Ridin dirty...

[myk]

So I was just looking things over when I popped my master cylinder cover off and noticed the brake fluid was extremely dark.  It's my understanding that when brake fluid gets this way it's dirty and needs to go?  I read somewhere that color doesn't necessarily mean the fluid is bad.  I put disc brakes on the car back in '05 and changed the fluid then obviously, but I probably have less than 10K miles on the car since the disc brakes.  Does this fluid need to go? Thanks in advance...

[tan top]

i would change it !!  as it absorbs moisture  ,  i change mine ever 2 years , re-guard less of how many miles ,  buy a new can of brake fluid every time , don't use one thats been opened on the shelf more that a year , also never shake the brake fluid before you put it in , or if it gets shaken knocked over during transport from shop etc , let it stand  10 - 24 hours , before using
not sure if all this applies to synthetic stuff 

[myk]

You know what, people are always talking about 'mods, synthetic oils, tuning, wheels/tires, etc, but no one ever talks about brake fluid.  I own shop manuals for all of the cars so I looked it up for the first time and they all say pretty much the same thing: change the fluid!  Lol.  Now, does bad/dirty brake fluid affect braking performance?

[Chryco Psycho]

if there is moisture in the fluid it lowers the boiling point & can create gas pockets in the fuild , the gas wil compress & the brakes feel soft

[myk]

Which would totally explain how the brakes feel as of late-spongy and not entirely confident inspiring...

[Chryco Psycho]

True
DOT 5 fluid has a higher boiling temp , is moisture resistant & will not eat paint but you have to flush all the DOT 3 or 4 out of the system to use it as it will not mix

[Kern Dog]

The wifes Honda CRV suggests changing the brake fluid at 80,000 miles. I thought that it was stupid but went ahead and did it anyway. I was amazed that it DID make a difference! The pedal got firmer with the new fluid... well,  mostly new. I used a turkey baster to extract what was in the reservior then topped it off with new stuff.

[Fred]

i would change it !!  as it absorbs moisture  ,  i change mine ever 2 years , re-guard less of how many miles ,  buy a new can of brake fluid every time , don't use one thats been opened on the shelf more that a year , also never shake the brake fluid before you put it in , or if it gets shaken knocked over during transport from shop etc , let it stand  10 - 24 hours , before using
not sure if all this applies to synthetic stuff 

Me too, every 2 years without fail.

[resq302]

True
DOT 5 fluid has a higher boiling temp , is moisture resistant & will not eat paint but you have to flush all the DOT 3 or 4 out of the system to use it as it will not mix

Problem with DOT 5 is that moisture will collect at the lowest point and then start rusting in that specific area.  DOT 3 /4 will absorb the moisture and help prevent rusting if you occasionally change out the fluid.

[1BAD68]

Wow, this will be on my spring "things to do" list. I've never changed mine in the 7 years I've had my Charger 

[Fred]