Brake fluid for engine varnish clean-up

[JHZR2]

Hello,

On the bottle of my Pentosin Super DOT4 brake fluid, it explicitly states:

Caution: ruins varnish!

the molecules of the brake fluid are all approximately this:
http://webbook.nist.gov/cgi/cbook.cgi?Struct=C23783428

not that odd of stuff, IMO.

Curious if anyone has considered using it for sludge or varnish removal. It might not be the most lubricating fluid, but to cut varnish, it might to great... it destroys paint, does not it?

JMH

 

[MGregoir]

Ruins paint = ruins varnish.

I don't think it is compatible with petroleum oil.

 

[JHZR2]

I wouldnt think so, but in reality, neither is kerosine. I might do some miscibility tests and run some through a GC to see what the traces look like.

Given that anything would be a quick flush, Im not sure of the implications...

Not that I need to do this, fortunately

JMH

 

[jaj]

I once dumped brake fluid into my recycle oil. When I dumped the oil out of the 5 gallon container into the recycling depot tank a bunch of gooey lumps came out. Apparently mixing used oil and brake fluid makes lumpy goo.

In your sump, it would probably lead to really serious problems.

 

[TallPaul]

Try it on a beater that you plan to donate to a junkyard soon.

 

[JHZR2]

Im not planning on trying it anytime... other than in theory in a beaker.

Interesting results!

JMH

 

[Audi Junkie]

All I can say say is... wow.

 

[TheTanSedan]

LUBE CONTROL LC-20 is about the best varnish cleaner I've used. Over five years ago I started using it and several vehicles were old (25 and 33 years with original, unopened engines) but treated with LC-20 per Odis Beavers instructions. Each time the area under the valve cleaner looked far better than before. After this is when I would use ARx and extend both phases of the clean and rinse as LC-20 had already gotten the worst of the junk. Felt I was really getting my money's worth.

I'd never use brake fluid; but the old timers used kerosene mixed down. Some old threads around here on that.

 

[SD26]

Wasn't adding brake fluid to a transmission a used car lot cure for a poorly shifting transmission? I know some people that used to do that, not because they were into selling used cars, but they were in to cheap beaters.

 

[duaneb9729]

i believe it was to make the seals swell and then the transmission would work or work better for a short time

 

[Redlightning]

When I used to work in auto parts store in the mid 1980's it was a common practice for mechanics to pour a few ounces of brake fluid in a car with a leaky rear main seal as a seal swelling agent. It seemed to work, especially on the Buick V6 engines that had the rope seal. No one ever mentioned any ill effects afterward, but I can't speak for any varnish removing capabilities.

 

[JohnBrowning]

I t will swell the seals in an engine so if you are trying to sell a better that smokes or leaks their you go! I think if ever you where going to try it some synthetic silicone based brake fluid would probably be the least harmful to the oil and the crankcase environment.