Brake fluid change

[markjay]

Yeah, if you leave it in a pan in the garage.

A car braking system is sealed, against very high pressures, anywhere air could get in, fluid would piss out.

The ONLY interface between air and fluid is in the reservoir, which, is in good condition, is also sealed and had a diaphragm to, guess what, separate the fluid from the minute quantity of air sealed into the reservoir.

Brake fluid doesn't go off in the ****ing tins it comes in, any more than it goes off in a well maintained brake system on a vehicle.

There is a simple tester that shows the water content of the brake fluid, so no need to hypnotise about this... but if water do get in, it will not only reduce braking force and increase brake fade (due to reduced boiling point), but it will also corrode the calliper cylinders on the inside.

Having said that, the 2-year rule was originally a matter of better-safe-than-sorry considering that brake fluid cost under a tenner and the process is not complicated. However the engineers stipulating the 2-year change probably did not envision MB dealers charging upwards of £200 for this simple job (see other posts). For this kind of money, most owners will want to know it actually needs doing rather than do this as a matter of course.... hence the water ingress tester.

 

[iscaboy]

hence the water ingress tester.

go to your local fuel depot of filling station, they all have a pink paste they use to dip the bunkers, it changes colour in the presence of water.

 

[markjay]

This is a basic version:

Gunson 77002 Brake Fluid Tester - Machine Mart

garages will have these ones:

Draper Brake Fluid Tester - 59078 - Fluid Testing & Bleeding - Draper Tools - DIY and Tools from DIYTools.co.uk - Your First Stop For All Things DIY !

Draper Expert 12v Electronic Brake Fluid Tester at Toolbay Direct

 

[markjay]

These tools tell you exactly when/if the brake fluid needs changing.

said that, I would have normally preferred to have this essentially low-cost maintenance task done every 2 years as a matter of course, it is a shame that MB dealers are using this basic safety service as a cash cow.

 

[iscaboy]

all those "tools" cost more than the bloody brake fluid...

just get the pink paste for free from your local filling station.

 

[jasonyw]

There is a simple tester that shows the water content of the brake fluid, so no need to hypnotise about this... but if water do get in, it will not only reduce braking force and increase brake fade (due to reduced boiling point), but it will also corrode the calliper cylinders on the inside.

Having said that, the 2-year rule was originally a matter of better-safe-than-sorry considering that brake fluid cost under a tenner and the process is not complicated. However the engineers stipulating the 2-year change probably did not envision MB dealers charging upwards of £200 for this simple job (see other posts). For this kind of money, most owners will want to know it actually needs doing rather than do this as a matter of course.... hence the water ingress tester.

Under a tenner? It costs me at least £16 a litre and I need more than a litre.

If you got an Escort you can DIY but not with one with SBC, £200 is justifiable considering the work involved. I wont pay £200 for it, I rather do it myself, it more fun and learned something from it.