Brake Fluid??

[Tom]

I opened the brake lines to get the new fuel line in, so now need to bleed the brakes. It's a long overdue job. In the past I always used the blue-colored Super Blue stuff, so yeah, it's 'that' overdue.... Is the ATE Type 200 the same thing, just in the regulatory Gold color? Is that the 'it' brake fluid these days for a street car, or has something else taken over in Porscheland?

[Darwin]

I opened the brake lines to get the new fuel line in, so now need to bleed the brakes. It's a long overdue job. In the past I always used the blue-colored Super Blue stuff, so yeah, it's 'that' overdue.... Is the ATE Type 200 the same thing, just in the regulatory Gold color? Is that the 'it' brake fluid these days for a street car, or has something else taken over in Porscheland?

From what I understand, the only thing that's different is the dye.

[johnb]

When I started doing track stuff, I immediately overcooked my brakes, like practically everyone does at first. So for my next few events I used the fancy ATE or Motul high temp fluid...whatever people were recommending at the time. But I soon found it made no difference at all. The problem was that I was spending way too long on the brake pedal. Once I stopped doing that, I found I could hammer it around all day with the cheap Valvoline stuff from Autozone without any issues. And, oddly enough, the pedal feels slightly better with the cheap stuff too. I have no idea how that's possible since none of them are supposed to be compressible, but there you have it. So I recommend the cheapest Dot 4 fluid you can find locally, and then spend whatever you saved on more regular changes

[Tom]

As proof I am losing my mind, I found 3 liters of never-opened ATE Type 200 in the cabinets, with what appears to be an expiration date of 11/24 on the can. Turns out I asked the same question on RL about 2 years ago, so apparently bought brake fluid then for this same purpose. Just turkey basted out the reservoir (careful not to let the clutch go dry) and I'm amazed the car even stopped. It has sentiment like a fancy red wine in it, though deep blue and not wine colored... On to bleeding....

[Tom]

Well that blows, literally. I went to bleed the brakes with my Motive Bleeder and all seemed fine until it didn't. The main line out of the tank tore apart at maybe 12psi and blew clear off. Brake fluid then spit out the hole all over the engine bay. Most of it ended up on the plastic cowl protector thing, but took me at least an hour to make sure cleaned it all off everywhere. I had a moving blanket on the fender thank goodness, so as best I can tell the only painted part that it hit was the firewall under the hood. Basic nightmare scenario. Reading the Motive instructions, it says they "highly recommend" changing the hoses every 3 to 4 years, and now it's pretty obvious why they say that.

Gotta love the modern era though. After spending an hour cleaning, I got online to find a new bleeder and found the Motive on Amazon for $54 and they claim it will be here by 10pm tonight with free shipping. I'll try again tomorrow....

motive-blow-out.gif (1018.14 KiB) Viewed 1687 times

[Darwin]

Tom, I replace mine every so often with Tygon tubing. It isn’t that expensive and is POL resistant.

[johnb]

Motive also sell a repair kit to replace the hose & clamps. That's what I used although you can probably do it more cheaply by getting the tube at the hardware store and just using fuel injection hose clamps.

Another thing you can do is dry test it first under pressure, and go a bit beyond the pressure you intent to bleed at.

[Tom]

Motive also sell a repair kit to replace the hose & clamps. That's what I used although you can probably do it more cheaply by getting the tube at the hardware store and just using fuel injection hose clamps.

Another thing you can do is dry test it first under pressure, and go a bit beyond the pressure you intent to bleed at.

Yeah, I dry tested it last night and again this morning. It was waiting for just the right moment to burst apparently. I'm sure I could replace the hoses, but I never want to see it again so threw it out. At $54 delivered for a new one (that isn't stained blue), I figured it wasn't worth the time and effort to track down hoses and clamps. I'll be more mindful of the issue with the new one, and get some tubing for the occasion....

[johnb]

Motive also sell a repair kit to replace the hose & clamps. That's what I used although you can probably do it more cheaply by getting the tube at the hardware store and just using fuel injection hose clamps.

Another thing you can do is dry test it first under pressure, and go a bit beyond the pressure you intent to bleed at.

Yeah, I dry tested it last night and again this morning. It was waiting for just the right moment to burst apparently. I'm sure I could replace the hoses, but I never want to see it again so threw it out. At $54 delivered for a new one (that isn't stained blue), I figured it wasn't worth the time and effort to track down hoses and clamps. I'll be more mindful of the issue with the new one, and get some tubing for the occasion....

Yeah at that price is hardly worth fiddling with new hoses I suppose. The same day delivery still amazes me. Like I have literally got stuff faster than I could get it from a local store sometimes. And it doesn't seem to matter how obscure it is. I have this tiny RC helicopter that uses weird little LiPo batteries, and I was able to order them one morning and have them waiting for me when I got back from work

[Tom]

Because you haven't heard this story a thousand times like all my friends and family, I'll share this. Maybe 5 years ago, I went to Fry's Electronics. Fry's was born in the Hay Day of silicon valley -- a massive store that sold everything a 1980's hardware engineer might need in the middle of the night, with a huge selection of integrated circuits and electrical components, along with Doritos, toothpaste, deodorant, etc. As the years went by, they declined and morphed more and more into a cross between a flea market and a Best Buy. Anyway, I went there looking for a common electronics component (an Op Amp) and when I found the hook where it was supposed to be, they were out of it, which was quickly becoming par for the course. In frustration, I looked on Amazon while standing in the isle and ordered it for same-day delivery at about 70% of the Fry's price. I stopped to meet someone for lunch on the way home, and by the time I got home, the part was on my doorstop -- maybe 3 or 4 hours after I ordered it. I remember thinking at the time that Fry's was doomed (and indeed they are now out of business).

At any rate, happy to report the new Motive arrived at 6:58 pm local, maybe 6 or 7 hours after I ordered it...

In the meantime, the cowl area of my car has never looked better after pulling it apart and cleaning (and a helping of Griot's Black Satin). I need to print some windshield washer nut covers though...

cowl.gif (936.84 KiB) Viewed 1655 times