COLORED brake fluid.

[whizbyu]

If you can't tell when fresh fluid is flowing from the bleeder, even during bi-annual changes, you've got bigger problems.

I find it easier to detect a change from Blue to Clear and vice versa. Going from light amber to clear is less obvious. I used to change my own brake fluid after every track event from Blue to Clear to Blue and never did have issues with brake fade. Regulations are regulations. "Overbleeding" if there is a term is not going to hurt anything in the big picture; once a can of brake fluid is opened it is doomed to contamination and cannot be "stored" and used on the next bleed, and thus the unused portion in the can is essentially doomed to end up in trash. I wasn't aware of ATE violating regulations.

 

[MolaKule]

This may help:

 

[Jake_J]

Mandating that DOT3/4/5.1 (glycol based) is clear and DOT 5 (silicone base) is purple is a good rule that (hopefully) prevents people from haphazardly mixing the two types. We don't need brake fluid to devolve into the mess of colors that is coolant today. The old conventions of green for coolant, red for ATF, clear for brake fluid worked well so why change it if not necessary. If the law allowed any color DOT 3 or 4 then we would go down the road of coolant and Honda blue, Toyota pink or red, Mazda dark green, Nissan blue, new Ford yellow (not to be confused with old Ford yellow), Ford orange, VW purple, etc, etc.

 

[CleanSump]

brake fluid is not petroleum-based

It blends, believe me or not. One drop per pint doesn't cause brake failure, believe me or not.
What do the manufacturers used when they color fluid? What do you think racers commonly use to show a complete bleed?
As to nanny government has to regulate us because we are all stupid; where's the data to show people have accidents and injuries due to blue brake fluid? A bureaucrat made that decision, not a brake specialist.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

It blends, believe me or not. One drop per pint doesn't cause brake failure, believe me or not.
What do the manufacturers used when they color fluid? What do you think racers commonly use to show a complete bleed?
As to nanny government has to regulate us because we are all stupid; where's the data to show people have accidents and injuries due to blue brake fluid? A bureaucrat made that decision, not a brake specialist.

The clear to amber of DOT 3/4 is used to distinguish new, fresh fluid from darker fluid that should be replaced.
Purple identifies silicone that should NEVER be mixed with glycol

This has nothing to do with nannies. You can't say something is legal when it is not. All ATE/Conti had to do was put "Off road use only" on the can, but instead they wrote DOT4 and said it meets FMVSS 116 when it doesn't. DOT4 is a legal term that carries the force of law behind it. Did I mention the law is 50 years old?

And anyway, whatever you use, don't use what ATE used to dye Super Blue because it stains the reservoir.

Most brake fluid is clear or pale yellow. They use nothing to color it. Don't tracks/clubs have test strips or something to test it?

GM cars make the brake fluid turn green in service. I have no idea what they use

If only they could ban black brake fluid (that has never been changed since the car was new)

 

[MolaKule]

It blends, believe me or not. One drop per pint doesn't cause brake failure, believe me or not.
What do the manufacturers used when they color fluid? What do you think racers commonly use to show a complete bleed?
As to nanny government has to regulate us because we are all stupid; where's the data to show people have accidents and injuries due to blue brake fluid? A bureaucrat made that decision, not a brake specialist.

What type of dye did you use, an organic oil soluble dye or a water soluble dye?

 

[Carmudgeon]

I first came across and used SBR in '93, when the can looked like this. I believe it was relatively new at the time, because the local BMW club chapter's technical coordinator (and shop owner) had no idea what it was when I asked him about it…after I had already used it in prep for the driving event. Nor did anyone else at the track.

In appearance alone, it was obviously a boutique product, clearly intended for a particular, specialized purpose, not general usage. I don't recall the markings on the sides of the can, but they weren't too illuminating, which is what prompted my questioning. Nor I don't recall if it even carried DOT labeling at all, even if only for classification purposes, and not legal purposes. The point is, this wasn't a fluid one would find on the shelf at the local branch of ORAP, Pep Boys, or that kind of general auto retailer.

Eventually, the product made it into the more mainstream consciousness, and when Conti revised its packaging, it ended up looking like this.

There are some important words on this label -- "Not for use in motor vehicles used on public streets, roads, or highways due to non-conforming color." As well as more much more detail than before on the side panel, again with a caveat about non-compliance.

(side note -- somebody paid $75 for a $15-20 can of fluid, whose only difference is color? I'm in the wrong business.)

To me, this is another case where a product is sold "for off road use only," with a wink, nudge and full expectation that people will buy it with no intent to follow that guideline.

As noted above, the Feds' regulations were clear (no pun intended) and in effect long before SBR was put on the market. Conti took its chances, marketed it to enthusiasts with a marginal, if not questionable, benefit, and in the end, had to bear the burden for those actions. Not the Feds.

Typ 200 is every bit the fluid that SBR was. Not losing any sleep over this one.

 

[MolaKule]

Really? what's the wisdom behind that? I think I have seen it listed on Tire Rack as "amber" in color.

Amber is a color description.

Color - Google Search

Clear is a description of its opacity or transparency.

"...Materials that allow most all light to pass through them are called transparent. Examples of transparent items are glass, water, and air. Those materials that allow some light to pass through them are called translucent and include things like frosted glass and wax paper. If an object does not allow any light to pass through it then it is opaque..."

Scavenger Hunt! Understanding Opaque, Translucent, and Transparent | Science project | Education.com

Scavenger Hunt! Check out this fun science fair project idea to explore the difference between opaque, translucent, and transparent objects around your house.

www.education.com

 

[nthach]

Here's another one
Magura

Shimano/Tektro fluid is red. Lighter than ATF but can be confused for it.

 

[Gebo]

I used the ATE Blue in all my cars. After 2 changes with Toyota Brake fluid in most of my cars, I still have blue brake fluid. I have changed one of my cars 4 times (98 LS400) and the brake fluid reservoir is still blue.

I regret using it.