Got a brake fluid moisture tester

[I_Hate_CVTs]

-- My vat of used brake fluid shows 2%.

Vat of used brake fluid?

Around here, brake fluid gets flushed when the seized calipers get replaced... oh every few years or so. Road salt

 

[ordinarybloke]

Not a surprise. Its the metals leaching from brake components that increase the mv. Unused 100 yo brake fluid would probably read the same LOL. Moisture content is way over rated for brake degradation-its the leached metals that do the damage IMO.

Moisture in brake fluid is probably the third most discussed topic here behind AZ on spark plug/lug nut threads and "what oil should I use?".

This is what's wrong with the internet. Moisture-content is NOT over-rated. Moisture-content forces a chemical reaction, which in turn makes fluid acidic. Acid leaches metal. Thus metal content is the product of 'over-rated' moisture-content. Metal is the product of acid. Acid corrodes components and tears seals. Lest we forget the water boils.

Moisture-content is over-rated. Right.... I see. Very good.

This is like the other brake-fluid myth that is forever spouted on here. It has the feds put a ban on color brake-fluid, this when the feds did no such thing. Be clear, no one ever uses DOT brake-fluid. You've never seen it, you never will. Because, break the seal and it's not DOT fluid. Brake-fluid can be any color. It might not be the 'right' color however the typical color for brake-fluid is brown.

And those cheapo brake-testers are not reliable, simply because formulations differ. Hence you can't calibrate the things. The pricier fluids are high-resistance when new. Thus these testers would indicate 4% or higher from fresh fluids.

Use a calendar, it will not lie.

As you were.

 

[willbur]

This is what's wrong with the internet. Moisture-content is NOT over-rated. Moisture-content forces a chemical reaction, which in turn makes fluid acidic. Acid leaches metal. Thus metal content is the product of 'over-rated' moisture-content. Metal is the product of acid. Acid corrodes components and tears seals. Lest we forget the water boils.

Moisture-content is over-rated. Right.... I see. Very good.

This is like the other brake-fluid myth that is forever spouted on here. It has the feds put a ban on color brake-fluid, this when the feds did no such thing. Be clear, no one ever uses DOT brake-fluid. You've never seen it, you never will. Because, break the seal and it's not DOT fluid. Brake-fluid can be any color. It might not be the 'right' color however the typical color for brake-fluid is brown.

And those cheapo brake-testers are not reliable, simply because formulations differ. Hence you can't calibrate the things. The pricier fluids are high-resistance when new. Thus these testers would indicate 4% or higher from fresh fluids.

Use a calendar, it will not lie.

As you were.

View attachment 204001What about moisture in brake fluid?What about moisture in brake fluid?

This is what's wrong with the internet. Moisture-content is NOT over-rated. Moisture-content forces a chemical reaction, which in turn makes fluid acidic. Acid leaches metal. Thus metal content is the product of 'over-rated' moisture-content. Metal is the product of acid. Acid corrodes components and tears seals. Lest we forget the water boils.

Moisture-content is over-rated. Right.... I see. Very good.

This is like the other brake-fluid myth that is forever spouted on here. It has the feds put a ban on color brake-fluid, this when the feds did no such thing. Be clear, no one ever uses DOT brake-fluid. You've never seen it, you never will. Because, break the seal and it's not DOT fluid. Brake-fluid can be any color. It might not be the 'right' color however the typical color for brake-fluid is brown.

And those cheapo brake-testers are not reliable, simply because formulations differ. Hence you can't calibrate the things. The pricier fluids are high-resistance when new. Thus these testers would indicate 4% or higher from fresh fluids.

Use a calendar, it will not lie.

As you were.

View attachment 204001

Here you go Bloke-
From Ford engineers- they should know (more than you...)

Quote from Phoenix Systems-

"What about moisture in brake fluid?
Interestingly, moisture is not the main contaminant that causes brake system problems, though thought to be the main problem by many industry professionals. Research by the Ford Motor Company indicates moisture contamination of brake fluid was approximately 1% in test vehicles that had been in service as long as 7 years. Moisture testing is recommended only for severe-duty vehicles." ( These tested vehicles were in junk yards around the country under widely varying climatic conditions.)

Phoenix Systems provide alot more on this topic if you care to read. Interesting quote from Bendix- thanks

 

[SC Maintenance]

I bought one of these that looked like the OP's from Amazon a while back. I opened a brand new bottle of prestone brake fluid - was a couple years old but still had the silver safety seal. Poured it in a cup and tried it - was just looking to calibrate - and I was going to add a little water to make sure the thing worked, but with the new fluid it gave me like 3%. ????? So I tried what was in my truck, and it was a little less - like 2%. This thing must not work - returned it.

Bought what looks to be the same one from ebay - tried again, same results.

Went to walmart, bought a new bottle of brake fluid. Tried it. Was worse yet. Said it had 3% water - new bottle, off the shelf, with safety seal. Still said what was in my truck was better?

I ended up more confused than before.

 

[ordinarybloke]

"Interestingly, moisture is not the main contaminant that causes brake system problems, though thought to be the main problem by many industry professionals."

Yes, Ford and Phoenix say the same thing. I'll type slowly.... Phoenix System sell a pH test strip, branded 'Brakestrip' , its existence verifies my words. It tests for acidity. Oddly, that'd be what a pH strip does?

For those without an English education pH is a measure of acidity/ alkalinity.

The litmus test?

I refuse to believe that's not taught in US schools.

The water degrades fluid to acid. Moisture is not the main contaminant to cause brake system problems, it's the product of the moisture, acid. And the product of the acid.... metal. Phoenix measure pH. What part did you not 'get' first time round?

And there's nothing so wrong with those cheapo testers, more they're not reliable because they don't test what we really need to look at. That'd be pH.

 

[willbur]

Yes, Ford and Phoenix say the same thing. I'll type slowly.... Phoenix System sell a pH test strip, branded 'Brakestrip' , its existence verifies my words. It tests for acidity. Oddly, that'd be what a pH strip does?

For those without an English education pH is a measure of acidity/ alkalinity.

The litmus test?

I refuse to believe that's not taught in US schools.

The water degrades fluid to acid. Moisture is not the main contaminant to cause brake system problems, it's the product of the moisture, acid. And the product of the acid.... metal. Phoenix measure pH. What part did you not 'get' first time round?

And there's nothing so wrong with those cheapo testers, more they're not reliable because they don't test what we really need to look at. That'd be pH.

What part don't you get? Phoenix says moisture is not the problem. If the driving force of the degradation process is moisture and it's not there ("not the problem"); how is this "acid" formed? Ford only found miniscule moisture and "acid" was not mentioned in their report. If "acid" is the issue, the engineers must have overlooked it. And please- lose the condescending attitude.

And I'm not going to make your day arguing over this.

 

[ordinarybloke]

Yes, I see that. I've coloured pencils, would it help if draw it for you?

The green one's nice.