Brake Fluid Disposal

[oil pan 4]

Why can't you mix it with oil? Brake fluid is also a hydrocarbon.

When I returned coolant and motor oil, the guy at the recyling facility took my jugs and dumped the coolant into the same tank as the oil.

Does this mean that the oil can't be recycled now because he contamined it with water?

When the oil is recycled, I believe they remove the water, and then fractionate the oil, because its expected to be contaminated.

Hydrocarbon are hydrofobic, you know oil and water don't mix. Dot 3 and 4 brake fluid is hydroscopic and freely mixes with water. They are not the same.
All the car pars stores around here won't take oil mixed with coolant/water.
The main thing with used coolant is don't leave it sitting out. It's better to dump it on the ground or dump it down the drain than have an animal drink it.

 

[camrydriver111]

Hydrocarbon are hydrofobic, you know oil and water don't mix. Dot 3 and 4 brake fluid is hydroscopic and freely mixes with water. They are not the same.
All the car pars stores around here won't take oil mixed with coolant/water.
The main thing with used coolant is don't leave it sitting out. It's better to dump it on the ground or dump it down the drain than have an animal drink it.

Brake fluid is a polar organic compound. That's why it can mix with water despite being organic. I can't remember if I tried brake fluid and oil, but many polar organic compounds can mix with both water and organics.

If a car has a blown head gasket do you think the shop draines the oil separately and quarantines it? I doubt it.

Maybe the auto parts stores get less money if its mixed, but I dont see a chemical reason why it can't be recycled. If the wate is more pure, its easier and cheaper to recycle.

 

[oil pan 4]

Yes brake fluid and oil mix pretty good.

 

[D60]

Hydrocarbon are hydrofobic, you know oil and water don't mix. Dot 3 and 4 brake fluid is hydroscopic and freely mixes with water. They are not the same.
All the car pars stores around here won't take oil mixed with coolant/water.
The main thing with used coolant is don't leave it sitting out. It's better to dump it on the ground or dump it down the drain than have an animal drink it.

Not to be pedantic but brake fluid is hygroscopic.

 

[SHOZ]

A lot of used oil is sold for heating and any coolant makes it no good.

 

[kschachn]

Not to be pedantic but brake fluid is hygroscopic.

Plus it's not " hydrofobic".