Boiling brake fluid on a track day - LotusTalk

erics75218 · 09-18-2009, 06:24 PM

..has anyone else run into this. Let me start by saying I DO NOT know what kind of fluid is in there, I can't for the life of me remember what we put in when I got the discs and pads replaced.

The ambient air temp today was about 95' or so, so I'm guessing track temp of 105' at least?

Everything was going fine, and as I continued to push and push and brake later and later eventually upon a brake attempt, the pedal went to the floor, session over.

The feeling came back to the same as before, within say an hour, which is when I took it out on the side road for a little test.

The pads are almost brand new, and braking was 100%, then I hit them hard, hardest all day after the straight...coming down from roughly 100...that seemed to do it...cooked? I pulled off the access cover, and I had plenty of fluid, but i'd have to say the top of the resivoir and the cap looked a bit "damp"...I mean BARELY enough to get on a finger, but enough to see a lot of specular shine...

Needless to say, having never had "no brakes" before It kind of ruined my further track sessions due to not feeling confident I'd have brakes at any given time.

Does anyone here have any information...this was at Streets of Willow down here in SoCal by the way..for refrence. Any help would be appreciated....like...brake fluid that can't boil :-D

Zinhead · 09-18-2009, 07:57 PM

Do a complete flush with Motul. That should fix it.

apk919 · 09-18-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zinhead

Do a complete flush with Motul. That should fix it.

+1

Cars that are tracked regularly should have their brake fluid flushed regularly.

rackhenry · 09-18-2009, 08:10 PM

I agree fully with the brake flush! I was there that same weekend and braking was very good ( stock fluid, HT10, new). What pads are you running, any possibility for glazing?

ZJChaser · 09-18-2009, 08:14 PM

If you dont remember how long its been then its been too long

proper racing fluid will resist boiling better but will also need to be flushed more frequently.

Green Hornet · 09-18-2009, 08:19 PM

I had this happen to me with OEM brake fluid. Since switching to Motul fluid - all is good!

Basically the heat generated boils the brake fluid in the case of lower level fluids or boils any moisture contamination with good quality fluids = crappy braking = change your brake fluid regularly.

Good Luck

fishguy · 09-18-2009, 08:29 PM

I flush mine before each race weekend.
its an easy one man job with one of these.

Motive Products Shopping Cart

I am not sure which model is for the lotus, but someone here would likely know.

apk919 · 09-18-2009, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishguy

I flush mine before each race weekend.
its an easy one man job with one of these.

Motive Products Shopping Cart

I am not sure which model is for the lotus, but someone here would likely know.

This one: http://store.motiveproducts.com/shar...CS=motive&All=

erics75218 · 09-19-2009, 03:14 AM

great tips one and all. The fluid is pretty damn new, no track days on this round of fluid, but I can't for sure tell ya'll if it's Motul or not, clearly it looks like NOT since it boiled.

Sounds good on that auto bleeder thing, I like that. THe link to the "lotus model" isn't working.....can someone repost?

alil'britdifferent · 09-19-2009, 06:31 AM

+1 for the comments above.

I had the exact same thing - kinda ruins your day doesn't it!

As an additional step to using Motul Fluid I fitted SS brake lines. The rationale being that they are not prone to expand under heat stress.

Dragon · 09-19-2009, 06:36 AM

I boiled mine last week doing back to back AutoX runs... I really need to find someplace here in Japan that sells Motul Dot 4, but all I can find is low grade stuff in the Auto stores. I'm going to hit up some of the motorcycle shops next week and see what I can come up with. Not having brakes when you need them (especially when the course is surrounded by walls of concrete and dirt) is not a fun experience, but it definitely adds to the adrenalin rush.

alil'britdifferent · 09-19-2009, 07:10 AM

I can only find it around here in Motorbike shops

erics75218 · 09-19-2009, 07:14 AM

i was going to say, look for any shop that deals with Italian motorcycles and they WILL have Motul.

MickOpalak · 09-19-2009, 07:54 AM

Same thing happened to me with the stock braking system. Especially when the pads got low a lot of heat would be transferred straight through the pad and into the fluid. Half way through the track day I would get a mushy pedal that would go away after the car cooled down. I switched to Pagid black pads and Moutil brake fluid from Sector111 and haven't had a track braking issue since.

09-18-2009, 06:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
erics75218 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 570	Boiling brake fluid on a track day ..has anyone else run into this. Let me start by saying I DO NOT know what kind of fluid is in there, I can't for the life of me remember what we put in when I got the discs and pads replaced. The ambient air temp today was about 95' or so, so I'm guessing track temp of 105' at least? Everything was going fine, and as I continued to push and push and brake later and later eventually upon a brake attempt, the pedal went to the floor, session over. The feeling came back to the same as before, within say an hour, which is when I took it out on the side road for a little test. The pads are almost brand new, and braking was 100%, then I hit them hard, hardest all day after the straight...coming down from roughly 100...that seemed to do it...cooked? I pulled off the access cover, and I had plenty of fluid, but i'd have to say the top of the resivoir and the cap looked a bit "damp"...I mean BARELY enough to get on a finger, but enough to see a lot of specular shine... Needless to say, having never had "no brakes" before It kind of ruined my further track sessions due to not feeling confident I'd have brakes at any given time. Does anyone here have any information...this was at Streets of Willow down here in SoCal by the way..for refrence. Any help would be appreciated....like...brake fluid that can't boil :-D __________________ 06' Exige C H R O M E O R A N G E Hire me to do Visual FX http://www.ericsmithcg.com/ exigevideos.com my depot of the best Lotus videos online http://exigevideos.com/

09-18-2009, 08:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
rackhenry Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 174	I agree fully with the brake flush! I was there that same weekend and braking was very good ( stock fluid, HT10, new). What pads are you running, any possibility for glazing? __________________ 2006 Lotus Exige - Mods: Lotus Sport ECU, Stage Two Exhaust, RTV Brace, V2 Arms, Harness Bar, Hawk HT-10 pads

09-18-2009, 08:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
ZJChaser Blue Wheel Pimp Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Laguna Hills, CA Posts: 2,851	If you dont remember how long its been then its been too long proper racing fluid will resist boiling better but will also need to be flushed more frequently. __________________ AJ - Akua Solutions - #128 Lotus Exige - JRZ Suspension - Innovative Mounts - Toyo Tires - TW Research Development

09-18-2009, 08:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
Green Hornet Zzzzzzz Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 874	I had this happen to me with OEM brake fluid. Since switching to Motul fluid - all is good! Basically the heat generated boils the brake fluid in the case of lower level fluids or boils any moisture contamination with good quality fluids = crappy braking = change your brake fluid regularly. Good Luck __________________ Life, Liberty and the Happiness of Pursuit

09-18-2009, 08:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
fishguy registered nipple Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,779 Images: 1	I flush mine before each race weekend. its an easy one man job with one of these. Motive Products Shopping Cart I am not sure which model is for the lotus, but someone here would likely know. __________________ 2008-2009 SCCA AZ Regional "Driver of the Year" 1986 Swift DB-1 Sold 2008 HSR-West FF 3rd generation Champion 2008 "The Series" FF 3rd generation Champion 1987 Porsche Spec 944 2008-2009 season SCCA AZ regional Champion

09-18-2009, 07:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
Zinhead Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 290	Do a complete flush with Motul. That should fix it.

09-19-2009, 03:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
erics75218 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 570	great tips one and all. The fluid is pretty damn new, no track days on this round of fluid, but I can't for sure tell ya'll if it's Motul or not, clearly it looks like NOT since it boiled. Sounds good on that auto bleeder thing, I like that. THe link to the "lotus model" isn't working.....can someone repost? __________________ 06' Exige C H R O M E O R A N G E Hire me to do Visual FX http://www.ericsmithcg.com/ exigevideos.com my depot of the best Lotus videos online http://exigevideos.com/

09-19-2009, 06:31 AM	#10 (permalink)
alil'britdifferent English Exile Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Fort Mill, SC Posts: 1,092	+1 for the comments above. I had the exact same thing - kinda ruins your day doesn't it! As an additional step to using Motul Fluid I fitted SS brake lines. The rationale being that they are not prone to expand under heat stress. __________________ 2005 Elise: Starlight Black - Touring & Sport Pack Faster, Lighter, Safer: Nitron Sport Pro - Lotus Sport ECU - RTD Brace - Braille Battery - K40 anti-Radar/Laser - 4Tress Bar - Schroth 5P Harness' - Fire Ext'r - SS brake lines Audio: Alpine - JBL Speakers - Arqray Double Tip Exhaust w/ Sport Cat - Desnorkel/Green Visual: Hard top - Challenger Rear Grill - Carbon Fiber; Diffuser, Front Splitter & Side Scoops - Stealth Bulbs - Folding Tow Hook, Bootie, Mircomirror & Buttons

09-19-2009, 06:36 AM	#11 (permalink)
Dragon Hydrocarbons Rule Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Okinawa Japan Posts: 1,742 Images: 2	I boiled mine last week doing back to back AutoX runs... I really need to find someplace here in Japan that sells Motul Dot 4, but all I can find is low grade stuff in the Auto stores. I'm going to hit up some of the motorcycle shops next week and see what I can come up with. Not having brakes when you need them (especially when the course is surrounded by walls of concrete and dirt) is not a fun experience, but it definitely adds to the adrenalin rush. __________________ 2006 Exige; BWR Supercharger, Adj Sway Bar, Ohlins Suspension, BSK Oil Catch Can, Moroso Oil Pan, ORC Clutch, Custom Exhaust, Black Volk Racing CE28N's w/ Toyo R1R's, 2 piece rotors, Pagid Blue Pads, BSK Wet Carbon (Side Skirts, Front Lip Spoiler, Gas Cap Cover, Center Console, Door Panels), Dry Carbon rear Diffuser, Harness Bar, BWR Gauge Mount, OMP Superquadro steering wheel, LETSLA Short Shifter, V2arms, Rear Tow Link Brace, RLS Battery Bracket, BOE Tow Bar, Stickers.

09-19-2009, 07:10 AM	#12 (permalink)
alil'britdifferent English Exile Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Fort Mill, SC Posts: 1,092	I can only find it around here in Motorbike shops __________________ 2005 Elise: Starlight Black - Touring & Sport Pack Faster, Lighter, Safer: Nitron Sport Pro - Lotus Sport ECU - RTD Brace - Braille Battery - K40 anti-Radar/Laser - 4Tress Bar - Schroth 5P Harness' - Fire Ext'r - SS brake lines Audio: Alpine - JBL Speakers - Arqray Double Tip Exhaust w/ Sport Cat - Desnorkel/Green Visual: Hard top - Challenger Rear Grill - Carbon Fiber; Diffuser, Front Splitter & Side Scoops - Stealth Bulbs - Folding Tow Hook, Bootie, Mircomirror & Buttons

09-19-2009, 07:14 AM	#13 (permalink)
erics75218 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 570	i was going to say, look for any shop that deals with Italian motorcycles and they WILL have Motul. __________________ 06' Exige C H R O M E O R A N G E Hire me to do Visual FX http://www.ericsmithcg.com/ exigevideos.com my depot of the best Lotus videos online http://exigevideos.com/

09-19-2009, 07:54 AM	#14 (permalink)
MickOpalak Prez: The K.G.B. Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 5,303	Same thing happened to me with the stock braking system. Especially when the pads got low a lot of heat would be transferred straight through the pad and into the fluid. Half way through the track day I would get a mushy pedal that would go away after the car cooled down. I switched to Pagid black pads and Moutil brake fluid from Sector111 and haven't had a track braking issue since. __________________ 2007 Exige S265 - Krypton Green - Gotham 265 ECU - Volk TE37s - Toyo R888s - B&M Shifter - QuickSilver exhaust - stripes - harnesses - Pagid pads - Green air filter 2002 Jaguar XKR convertible 2000 BMW 528i President - Lotus Limited Southeast http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/LLSE/

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