So why did the half-used (seal broken in other words) bottle of brake fluid I found that had to be over 5 years old still have clear brake fluid in it? It looked fine, but it had been sitting on the shelf so long I got rid of it. If a non-airtight container is what makes brake fluid turn dark then the brake fluid in this container should've looked a lot worse than it did.
Brake Fluid Freshness
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So why did the half-used (seal broken in other words) bottle of brake fluid I found that had to be over 5 years old still have clear brake fluid in it? It looked fine, but it had been sitting on the shelf so long I got rid of it. If a non-airtight container is what makes brake fluid turn dark then the brake fluid in this container should've looked a lot worse than it did.
That hasn't been my experience. When I bled the brakes on my 1988 Mustang GT the only clear fluid that eventually came out is what I'd just added to the reservoir. Ditto for my 1995 Ford Contour.
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When I bleed the brakes I get dark looking fluid for a few seconds only. I do however flush the brake lines and calipers every 24 months, so it's reasonable to expect to find the most contaminated fluid in the calipers.
I'd use a partially used bottle of brake fluid only if a gas blanket has been applied and if the bottle has been hermetically sealed. Since brake fluid is so inexpensive, it's just not worth being thrifty. It's the wrong spot for saving a few bucks.
I'd use a partially used bottle of brake fluid only if a gas blanket has been applied and if the bottle has been hermetically sealed. Since brake fluid is so inexpensive, it's just not worth being thrifty. It's the wrong spot for saving a few bucks.
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I was about to issue a three alarm turkey baster abuse alert.
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I was thinking of putting my car's brake system on a drip.
So if I do the following:
-- Remove brake fluid reservoir cap and the fine mesh screen within it
-- Draw out as much brake fluid as my Topsider can suction
-- Refill reservoir to the full line with fresh DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid
-- Replace screen and cap
That's all I need to do for a quick (if partial) refresh?
-- Remove brake fluid reservoir cap and the fine mesh screen within it
-- Draw out as much brake fluid as my Topsider can suction
-- Refill reservoir to the full line with fresh DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid
-- Replace screen and cap
That's all I need to do for a quick (if partial) refresh?
go ahead and ask any mechanic, most will probably say you need a real flush. this turkey baster business was made up by people who don't know how to flush brakes but want to feel like they are doing something good for their car.
I use something similar to a turkey baster to suck out all the brake fluid from from my MC but that is prior to bleeding the brakes. It simply saves time and prevents that old fluid from being flushed through the system.
It's a shame some mechanics still think a brake system is a "sealed system" and the brake fluid doesn't need to be changed as part of routine maintenance.
I bleed my cars every 2-3 yrs and my bikes every year.
It's a shame some mechanics still think a brake system is a "sealed system" and the brake fluid doesn't need to be changed as part of routine maintenance.
I bleed my cars every 2-3 yrs and my bikes every year.
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