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Brake fluid
jacko - 7/3/14 at 05:19 PM

Can you tell some how if brake fluid needs changing or is it just a age time to change,
the car has .4 fitted as far as i know the oil is 2 years old
Jacko


eddie99 - 7/3/14 at 05:20 PM

Look at the brake fluid colour, Depending on what sort of life it has had and can vary dramatically.


jacko - 7/3/14 at 05:23 PM

the car has only done 11,000 miles from new 2 years old


eddie99 - 7/3/14 at 05:35 PM

Any track life? On our race cars we will change fluid every few meetings but thats because we tend to overheat the fluid.

[Edited on 7/3/14 by eddie99]


JAG - 7/3/14 at 06:10 PM

The only reason to change brake fluid is because it absorbs water - and that reduces the boiling point of the brake fluid.

...and we all know that's bad because IF the fluid boils you'll lose all braking.

It's very difficult to tell how much water your brake fluid has absorbed without testing with special equipment therefore vehicle-manufacturers always recommend a service interval for the brake fluid based upon it's likely rate of absorption of water.

All of this means that you SHOULD change your brake fluid around 2 years in service or whatever your manufacturer recommends


matt5964 - 7/3/14 at 08:29 PM

Change it and pur blue racing fluid in as it turns green when it's absorbed to much water or been over boiled to many times


FazerBob - 8/3/14 at 12:17 AM

weigh up the cost of changing your fluid every two years, compared to running into the back of another car because your brakes boiled - simples!


britishtrident - 8/3/14 at 08:18 AM

quote:
Originally posted by matt5964
Change it and pur blue racing fluid in as it turns green when it's absorbed to much water or been over boiled to many times



Racing brake fluids should be avoided unless the brake fluid is operating close to fluid boiling point.
Racing brake fluids absorb water much more readily than DoT4 or DoT5 fluid, and any absorbed water will drastically lower the boiling point of the fluid and also cause internal corrosion of the system.

Most ester based racing fluids also are more inflammable than normal ester based fluid.

With DoT 4 fluids changing the fluid every 2 years is more than really required, DoT 5 fluids are generallyna bit more water absorbent so if you push the brake temperatures up then. change it every year.


jacko - 8/3/14 at 10:30 AM

Its a road car NOT a race car
Thank you for your help
Jacko


matt5964 - 8/3/14 at 12:37 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
quote:
Originally posted by matt5964
Change it and pur blue racing fluid in as it turns green when it's absorbed to much water or been over boiled to many times



Racing brake fluids should be avoided unless the brake fluid is operating close to fluid boiling point.
Racing brake fluids absorb water much more readily than DoT4 or DoT5 fluid, and any absorbed water will drastically lower the boiling point of the fluid and also cause internal corrosion of the system.

Most ester based racing fluids also are more inflammable than normal ester based fluid.

With DoT 4 fluids changing the fluid every 2 years is more than really required, DoT 5 fluids are generallyna bit more water absorbent so if you push the brake temperatures up then. change it every year.


I use,

ATE Super Blue Racing Fluid

2x1 Litre Bottles

ATE Super Blue affordable high performance brake fluids that have both a high dry boiling point (280 deg C) and a high wet boiling point (198 deg C), but without being excessively hygroscopic. What this really means is that these fluids do not readily absorb moisture like most high performance fluids. Moisture in your braking system can be costly requiring a complete braking system overhaul
The formula offers a minimal drop in boiling point resulting in a long-lasting fluid that may not need to be changed for up to 3 years under normal highway driving conditions. Products with a lower wet boiling point have to be replaced considerably more often (e.g., DOT3 products should be replaced annually). The overall high dry and wet boiling points make this fluid an excellent choice for street driven vehicles, too, where brake fluid is flushed less frequently than that in race-driven vehicles.

Features/Benefits of ATE Super Blue Racing Brake Fluid:

* Blue tint of fluid makes bleeding brakes easier
* Ideal for race use, excellent choice for street driven vehicles, too
* Boiling point minimum: 536 degrees F
* Wet boiling point minimum: 388 degrees F
* Viscosity at -104 degrees F: max 1,400 mm 2/5
* Designed to last up to 3 years under normal highway driving conditions