Help - water in my brake fluid reservoir ?

flynnboy

Hi

I have just come back from Derry and my screen wash dried up. I couldn't see because of salt on my windscreen and so I had to pull over and fill up the screen wash in the dark - except I filled up the brake fluid reservoir instead !:o:o In my defence - it is a new car (2nd hand) and I've only had it a short while and this is the 1st time I've had to fill the screen wash bottle which happens to be in the same place as the one on my last car.....

Anyway, I'm not a petrol head or car techy in any way but I do know that brake fluid should not have water in it. I've driven about 10 miles since I filled it with water.

Help! What can I do ??????

alias no.9

You'll need to get the brake fluid changed immediately. Don't drive it. Brake fluid absorbs water and when it gets heated by the heat generated during braking, the absorbed water will boil, becoming a compressable gas rather than an incompressable liquid, basically making your brakes spongy and unpredictable.

flynnboy

alias no.9 wrote: »

You'll need to get the brake fluid changed immediately. Don't drive it. Brake fluid absorbs water and when it gets heated by the heat generated during braking, the absorbed water will boil, becoming a compressable gas rather than an incompressable liquid, basically making your brakes spongy and unpredictable.

Bearing in mind I've only driven about 10 miles or so, having used my brakes very little, would it be okay to syphon out all of the liquid from the reservoir and then re-fill it or do I have to completely drain the system ?

chris85

flynnboy wrote: »

Bearing in mind I've only driven about 10 miles or so, having used my brakes very little, would it be okay to syphon out all of the liquid from the reservoir and then re-fill it or do I have to completely drain the system ?

The system would need to be completely bleed.

beachlife

just get the whole lot changed now that you've driven it,the brake fluid is hydroscopic,which means it absorbs moisture.What will happen is that when your brakes heat up the water will expand and either cause lack of brake(spongy) or worse still lock on at a time unexpected.
I think opel main dealers are doing a bfc(brake fluid change) special at the moment,about 69.95 euros (for any make/model) If you just bought the car recently the might as well get it changed to start off fresh.
cheers,

rccaulfield

flynnboy wrote: »

Bearing in mind I've only driven about 10 miles or so, having used my brakes very little, would it be okay to syphon out all of the liquid from the reservoir and then re-fill it or do I have to completely drain the system ?

You have to bleed the whole system yea! BRAke fluid draws moisture from the air so it'll be well mixed up when there water actually in there! One man brake bleeding kit in the correct order or bring it down to the garage! One hours labour plus 20e for fluid id say! Don't tell them what ya did you'll be a laughing stock!:D;)

alias no.9

flynnboy wrote: »

Bearing in mind I've only driven about 10 miles or so, having used my brakes very little, would it be okay to syphon out all of the liquid from the reservoir and then re-fill it or do I have to completely drain the system ?

If it were me I'd have the whole system bled, it's not that expensive and even with if you have very little knowledge of the greasy bits, you should know the importance of the brakes.

kyote00

Bear in mind that brake fluid is very toxic stuff --- syphoning it out by any means other than a compressor operated syphon is a bit mad (and dangerous).

Ps. Paint also reacts very badly to brake fluid so try not to spill any....

alias no.9

kyote00 wrote: »

Bear in mind that brake fluid is very toxic stuff --- syphoning it out by any means other than a compressor operated syphon is a bit mad (and dangerous).

Ps. Paint also reacts very badly to brake fluid so try not to spill any....

Not to mention it will ignite upon contact with a hot exhaust, petrol doesn't even do that.

KamiKazi

You'll need to empty the whole brake fluid system and refill with brake fluid. If you don't know how to refill and bleed the system bring it to a garage.

flynnboy

Well thanks guys. I had thought that tomorrow I would stick a tube in there and syphon it out....... I will get it to a mechanic friend I know and have it drained etc.

I didn't know it was toxic ! I am glad I asked the question

I will say my wife did it

T-Square

flynnboy wrote: »

would it be okay to syphon out all of the liquid from the reservoir and then re-fill it or do I have to completely drain the system ?

SAFETY CRITICAL DEVICES MUST BE TREATED WITH RESPECT

IT IS ESSENTIAL YOU DON'T DRIVE THIS VEHICLE

FLUSH SYSTEM AND REPLACE WITH NEW BRAKE FLUID

HAVE YOU GOT YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER AND WRITTEN YOUR WILL?

flynnboy

T-Square wrote: »

HAVE YOU GOT YOUR AFFAIRS IN ORDER AND WRITTEN YOUR WILL?

No need, I'm having it drained and replenished :eek::p:o:D

flynnboy

Hi Guys

As it happens it seems that it was not the brake fluid reservoir I tipped the water into, it was the fluid reservoir for the power steering.

Can you possibly advise me about the consequences of this and what I can do ?

Thanks

slimjimmc

Previous advice still applies regarding flush and refill as does T-Square's (only this time use power steering fluid).

flynnboy

slimjimmc wrote: »

Previous advice still applies regarding flush and refill as does T-Square's (only this time use power steering fluid).

Yes I get that, but, not life threatening like the brake fluid thing ?

alias no.9

flynnboy wrote: »

Yes I get that, but, not life threatening like the brake fluid thing ?

No, power steering fluid will not see the same temperatures as the brake fluid but get it flushed and changed anyway, it's not expensive, a steering rack is.

flynnboy

alias no.9 wrote: »

No, power steering fluid will not see the same temperatures as the brake fluid but get it flushed and changed anyway, it's not expensive, a steering rack is.

Thanks. Yep I am getting it flushed a.s.a.p. and hopefully tomorrow, I just wanted to be sure it was okay to drive.

Thanks again

FB