pfjw (AT) aol (DOT) com wrote:

piston back and close the bleeder, each time I'm working in the
vincinity...

OK... A simple question.

How many here are driving on brake fluid more than two (2) years old?

Peter Wieck
Wyncote, PA

Me.
I have been driving for 30 years and with the exception of adding when I do
the brakes, I have never "changed" brake fluid. I realize I am not the
sharpest knife in the drawer, but, is this an issue? Funny, my cars have
ALWAYS managed to stop when I hit the big pedal.

Cecil

<pfjw (AT) aol (DOT) com> wrote

Detailing Dude wrote:
Yes it is a safety issue. The problem would arise when enough moisture
gets in the fluid and you use the brakes heavily, as you might in the
mountains or even heavy freeway traffic. If the temperatures gets hot
enough the water changes to gas and gas is compressible which means you may
find yourself with a brake pedal going all the way to the floor and not
getting any brakes. You will never know you are close to having a problem
until it is too late.

The moisture can also damage some parts, but that appears to be less
serious safety wise.



--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

al wrote:
Well... Joseph nailed it in one. And our four vehicles are all under
the 2-year flush interval. DOT 3/4 brake fluids are hydroscopic and
absorb water over time. It is the nature of the beast. Flatlanders who
do little sustained or heavy braking may go many years without a
problem... until they have one.

One can tell by the color. Brake fluid is clear when new. Then it goes
to pale yellow, and progressively darker until brown or grey as it
absorbs water. Two years "like religion" will save your (and your
passengers') butt in a pinch.

I asked this question to get to the overall sensitivity in this group
to a REALLY important but subtle maintenance issue... life-saving at
the very least. We purchase our vehicles either used or very-well-used.
Upon receipt, we do not take it around the block without a full-filter,
and fluid change, brake, suspension and steering check and so forth.
The exception to this would be automatic transmission maintenance in
certain vehicles. Otherwise all of it. That becomes our base-line and
the starting point for ongoing maintenance. Vehicles come and go. Life
and health are fragile and tenuous enough to risk for silly stuff.

Peter Wieck
Wyncote, PA

You got me on this one. I have been hearing that it should be
changed at some interval but it's something I've never done,
except when redoing rear brakes. I hate the stuff, I absorbed
too much fooling around with brakes. But I'll have to have my
mechanic address that with a future servicing.

Irv

pfjw (AT) aol (DOT) com wrote:

Not all brake fluid is clear when new. ATE super blue is ... well ... blue
.... and ATE standard is amber.

And yes, I flush mine every two years alternating between amber and blue
each time so I know when it's completely flushed.

<pfjw (AT) aol (DOT) com> wrote

pfjw (AT) aol (DOT) com wrote:

Not me. I learned my lesson when a bad master cylinder filler cap seal
resulted in enough water absorbtion that I boiled the brake fluid and
lost the brakes.

I religiously change it at *least* every two years and whenever I do
brakes on one of the vehicles. Brake fluid's cheap.

Moreover, I have observed that I never have the problems other people
seem to have with bad calipers and wheel cylinders...

JRE

I drive on brake fluid over two years old. Because my cars don't have ABS .
My new car doesn't have ABS either, or power windows or locks. by my choice.
ABS require changing fluid for contamination. So the spool valves keep
working. . I,m a flat lander , in the rust belt, and bleeding brakes
usually involves broken bleeders and changing calipers or wheel cylinders.
Because brake shops overtorque them and don't put antiseize on the threads
or grease them. So next time you get hosed because they broke on them. I
agree changing brake fluid prevents problems. If I could get a correct
bleeding everytime without changing parts ,Or get shops to quit setting
themselves up for hosings I,d do it too.
"JRE" <nothing (AT) nowhere (DOT) com> wrote

none2u wrote:
I am still able to do basic maintenance (including brakes) myself, so I
am sure to use the proper torque, anti-sieze, and bleed correctly. I
even have spare rubber bleeder caps in the carry-kit.

Anti-Lock brakes are pretty amazing, especially when you are in
trouble. Not much more to write on the subject.

Peter Wieck
Wyncote, PA