Is HDPE (#2) suitable for storing used brake fluid?

londonTiger

Local authority offers 3 collections of hazardous chemicals from homes per year, I intend to do a lot of work on the car when summer comes, coolant flush, brake bleed etc.

So want to keep them until I have a sizeable batch before contacting LA to come collect.

Motor oil is no porblem I can go to the council dump and dispose of oil as much as I like.

Anyway - I want to store the brake fluid into the old 5L screenwash bottles (HDPE triangle mark 2).

I noticed my VW brake fluid comes in metal containers so I'm not sure if its safe to leave used brake fluid in a HDPE container, anyone know?

forgotmyname

If you take the oil to the dump why not take the brake fluid also?

londonTiger

forgotmyname wrote: »

If you take the oil to the dump why not take the brake fluid also?

the dump is just for engine & gear oil as far as I know. brake fluid is disposed differently and is hazardous waste.

vaio

I'd have thought brake fluid is just normal hydraulic mineral oil and could be disposed of in the same way as engine oil (and stored in HDPE containers without issue).

Joe_Horner

vaio wrote: »

I'd have thought brake fluid is just normal hydraulic mineral oil and could be disposed of in the same way as engine oil (and stored in HDPE containers without issue).

Nope. Brake fluid (at least the DOT 3 / 4 type stuff) is usually glycol based rather than mineral oil.

HDPE should be fine IF VW haven't used a different formulation to normal. Put a small bit in a bottle and see what happens over a couple of weeks.

reeac

londonTiger wrote: »

Local authority offers 3 collections of hazardous chemicals from homes per year, I intend to do a lot of work on the car when summer comes, coolant flush, brake bleed etc.

So want to keep them until I have a sizeable batch before contacting LA to come collect.

Motor oil is no porblem I can go to the council dump and dispose of oil as much as I like.

Anyway - I want to store the brake fluid into the old 5L screenwash bottles (HDPE triangle mark 2).

I noticed my VW brake fluid comes in metal containers so I'm not sure if its safe to leave used brake fluid in a HDPE container, anyone know?

Brake and clutch master cylinders usually have reservoirs that look like HDPE so I should think that it would be OK.

worried_jim

Mix it all up together with the old oil in the same containers- it will all get recycled the same way.

Chopper_Read

londonTiger wrote: »

Local authority offers 3 collections of hazardous chemicals from homes per year, I intend to do a lot of work on the car when summer comes, coolant flush, brake bleed etc.

So want to keep them until I have a sizeable batch before contacting LA to come collect.

Motor oil is no porblem I can go to the council dump and dispose of oil as much as I like.

Anyway - I want to store the brake fluid into the old 5L screenwash bottles (HDPE triangle mark 2).

I noticed my VW brake fluid comes in metal containers so I'm not sure if its safe to leave used brake fluid in a HDPE container, anyone know?

You are allowed 3 collections a year and dealers recommend a brake fluid every two years. What's your problem?

Norman_Castle

Try asking your council if you can take it to them when you take the oil. Don't mix it with anything else.

londonTiger

Chopper_Read wrote: »

You are allowed 3 collections a year and dealers recommend a brake fluid every two years. What's your problem?

the volume of hazardous waste doesn't matter so much, the collections matter. So I can send of a whole basket of checmical or just 1 2ltr bottle for collection and it will both add up the same as far as quota is concered. There are 3 cars in the household, and I do service on my car for a couple hours each week. I've just starting DIYing so it's a learning curve and I'm building up my tools so I can't do the whole thorough service in one go.

So that's why I need to store some chemicals - and need to know if I can store brake fluid in a empty container until I have a large enough collection to call in for collection..

Why question OP on their requirements? Why not just answer OPs question if you can?

Chopper_Read

londonTiger wrote: »

the volume of hazardous waste doesn't matter so much, the collections matter. So I can send of a whole basket of checmical or just 1 2ltr bottle for collection and it will both add up the same as far as quota is concered. There are 3 cars in the household, and I do service on my car for a couple hours each week. I've just starting DIYing so it's a learning curve and I'm building up my tools so I can't do the whole thorough service in one go.

So that's why I need to store some chemicals - and need to know if I can store brake fluid in a empty container until I have a large enough collection to call in for collection..

Why question OP on their requirements? Why not just answer OPs question if you can?

Three cars is three lots of brake fluid and the tip will take your oil. So I don't see why you need to store it. I'll leave you to it.