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Message: The Blues
Changed By: Paul S.
Change Date: April 09, 2011 12:42PM
The Blues
Change Date: April 09, 2011 12:42PM
The Blues
As others have alluded to, if you keep a car long enough and don't change the brake fluid, you will be replacing expensive brake system parts. Not to shock you but an ABS pump (I had one replaced under warranty in my 01 Turbo) is a $5,000 part.
Brake fluid in all cars should be changed, regularly. The problem with waiting too long is the moisture starts corrosion and when you do change the fluid, it can KO the master cylinder. So it is one of those things that it is better to change it every two years as recommended, than to wait several years to change it when you notice a problem like soft brake pedal. By then it may be too late.
I bought a 67 Corvette last year, and the prior owner (foolishly) used DOT 3 fluid which is good for one year or so, vs. DOT 3 4 and had last changed it 5 years ago. The brakes where really weak when I got the car. I flushed the brake fluid and it literally killed the master cylinder (which was not that old)--meaning the brake pedal went straight to the floor. So I had to replace the master cylinder. If the prior owner had done what I do (which is change brake fluid every two years in all my cars) that master cylinder would likely still be good. Not expensive (a generic master cylinder is about $50), but the brakes when I got the car were really scary--I darn near blew a red light trying to stop from 50 mph (and I didn't wait until the last minute to start braking, either).
As for changing your own fluid, I would counsel against ATE blue--it stains everything blue. The first time you do a flush, just buy two liters of brake fluid, and watch the color of the old gold vs. the new ATE gold. You can see the gold change color--even if you don't, flush about 8 oz of fluid from each caliper (hence the 2 liters of brake fluid to give you plenty of fluid so you don't have to worry about running dry), and you'll have all the fluid out. And in the process you won't get the "blues"--that ATE blue tints the clear plastic reservoir on the brake master cylinder, the hoses (if you use a Motive power bleeder) on the power bleeder, and your drain hose attached to the bleeder screws. Hate the stuff.
At one time, ATE Blue had a higher wet point than Gold, but now it is the same as the ATE Type 200 (e.g., ATE Gold). Just go for the Gold, and forget the Blue :)
Brake fluid in all cars should be changed, regularly. The problem with waiting too long is the moisture starts corrosion and when you do change the fluid, it can KO the master cylinder. So it is one of those things that it is better to change it every two years as recommended, than to wait several years to change it when you notice a problem like soft brake pedal. By then it may be too late.
I bought a 67 Corvette last year, and the prior owner (foolishly) used DOT 3 fluid which is good for one year or so, vs. DOT 3 4 and had last changed it 5 years ago. The brakes where really weak when I got the car. I flushed the brake fluid and it literally killed the master cylinder (which was not that old)--meaning the brake pedal went straight to the floor. So I had to replace the master cylinder. If the prior owner had done what I do (which is change brake fluid every two years in all my cars) that master cylinder would likely still be good. Not expensive (a generic master cylinder is about $50), but the brakes when I got the car were really scary--I darn near blew a red light trying to stop from 50 mph (and I didn't wait until the last minute to start braking, either).
As for changing your own fluid, I would counsel against ATE blue--it stains everything blue. The first time you do a flush, just buy two liters of brake fluid, and watch the color of the old gold vs. the new ATE gold. You can see the gold change color--even if you don't, flush about 8 oz of fluid from each caliper (hence the 2 liters of brake fluid to give you plenty of fluid so you don't have to worry about running dry), and you'll have all the fluid out. And in the process you won't get the "blues"--that ATE blue tints the clear plastic reservoir on the brake master cylinder, the hoses (if you use a Motive power bleeder) on the power bleeder, and your drain hose attached to the bleeder screws. Hate the stuff.
At one time, ATE Blue had a higher wet point than Gold, but now it is the same as the ATE Type 200 (e.g., ATE Gold). Just go for the Gold, and forget the Blue :)
Original Message
Author: Paul S.Date: April 09, 2011 12:38PM
The Blues
As others have alluded to, if you keep a car long enough and don't change the brake fluid, you will be replacing expensive brake system parts. Not to shock you but an ABS pump (I had one replaced under warranty in my 01 Turbo) is a $5,000 part.
Brake fluid in all cars should be changed, regularly. The problem with waiting too long is the moisture starts corrosion and when you do change the fluid, it can KO the master cylinder. So it is one of those things that it is better to change it every two years as recommended, than to wait several years to change it when you notice a problem like soft brake pedal. By then it may be too late.
I bought a 67 Corvette last year, and the prior owner (foolishly) used DOT 3 fluid which is good for one year or so, vs. DOT 3 and had last changed it 5 years ago. The brakes where really weak when I got the car. I flushed the brake fluid and it literally killed the master cylinder (which was not that old)--meaning the brake pedal went straight to the floor. So I had to replace the master cylinder. If the prior owner had done what I do (which is change brake fluid every two years in all my cars) that master cylinder would likely still be good. Not expensive (a generic master cylinder is about $50), but the brakes when I got the car were really scary--I darn near blew a red light trying to stop from 50 mph (and I didn't wait until the last minute to start braking, either).
As for changing your own fluid, I would counsel against ATE blue--it stains everything blue. The first time you do a flush, just buy two liters of brake fluid, and watch the color of the old gold vs. the new ATE gold. You can see the gold change color--even if you don't, flush about 8 oz of fluid from each caliper (hence the 2 liters of brake fluid to give you plenty of fluid so you don't have to worry about running dry), and you'll have all the fluid out. And in the process you won't get the "blues"--that ATE blue tints the clear plastic reservoir on the brake master cylinder, the hoses (if you use a Motive power bleeder) on the power bleeder, and your drain hose attached to the bleeder screws. Hate the stuff.
At one time, ATE Blue had a higher wet point than Gold, but now it is the same as the ATE Type 200 (e.g., ATE Gold). Just go for the Gold, and forget the Blue :)
Brake fluid in all cars should be changed, regularly. The problem with waiting too long is the moisture starts corrosion and when you do change the fluid, it can KO the master cylinder. So it is one of those things that it is better to change it every two years as recommended, than to wait several years to change it when you notice a problem like soft brake pedal. By then it may be too late.
I bought a 67 Corvette last year, and the prior owner (foolishly) used DOT 3 fluid which is good for one year or so, vs. DOT 3 and had last changed it 5 years ago. The brakes where really weak when I got the car. I flushed the brake fluid and it literally killed the master cylinder (which was not that old)--meaning the brake pedal went straight to the floor. So I had to replace the master cylinder. If the prior owner had done what I do (which is change brake fluid every two years in all my cars) that master cylinder would likely still be good. Not expensive (a generic master cylinder is about $50), but the brakes when I got the car were really scary--I darn near blew a red light trying to stop from 50 mph (and I didn't wait until the last minute to start braking, either).
As for changing your own fluid, I would counsel against ATE blue--it stains everything blue. The first time you do a flush, just buy two liters of brake fluid, and watch the color of the old gold vs. the new ATE gold. You can see the gold change color--even if you don't, flush about 8 oz of fluid from each caliper (hence the 2 liters of brake fluid to give you plenty of fluid so you don't have to worry about running dry), and you'll have all the fluid out. And in the process you won't get the "blues"--that ATE blue tints the clear plastic reservoir on the brake master cylinder, the hoses (if you use a Motive power bleeder) on the power bleeder, and your drain hose attached to the bleeder screws. Hate the stuff.
At one time, ATE Blue had a higher wet point than Gold, but now it is the same as the ATE Type 200 (e.g., ATE Gold). Just go for the Gold, and forget the Blue :)