Brake Fluid Change

AdrianC

colino wrote: »

I see you interpretation of annual is as fluid as your understanding of what red fluid is.

So explain to me what you understand by "red fluid" in the context of brake fluid, if not the old Girling-type veg oil based stuff that preceded DOT3, and has been pretty much unavailable for decades...
(Apologies for the size of the image - it's the only decent one I can find, far too large to embed here...)
http://a1autocollectables.co.uk/shop/images/3556/DSCN2853.JPG

Joe_Horner

That's not red, it's crimson (even says so on the tin!) :D

EdGasket

I remember those Girling cans and the yellow/orange Lockhead ones. Ah those were the days.

welfayre

Brake fluid DOES NOT need changed every 2 years.

Don't believe me? Simple test;

1) Buy some fluid and an analyser

2) Open fluid and test (it will be good)

3) Leave open fluid for 2 years, test again

4) Go "oh it's still testing fine after sitting for 2 years guess the manufactures have been telling porkies".

This doesn't mean it 100% doesn't mean it will need replaced after 2 years. It means you should analyse your fluid at each service and replace as necessary.

Nodding_Donkey

welfayre wrote: »

Brake fluid DOES NOT need changed every 2 years.

Don't believe me? Simple test;

1) Buy some fluid and an analyser

2) Open fluid and test (it will be good)

3) Leave open fluid for 2 years, test again

4) Go "oh it's still testing fine after sitting for 2 years guess the manufactures have been telling porkies".

This doesn't mean it 100% doesn't mean it will need replaced after 2 years. It means you should analyse your fluid at each service and replace as necessary.

QFT because that is the funniest post in this thread

oldagetraveller

"Odd, I'm sitting in front of a library of factory and dealer service documentation for assorted Ford, BL, Vauxhall, and Daf cars from the 60s through to the mid 80s plus a few Standard and Triumph models from the 50s (one of the fringe benefits of my interest in classics - I can't help collecting tech documents) and not one of them includes brake fluid change as a regular service item."

If you have a 1970 edition of the BL Workshop Manual for the Morris Minor, section M27 under Preventative Maintenance,all models, (granted, not regular service item) it states. The brake fluid should be completely changed every 18 months or 24000 miles whichever occurs first.
However, the older BMC version has no mention of changing the brake fluid at all, just a recommendation of the fluid type and to check the level regularly. More important because it can be quite easily forgotten with the master cylinder/reservoir being hidden away under the driver's floor!

Joe_Horner

The Moggie isn't in my library, so interesting that they included it under any section.

On a side note, out of curiosity I just googled to see if the original schedule was easily available but got side-tracked by Kwik-fit:

http://www.kwik-fit.com/service/morris/minor

kwik-fit wrote:

Your Morris Minor manufacturer service from Kwik Fit is carried out by specially qualified Kwik Fit service technicians who use the latest electronic diagnosis equipment from Bosch

[...]
Why have a Morris manufacturer service at Kwik Fit?


Your Morris warranty is upheld – no need to take your car to a dealership
A genuine and equivalent alternative to dealership servicing
[...]

Is my Morris Minor warranty really protected?

Yes, our stamp in your log book upholds your Morris Minor warranty.

Guess no-one told them that most Minors are out of warranty now?

oldagetraveller

I just thought it strange that pre 1970 it wasn't even mentioned then suddenly became important. Possibly some suit at BL with a money spinning idea.
I smiled at this - "who use the latest electronic diagnosis equipment from Bosch"
A Kwik Fit "technician" probably wouldn't know where to start in spite of the simplicity of the car, he/she would possibly spend half a day looking for the diagnostic socket?

I've checked the driver's handbook and nowhere in the service schedule is changing the fluid mentioned - but at the back there is a Hydraulic Brake System recommendation to change fluid similar to W/shop Man'l i.e. 18 months or 24000 miles. This is a BL manual though. I'll check the BMC, earlier manual and check. I doubt it's mentioned in there.

Joe_Horner

It does seem odd that it's important enough to recommend but not enough to put in the service schedule. Maybe no-one wanted to be the first manufacturer to add it.

Most of them were trying to cut service items at the time iirc, with features like sealed ball joints, grease-free suspension and spawn-of-the-devil self-adjusting (for 5 minutes, then they'll never work right again) brakes!

thescouselander

Brake fluid is a nice little earner for garages. I've only ever had one car that noticeably had problems with the brake fluid and that was my first car which was an old banger. Generally I haven't found it necessary on the cars I've had recently.

Its easy enough to test brake fluid though - why not do this first before diving into fluid change? That's certainly what the garage where I take my car does anyway.