Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: How long can Brake Fluid last?

  1. #1
    Toymods Club Member Backyard Mechanic Big T's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    NSW
    Posts
    231

    Default How long can Brake Fluid last?

    Hey all,

    Does anyone know how long it takes for brake fluid to go off in the bottle? My cousin has craploads of brake fluid leftover from work but the production date is from 2003. They're all unopened but i believe there's some sort of use by date because of it's ability to absorb moisture?

    Eddie.
    4agte finally completed. 234rwkw @ 8125rpm. Tis fun

  2. #2
    Junior Member Domestic Engineer Viper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Vic
    Posts
    620

    Default Re: How long can Brake Fluid last?

    Brake fluid left open to the air will go bad withing an hr.

    AFAIK, so long its not in direct sunlight, and its sealed it should be good for atleast 3-4yrs. Given that its not that expensive. i'd say go and buy another bottle. It's about $35-$40 for 4 or 5L's of Castrol Dot4.
    Daily: '06 Liberty 3.0R specB
    Project Car : '84 MA61: 2JZ-GTE + 6 Speed

  3. #3
    Toymods Club Member Backyard Mechanic Big T's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    NSW
    Posts
    231

    Default Re: How long can Brake Fluid last?

    Yeah true, but he has at least 50 bottles of this stuff lying around so it would've been good to use at least some of it... oh well.

    Eddie.
    4agte finally completed. 234rwkw @ 8125rpm. Tis fun

  4. #4
    Junior Member Domestic Engineer Viper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Vic
    Posts
    620

    Default Re: How long can Brake Fluid last?

    50 bottles.
    Damn, well, if you ever need to strip paint off a car, you know where to go
    Daily: '06 Liberty 3.0R specB
    Project Car : '84 MA61: 2JZ-GTE + 6 Speed

  5. #5
    Junior Member Domestic Engineer myne's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    sa
    Posts
    629

    Default Re: How long can Brake Fluid last?

    if there's that many bottles, it might be worth getting one tested for water content

    I say this because brake fluid pulls water THROUGH the sealed brake system in a car, so it's not unplausible that it's pulled it through the bottle. Sounds insane, I know.
    Last edited by myne; 18-03-2006 at 04:08 PM.

  6. #6
    Junior Member Too Much Toyota oldcorollas's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    sydney
    Posts
    12,496

    Default Re: How long can Brake Fluid last?

    take one bottle and put contents in pan
    stick in oven at 220deg C (abotu 430F) and see if it boils?

    nice graph at the bottom of here http://www.shotimes.com/SHO3brakefluid.html

    or you could take to somewhere and ask them to test boiling point roughly with a thermocouple.... or you could do same with a gas torch, K-type thermocouple, and a bit of physical protection in case you spill it ot it catches fire? does hot brake fluid burn?
    "I'm a Teaspoon, not a mechanic"
    "There is hardly anything in the world that a man can not make a little worse and sell a little cheaper" - John Ruskin (1819 - 1900)

    AU$TRALIA... come and stay and PAY and PAY!!! The moral high horse of the world!

  7. #7
    Estranged Member Chief Engine Builder mullett's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    WA
    Posts
    3,369

    Default Re: How long can Brake Fluid last?

    Yeah, get it tested fro water content, that's the easiest way. a bit of water can make 100deg of difference to the boiling point of brake fluid, it's pretty insane. For reference, DOT5 doesn't absorb water, because it's silicone based. But when it boils it blackens and that's the end of it.

    RM.

  8. #8
    Junior Member Automotive Encyclopaedia
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Tallahassee, FL USofA
    Posts
    1,115

    Default Re: How long can Brake Fluid last?

    vacumm sealed/unopened - 1000 years!!!
    opened once, then tightly resealed - 5 years
    opened weekly, monthly, whatever, then tightly resealed - 3 years
    open, vented, in the reservoir - 2 years
    open, vented, in the reservoir and heated repeatedly when racing(autox/drifting is not racing) - 6 months


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroscopic
    hydroscopic.
    A hygroscopic substance readily absorbs water from its surroundings. (The similar sounding but unrelated non-word hydroscopic is sometimes used in error for hygroscopic).)

    An example of a hygroscopic substance is biodiesel, which absorbs water to about 1200 parts per million (PPM). Other examples are honey,
    ethanol, methanol, glycerin, concentrated sulfuric acid and concentrated sodium hydroxide. Calcium chloride is so hygroscopic that it eventually
    dissolves in the water it absorbs. Because of their affinity for atmospheric moisture, hygroscopic materials may need to be stored in sealed
    containers.

Similar Threads

  1. AE82, AE92 and AE101 Brake Upgrade Guide
    By The Witzl in forum FAQ
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 09-05-2020, 07:08 PM
  2. xA6x, xZ1x, xX7x + others FRONT AND REAR Brake Upgrade
    By CrUZida in forum Tech and Conversions
    Replies: 180
    Last Post: 24-07-2018, 11:43 PM
  3. Brake lining seperating from backing?
    By RobertoX in forum Tech and Conversions
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 27-01-2006, 07:18 AM
  4. Rear Disc Conversion for FWD Cars
    By wagonist in forum FAQ
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 08-09-2005, 12:27 PM
  5. Brake upgrades for FWD/AWD 5x100
    By wagonist in forum FAQ
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 06-09-2005, 11:38 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •