14
Found out my brake fluid was 8% water content. Scary stuff from one of those test strips.
Bought a cheap test strip pack off Amazon. Just for kicks. Stuck it in my daily driver's reservoir. The strip showed 8% which is basically in the danger zone. I change pads and rotors all the time but never touched the fluid. Anyone else get caught off guard by how bad their fluid actually is?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
elliot_gibson271mo ago
Read a consumer report thing that said brake fluid absorbs moisture right through the rubber hoses over time, not just from the open cap. I was guilty of the same thing, never even thought about it until my buddy showed me his tester and mine was at 5%. The test strips are cheap enough that it's worth a quick check every oil change.
7
Wait you actually went your whole life never touching the brake fluid and just assumed it was fine? That's like eating a sandwich you forgot in your car for a month and hoping it still tastes good. I had the same wakeup call a few years back with a test strip from AutoZone showing 6% and thought I was about to die every time I hit the highway. 8% is basically water at that point, you're lucky your brakes didn't turn into sponges mid-stop at a red light. The scary part is how many people drive around with fluid that looks fine but is basically useless when you need it most. I bet if we tested half the cars in any parking lot we'd find similar horror stories.
6
the_jennifer1mo ago
Brake fluid is one of those things people way overthink. I've got 180k miles on my car and never flushed the brake fluid once. Still stops fine, no spongy pedal, no issues whatsoever. Most of these test strips are designed to sell you a service you probably don't need. Brake fluid doesn't just magically turn into water overnight even with 8% contamination. Your braking system is sealed for a reason. Unless you're tracking your car or driving in extreme conditions, flushing it every 2 years is just throwing money at the dealership. I'd be way more worried about actual mechanical failures like worn pads or a leaking caliper than slightly old fluid.
6