Brake Fluid??

[painenneck]

Just a tip for those who are not already aware of this hack; you can use a garden sprayer, fuel line, a couple of brass fittings and a spare reservoir cap and make your own bleeder.

[Tom]

Just a tip for those who are not already aware of this hack; you can use a garden sprayer, fuel line, a couple of brass fittings and a spare reservoir cap and make your own bleeder.

I have to say, after pumping that Motive over and over (and over), I'm inclined to make my own or modify the Motive so it can use an air compressor.

[painenneck]

I would think you'd have to weight down the pump or make a base for it. As the fluid gets low, the weight of the air line might pull it over.

[Tom]

I would think you'd have to weight down the pump or make a base for it. As the fluid gets low, the weight of the air line might pull it over.

Good point. Will think about that. Maybe a pipe from the top cap to a fitting down low for stability? Also maybe add a 20psi Pressure relief valve so as not to pop the brake system by mistake...

[painenneck]

I made my line long enough to where I can set it on the ground, not using air though. Pressure relief-yes, also make sure you have a dryer on your compressor so you don't add water to the brake fluid.

[Zirconocene]

@whalenlg : This is the stuff I bought and use - https://www.mcmaster.com/1400t21/

They have other colors available. My experience with the blue is that it only takes a very few drops to get some good color in 1 - 2 liters of fluid.

Cheers

[grantm951]

The dye doesn't harm any seals or anything else in the system? How long have you used it? McMaster-Carr has red, fluorescent red, and blue.

[cda951]

A few points here:

The ATE Typ 200 (gold version of the old Super Blue) was the factory-fill brake fluid in Porsches for a long time, might still be. My shop uses it in all Porsche brake fluid changes, old and new. I have also used it in my 951 for almost 15 years of track events, never boiled it during normal track use. We use the ATE SL6 low-viscosity stuff in BMW and Audi applications which specifically call for it.

Motive pressure bleeders are quite poorly designed and constructed. I have one for home use, and I barely use it. Another point to make is you do not need to pump the system up to a full 12 PSI, the pressure only needs to be above atmospheric pressure. 5-6 PSI is perfectly adequate.

I accidentally let my PCA membership lapse so I have not yet read Tony's response about the 993 soft brake pedal in Pano, but that is a unique situation. Whatever type of brake fluid Porsche used in the mid-1990s for the factory fill of the 993s was crap, so if it was left in there for 10+ years like on so many of those cars, a buildup of a strange white powdery substance formed within the brake hydraulic system, and it was very difficult to flush all of the crap out. We have had to re-do almost the entire brake hydraulic system of several customer 993s for this issue over the years.

In short, change your brake fluid every two years, regardless of mileage or use, more often if you do track events. Rubber brake hoses are usually good for 10-15 years, again more often with track use, or if you have stainless braided hoses which cannot have the rubber portions easily inspected.

[Tom]

Thanks for saying that about the bleeding pressure. I couldn't help thinking I was suckered into pumping that thing all the way up to 15psi only to pop the hose. I looked up the bleeding pressure in the manual, and all I can find is its recommendation to use a bleeding maching sold by "Alfred Teves Gmbh." So I went looking to see if I could find what pressure that machine used (and failed), but learned that Alfred Teves was the founder and namesake of ATE, which makes the above-mentioned brake fluid among lots of other thinsgs. Who knew. He's got a wikipedia page and everything....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Teves

[Zirconocene]

@grantm951 : So far as I have been able to see, over about 4 years, everything is OK with adding the dye. I have used it on my P cars and my daily BMW with no ill effects, so far.

Cheers