was just thinking of removing as much fluid as I could out of the reservoir with a turkey baster, then refilling with new fluid.
Motive 'Black Label' Power Bleeder Kit (GM) ... https://www.motiveproducts.com/colle...er-bleeder-kit
Then, after refilling the master cylinder and driving it for maybe a week, going back and doing the same thing again ... I figured that if I did this maybe 4 or 5 times, I would get most of the filth out of the brake system and then have pretty much clean fluid in the system.
I understand that this is more or less the "Lazy Mans" approach to this, but to me, I am thinking that in the end, I would have much cleaner fluid in the system than the crap that's in there now.
Any comments or better ideas to my plan?
Thanks,
Ron
A couple of days ago, I removed the brake master cylinder cover to check the fluid ... From what I could see is that it is a grayish black color and filthy.
Instead of buying speed bleeders or one of those $75 'Motive' brand DIY pressure power bleeder units, I was just thinking of removing as much fluid as I could out of the reservoir with a turkey baster, then refilling with new fluid.
Motive 'Black Label' Power Bleeder Kit (GM) ... https://www.motiveproducts.com/colle...er-bleeder-kit
Then, after refilling the master cylinder and driving it for maybe a week, going back and doing the same thing again ... I figured that if I did this maybe 4 or 5 times, I would get most of the filth out of the brake system and then have pretty much clean fluid in the system.
I understand that this is more or less the "Lazy Mans" approach to this, but to me, I am thinking that in the end, I would have much cleaner fluid in the system than the crap that's in there now.
Any comments or better ideas to my plan?
Thanks,
Ron
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
Likes: 3,151
From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Your more than likely right about that ... But, after driving the car for about a week, I was thinking that the fluid at the calipers would sooner or later mix pretty much with the rest of it in the system 
______________________________
EDIT: On the other hand, I doubt there is very much re-circulation of the fluid in the brake system.
.
______________________________
EDIT: On the other hand, I doubt there is very much re-circulation of the fluid in the brake system.
.
Last edited by Turbo6TA; Apr 2, 2020 at 02:45 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,807
Likes: 508
From: Oshawa, Ontario
You won't believe the amount of crap that is in the master as well as the rest of the system.I took the master apart and cleaned it as well as I could but you can't access the front section of the reservoir to clean it except for flushing when changing.The easiest way I have found to change the fluid is with the Tech II.It also cycles the EBCM to flush old fluid out of it.You should have a noticeable improvement in braking once completed.Did you not say once that your son in law had access to a Tech II?
Last edited by irok; Apr 2, 2020 at 07:40 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
Likes: 3,151
From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
irok .... Yup, he has one (if he ever remembers to take it home from his work).
I was just thinking the ol' turkey baster trick would be the easiest, as long as it's done maybe 4 times over a 1 month period
I was just thinking the ol' turkey baster trick would be the easiest, as long as it's done maybe 4 times over a 1 month period
Racer
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 377
Likes: 68
From: Tennessee
Just a thought here, I don’t think that brake fluid circulates through the brake system like power steering fluid, coolant, oil, transmission fluid (automatic) or refrigerant. All of those systems have pumps and lines that make a circle. Brake fluid is all heading toward dead end streets so to say.... I believe that the turkey baster method will not work as far as flushing out the system. Just throw it up on some jack stands, pull the wheels off and let it gravity bleed. Monitor the level in the master cylinder the whole time to make sure it doesn’t run out. I’m sure someone will say that it won’t get it all out and they’re probably correct but it will get out a lot more than the turkey baster method. You may be able to get away without even pumping the pedal to bleed when it’s done but I wouldn’t personally take that risk. Just have a friend, the wife, the kid, whoever help you. Super simple to do and you’ll feel good about it when you’re done. Good luck!!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
Likes: 3,151
From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
You know ... It wasn't that many miles ago that I installed the supercharger on the engine. This involved re-locating the power steering pump.
While I re-located the pump, I drained as much of the old fluid out of it as I could (even out of the lines) ... and then filled it with new fluid.
Well, I looked at that fluid too and found it to be black as night ... How the hell this fluid could go from clear to black this fast is way above my paygrade !
I would like to flush that system too, but I have a feeling it will just turn black shortly after.
Shakes head ! !
While I re-located the pump, I drained as much of the old fluid out of it as I could (even out of the lines) ... and then filled it with new fluid.
Well, I looked at that fluid too and found it to be black as night ... How the hell this fluid could go from clear to black this fast is way above my paygrade !
I would like to flush that system too, but I have a feeling it will just turn black shortly after.
Shakes head ! !
Racer
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 377
Likes: 68
From: Tennessee
The last shop I ran had a power steering flush machine, there was a sucker hose and a fill hose that basically just exchanged the fluid while you had someone turning the steering wheel from lock to lock with the car running. Last one I did was probably 8-10 years ago but we only charged $70 or $80. It probably hasn’t gone up that much. If it bothers you just find a shop that has one, it’s a very non-invasive service that my kids (9 & 11) could do with instruction. Pull the power steering cap off and insert hoses.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,376
Likes: 1,118
Something tells me that this COVID-19-shutdown-boredom pandemic is killing you Ron, LOL!
I would pull as much of the old fluid as you can out the master cylinder with the turkey tool, put some fresh one in and the start bleeding the brakes one by one, and keep topping up the master cylinder as you go along. Bleed each caliper until the fluid that comes out the bleeder at each wheel is nice and clean, then move on to the next. That’s my redneck advice, which as my friend Mitch would say, “is worth every penny you paid for it”.
And don’t worry about the dirty oil in the power steering reservoir. At some point the pump will probably start leaking and you’ll have to keep topping it up anyway!
I would pull as much of the old fluid as you can out the master cylinder with the turkey tool, put some fresh one in and the start bleeding the brakes one by one, and keep topping up the master cylinder as you go along. Bleed each caliper until the fluid that comes out the bleeder at each wheel is nice and clean, then move on to the next. That’s my redneck advice, which as my friend Mitch would say, “is worth every penny you paid for it”.
And don’t worry about the dirty oil in the power steering reservoir. At some point the pump will probably start leaking and you’ll have to keep topping it up anyway!
Team Owner
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 53,804
Likes: 5,634
From: Plantation Florida USAF(Retired) 1966-1990
U.S. Air Force
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I get all my fluids changed every 5 years, no matter what the mileage. I also including flushing the master cylinder.
You own a expensive high maintenance car, don't cut corners, and sucking it out of the Master cylinder doesn't accomplish anything, except the bowl has clean fluid when done.
You own a expensive high maintenance car, don't cut corners, and sucking it out of the Master cylinder doesn't accomplish anything, except the bowl has clean fluid when done.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
Likes: 3,151
From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
It's a bitch to not only be retired, but to also have nowhere to go ... everything is closed around here except for the grocery stores and Walmart !
Now the Florida governor has issued a Stay at Home order effective midnight tonight.
Well, at least these crazy people around here have not started hoarding beer and whiskey !
.... Praise the Lord !
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,376
Likes: 1,118
The boredom this COVID-19 pandemic is certainly not helping me very much, and I find myself drinking a lot more now than before ... which is more than likely causing me more problems than the boredom.
It's a bitch to not only be retired, but to also have nowhere to go ... everything is closed around here except for the grocery stores and Walmart !
Now the Florida governor has issued a Stay at Home order effective midnight tonight.
Well, at least these crazy people around here have not started hoarding beer and whiskey ! .... Praise the Lord !
It's a bitch to not only be retired, but to also have nowhere to go ... everything is closed around here except for the grocery stores and Walmart !
Now the Florida governor has issued a Stay at Home order effective midnight tonight.
Well, at least these crazy people around here have not started hoarding beer and whiskey !
.... Praise the Lord !
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,045
Likes: 3,588
From: Central MO
I get all my fluids changed every 5 years, no matter what the mileage. I also including flushing the master cylinder.
You own a expensive high maintenance car, don't cut corners, and sucking it out of the Master cylinder doesn't accomplish anything, except the bowl has clean fluid when done.
You own a expensive high maintenance car, don't cut corners, and sucking it out of the Master cylinder doesn't accomplish anything, except the bowl has clean fluid when done.
I do agree that the only correct way to get rid of the old brake fluid is to bleed them from the calipers. I have a Mity-Vac and did mine last summer.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 935
Likes: 385
I also agree that the best way to replace the fluid is to flush the fluid from the master cylinder to each caliper. I suck all of the fluid out of the master cylinder using a LiquiVac and replace with new fluid, put the car up on the quick jack and remove the tires, then have the Mrs. push and hold the brake pedal while I bleed each caliper until the fluid is clean. I have to refill the master cylinder several times, but it is still a quick process.
We aren't in a lock down where I live in Utah (yet), so I was able to get the car out briefly yesterday and try out the new custom tune with the E Force. Stay safe all!
We aren't in a lock down where I live in Utah (yet), so I was able to get the car out briefly yesterday and try out the new custom tune with the E Force. Stay safe all!
Last edited by MissileDoc; Apr 3, 2020 at 11:00 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,825
Likes: 443
From: Boca Raton Florida
Hey Ron, finally put those tires and wheels on and they are fine. 11 GS MN6 , 42000 miles now. In addition to replacing my clutch fluid from the reservoir frequently, i have been also replacing the both power steering and brake fluids the same way using mighty vac hand pump once a year. They all have very clean looking fluid in them always did, i made sure. Last year i also did a normal bleed and flush and the fluid that came out of the calipers were amazingly clear after 8 years. That is no BS. So it does work but you need a might vac that will have a long tube and will reach far to suck up lot of fluid. Turkey baster is too slow and tedious as it removes very little each time. So my experience is that the brake fluid do mix eventually.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 13,262
Likes: 3,151
From: SW Florida
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Glad the GS wheels and tires worked out fine on your car.
Now I am thinking about selling the OEM Z06 "Spyder" wheels and tires I also had on my car. I just replaced them with a set of Forgestar F14 17" wheels with drag radials on the rear.
Need to find someone locally here in Florida to sell them to ... shipping both the wheels and tires together would cost too much.
Photo of the genuine GM "Spyder" wheels and the Hankook tires with 2,000 miles on them:
_______________________________________
New Forgestar F14 wheels and tires:
Now I am thinking about selling the OEM Z06 "Spyder" wheels and tires I also had on my car. I just replaced them with a set of Forgestar F14 17" wheels with drag radials on the rear.
Need to find someone locally here in Florida to sell them to ... shipping both the wheels and tires together would cost too much.
Photo of the genuine GM "Spyder" wheels and the Hankook tires with 2,000 miles on them:
_______________________________________
New Forgestar F14 wheels and tires:
