Brake Fluid Question

heinz wittenbecher

New member
Mar 1, 1998
1,470
0
0
When I changed brakelines, etc I went to the Ford 550 degree DOT 3 fluid.

I now notice some discolorization in the master cylinder front brake
reservoir portion. It's kinda rusty.

Does it turn color when it contains moisture?

Is it rust coming from the front calipers? They're only a couple of years
since replace and/or serviced.

Am I overdoing the 550? What's being used?

TIA - Heinz
 
Heinz --

Get enough of a sample that you can heat it on an electric stove or
hotplate.
Stick in an accurate thermometer. See if water contamination boils off and
at what temp.

We'll all be interested in the results. I just took all my Ford fluid out
and it was rusty and black as can be.

Mark Grady

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Heinz
> Wittenbecher
> Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 1999 5:49 PM
> To: GMCnet
> Subject: GMC: Brake Fluid Question
>
>
> When I changed brakelines, etc I went to the Ford 550 degree DOT 3 fluid.
>
> I now notice some discolorization in the master cylinder front brake
> reservoir portion. It's kinda rusty.
>
> Does it turn color when it contains moisture?
>
> Is it rust coming from the front calipers? They're only a couple of years
> since replace and/or serviced.
>
> Am I overdoing the 550? What's being used?
>
> TIA - Heinz
>
>
 
Alright Mr Chemist... how big a sample is needed? and is it easy to tell
that water is boiling off, i.e. at expected water boiling temp (212 or?).
Does it just bubble?

I'm not sure yet if I can get access to the kitchen with brakefluid in my
hand :-)

What did you replace your Ford fluid with? What temp rating?

TIA - Heinz

> Heinz --
>
> Get enough of a sample that you can heat it on an electric stove or
> hotplate.
> Stick in an accurate thermometer. See if water contamination boils off and
> at what temp.
>
> We'll all be interested in the results. I just took all my Ford fluid out
> and it was rusty and black as can be.
>
> Mark Grady
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> > [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Heinz
> > Wittenbecher
> > Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 1999 5:49 PM
> > To: GMCnet
> > Subject: GMC: Brake Fluid Question
> >
> >
> > When I changed brakelines, etc I went to the Ford 550 degree DOT 3
fluid.
> >
> > I now notice some discolorization in the master cylinder front brake
> > reservoir portion. It's kinda rusty.
> >
> > Does it turn color when it contains moisture?
> >
> > Is it rust coming from the front calipers? They're only a couple of
years
> > since replace and/or serviced.
> >
> > Am I overdoing the 550? What's being used?
> >
> > TIA - Heinz
> >
> >
>
>
 
Heinz --

I must have hit save, not send on this message earlier this week. Sorry to
not notice.

I'm no chemist, but in my Mr. Wizard science experiment, I used a clean
glass pint jar (it was a canning jar) that was about 3/4 of the way full.

It bubbled. A lot. Not a rolling boil like you were making soup, but enough
that there was no question in my mind that I had severe moisture
contamination. I'm just curious if you see the same thing. I may just be
un-lucky. :-(

I used a hot plate out in the garage. Had the same problem when I was headed
to the kitchen. BTW: I sneaked the candy thermometer out under my shirt.

I replaced the fluid with regular old everyday DOT 3 fluid. I got a gallon
from a local auto parts house.

Mark

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Heinz
> Wittenbecher
> Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 1999 10:14 PM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: Re: GMC: Brake Fluid Question
>
>
> Alright Mr Chemist... how big a sample is needed? and is it easy to tell
> that water is boiling off, i.e. at expected water boiling temp (212 or?).
> Does it just bubble?
>
> I'm not sure yet if I can get access to the kitchen with brakefluid in my
> hand :-)
>
> What did you replace your Ford fluid with? What temp rating?
>
> TIA - Heinz
>
>
>
> > Heinz --
> >
> > Get enough of a sample that you can heat it on an electric stove or
> > hotplate.
> > Stick in an accurate thermometer. See if water contamination
> boils off and
> > at what temp.
> >
> > We'll all be interested in the results. I just took all my Ford
> fluid out
> > and it was rusty and black as can be.
> >
> > Mark Grady
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: owner-gmcmotorhome
> > > [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Heinz
> > > Wittenbecher
> > > Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 1999 5:49 PM
> > > To: GMCnet
> > > Subject: GMC: Brake Fluid Question
> > >
> > >
> > > When I changed brakelines, etc I went to the Ford 550 degree DOT 3
> fluid.
> > >
> > > I now notice some discolorization in the master cylinder front brake
> > > reservoir portion. It's kinda rusty.
> > >
> > > Does it turn color when it contains moisture?
> > >
> > > Is it rust coming from the front calipers? They're only a couple of
> years
> > > since replace and/or serviced.
> > >
> > > Am I overdoing the 550? What's being used?
> > >
> > > TIA - Heinz
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>