Brake Fluid

richy999

I'll wager that the bottle of brake fluid sits on your shelf for another 2 years before you decide to throw it out :-)

Unless you have a leak somewhere, you probably won’t need to top up again.

EdGasket

It'll be fine. I've used ancient cans of the stuff before now with no problems. I've had 20 year old cars that have never had a brake fluid flush with no problems and the fluid in the car isn't even sealed as there has to be air bleed into the reservoir cap. A resealed half-can of brake fluid will last for years and years.

roneik

It wont be ok . Brake fluid is hyperscoptic and absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. Whilst it will still be working, the moisture means when absorbed, longer pull up times real time driving, as the water element is not compressible. Also as the boiling point temp of fluid contaminated with moisture has a lower boiling point temp . IT reduces its capability to be compressed, it can prematurely cook and make brittle the seals in calipers ect. The life of brake fluid is three years and deteriorates fro that point. To put it bluntly "that couple of yards extra breaking distance could be the difference between life and death. Think on it water is not compress able

roneik

Water has a lower boiling temperature than brake fluid mineral oil.
BMW minis 3 years and fluid change , comes up as a warning on dash (service) Just to add I have never left fluid in any car in many years of motoring more than 3 years & still here to tell the tale. Millions of miles driven too

EdGasket

Of course the dealerships and manufacturers want you to have brake fluid flushes every three years; they make money on it. Why was this never a problem forty years ago? Cars never had their brake fluid routinely changed then; wasn't even mentioned in service schedules. You are a victim of scaremongering roneik.

Unless you are driving F1 cars your brake fluid will be fine on the shelf for at least ten years and probably thirty!

roneik

Ed you are wrong on this one mate. Today you need all of your braking capacity, with the level of traffic . I know I am right on this one, so sorry seen too many accidents to want to give bad advice . Do some research don't listen to me and you will find I am correct. Water is non compressible and reduces the brakes ability to stop within the margins set out when a cars braking system is engineered and calibrated to stop said car

Chiseled into the victims headstone was this inscription " Ed Gasket said top up with manky fluid ,I knew I should have bought a mini" and changed the fluid after 3 years"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGOKi3nIDrc

roneik

For those that want to check the water content in their brake fluid

Heres a link to screw fix and a tester, only a few quids
http://www.screwfix.com/p/laser-brake-fluid-tester-1-piece-set/16673?kpid=16673&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&cm_mmc=Google-_-Shopping%20-%20Car%20and%20Van-_-Shopping%20-%20Car%20and%20Van&gclid=CjwKEAjw1riwBRD61db6xtWTvTESJACoQ04Q1q1BNFe3QOONb_Z5WCuLTn0JEDH2aPcqZhDpAdrYDhoCE4Dw_wcB&kpid=16673

roneik

There was an old man called ed mastic that put old fluid in the plastic
He was driving along and in mid song
He put his foot on the brake
The car weaved and began to shake
He put his foot through the floor
ended up body hanging out the door
His foot was wiggling about
bystanders began to scream:rotfl: and shout
Alas old ed would eat no more ice cream
Saving pennies was a nightmare not a dream

Richard53

Just for information: water is not compressible. Water vapour is. The danger with water being absorbed into brake fluid (which is hygroscopic) is twofold: one is that if the brakes are used hard or for a long period, such as descending a long hill, the brake fluid exceeds 100 deg C and the water in it boils, turns to steam, and your brake pressure is lost. It has happened to me, and it is not amusing in the slightest. Below boiling temperatures, you wouldn't notice any difference, as the water behaves exactly as brake fluid does, i.e. it doesn't compress.


The second reason is that water in the brake fluid corrodes your brake parts internally, so eventually you get sticky calipers and corrosion inside the pipes. Again, not something you would want to happen.


The thing with water in your brake fluid is that it is only a problem in an extreme situation, but failure in an extreme situation is the worst kind to have. To be honest, I don't change mine on the 2-year recommended schedule, but I don't ignore it either. I check colour and condition as well as level. A recent trip to the Alps in the MX-5 saw me replacing pads, discs and fluid because I knew I would need the system in top condition.

roneik

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rp8hvyjZWHs