Detection / separation brake fluid from waste oil?

[1project2many]

Is there an easy way to detect the presence of brake fluid in waste oil? With clean fluids it's easy to see a separation layer but a visual check in dirty oil doesn't seem as easy. And I seem to recall seeing "lumps" in the bottom of a waste oil bucket after brake fluid was mixed in, rather than the brake fluid floating on top.

Is there an inexpensive method to separate these fluids? Detection may not be necessary if I can run the waste oil through a process that removes unwanted fluids. I'd love to try a centrifuge but cost for pre-made units seems very high and I'm not so sure I want to get sidetracked on a project to build my own.

Thanks.

 

[saberz]

I dont think so. The place I usually have my waste oil processed at asks me about it. I did a drain and fill of brake fluid(turkey baster) but didn't have another container at the time and squirted it into my 15 gallon container. It makes a sediment layer on the bottom of the container which just stays there so i haven't dumped any more of it in there.

Try to not make a practice out of mixing them though. I think a lot of these places re-use the oil as heating oil or a third party buys it for re-processing.

 

[1project2many]

Quote:
Try to not make a practice out of mixing them though. I think a lot of these places re-use the oil as heating oil or a third party buys it for re-processing.


I'm not the generator. I'm on the receiving end of this.

 

[artificialist]

I have never seen the process.

While you are searching for a solution, keep in mind that many r-134a A/C systems use PAG oil which is similar, so be on the lookout for florescent floating blobs in the oil.