Is the brake fluid supposed to be this dark? - LotusTalk

Darkness · 06-20-2007, 03:04 AM

<img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/209/524584405_a1da39b9d0.jpg?v=0">

This is after bleeding just the clutch at one year and 3k miles (I had an air bubble or 2). Old stuff at the top new stuff at the bottom. Is it always this dark?

tesprit · 06-20-2007, 04:14 AM

This is the normal color of contaminated old brake fluid. Fresh brake fluid is clear and nearly colorless. It is normal for brake fluid to absorb water and suspend contaminates over time and it is not uncommon for it to look like this after 1 year. This is why it is important to inspect your brake fluid on a regular basis and replace it when it looks like this.

wrh3 · 06-20-2007, 04:55 AM

The best way to check fluid is to buy the brake fluid tester from TheViper (Michael) which tests for water percentage and tells you whether the fluid is great, OK, or needed to be replaced yesterday

TRMiller · 06-20-2007, 05:02 AM

looks a little like a black-and-tan

glb · 06-20-2007, 09:55 AM

Yes, that's the Touring brake fluid.

Black indicates rubber deteriorating due to water absorption. B/Fluid is hygroscopic (?), absorbs moisture over time.

06-20-2007, 03:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
Darkness Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: SF Bay area, CA Posts: 134	Is the brake fluid supposed to be this dark? <img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/209/524584405_a1da39b9d0.jpg?v=0"> This is after bleeding just the clutch at one year and 3k miles (I had an air bubble or 2). Old stuff at the top new stuff at the bottom. Is it always this dark?

06-20-2007, 04:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
wrh3 Car Guy Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ATL, GA Posts: 1,052	The best way to check fluid is to buy the brake fluid tester from TheViper (Michael) which tests for water percentage and tells you whether the fluid is great, OK, or needed to be replaced yesterday __________________ Bill '07 BMW M Coupe, '05 Lotus Elise (Traded) www.billswebspace.com/lotus www.syntheticfirst.com Last edited by wrh3 : 06-20-2007 at 05:36 AM.

06-20-2007, 05:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
TRMiller Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Napa Posts: 76 Images: 3	looks a little like a black-and-tan __________________ 05 CO Elise, stock, un-snorkled, Tesprit mirror, R888s on rear 01 Red, Yangdong JM284 4WD tractor w/ZL-20 loader 00 Carmine Silverado extended cab, Western Chassis drop kit (4" fore and aft) 89 Burgundy Merkur XR4Ti, Borla exhaust, intercooler

06-20-2007, 09:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
glb Unattractive Nuisance Join Date: May 2005 Location: Chester, NJ Posts: 4,680	Yes, that's the Touring brake fluid. Black indicates rubber deteriorating due to water absorption. B/Fluid is hygroscopic (?), absorbs moisture over time. __________________ 05 elise (PES chip, SSRs, shift tower mods, Multivex; HID low beams); 05 Corolla XRS; 72 Elan Sprint, 170 hp (Sold) "Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable." G. Orwell. "Incontinence Emergency Hotline- Can you please hold?"

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06-20-2007, 04:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
tesprit Moderator Extraordinaire! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Racine, WI/Sharpsburg, GA Posts: 2,135	This is the normal color of contaminated old brake fluid. Fresh brake fluid is clear and nearly colorless. It is normal for brake fluid to absorb water and suspend contaminates over time and it is not uncommon for it to look like this after 1 year. This is why it is important to inspect your brake fluid on a regular basis and replace it when it looks like this.

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