Hi Eric ! Here’s a qwik tip suggestion.

[MARK FELDSTEIN]

Greetings. I see a number of posts on changing brake fluid and a mention of using litmus paper to test the fluid. Some others are asking how do you know when it’s time to change the fluid. But NOW there is, of course, a brake fluid tester for about $22-25 bucks that you can get that will actually test the fluid and tell you whether it needs to be changed. Maybe do a Quick-Tip on this one so people know it’s out there? Or let us know what you think of these things. I have absolutely no financial interest in promoting these things, btw. It just struck me as being kinda relevant here. And depending on how often you need to check fluid, might be useful to have in the tool box. Whaddya think?

Here’z a link at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=brake%20fluid%20tester&sprefix=brake+fluid+t%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Abrake%20fluid%20tester

Here’s another at Tooltopia.com

http://www.tooltopia.com/search.aspx?find=brake+fluid+tester

Thanks !!!
Mark F.

Topic

[EricTheCarGuy]

The best opportunity to mention this would have been during my brake fluid change video. Since I’ve already put this one out it would be difficult to go back. Should this come up in a ‘tool review’ or something like that I think I could work it in.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[Goobe]

I would change the fluid when it is lightly translucent. It is not worth investing that kind of money to postpone changing the fluid especially when the fluid costs relatively so little.

[dave]

Do these testers check for water as well as copper? I think test strips may still have to be used if they test for copper only.

[EricTheCarGuy]

[quote=”Wrench Turner” post=58241]Do these testers check for water as well as copper? I think test strips may still have to be used if they test for copper only.[/quote]

The strips don’t test for copper or water per se. They check the acidity of the fluid. The acidity directly correlates to the fluids condition. The more acidic, the more it needs to be changed. The more brake fluid is exposed to moisture the more acidic it gets.

[MARK FELDSTEIN]

According to the manufacturer, the one I got from Amazon that I mentioned above, appears to test for moisture content only. It’s here: http://www.amazon.com/Great-Neck-25267-Brake-Tester/dp/B00825PQ4A/ref=pd_sbs_auto_2
The indicators give you the following readings:
Green/Yellow LED Less than 1-Percent of water content in brake fluid. Green/Yellow with Yellow LED. Approximately 2-Percent of water content in brake fluid. Green/Yellow with Yellow and Red. Approximately 3-Percent water content in brake fluid.

For copper, I believe the proper way to test is using the fluid test strips
like these from Phoenix Systems that you can take a look at here:
http://www.amazon.com/STRIP-BRAKE-FLUID-TEST-STRIPS/dp/B007TN17VC/ref=sr_1_7?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1367514653&sr=1-7&keywords=brake+fluid+test+strips

As the blurb there from Phoenix Sys. says, “Focuses on maintenance issues of brake fluid, not moisture or PH” although I’m not exactly sure what “maintenance issues” means although Ph as Eric says sounds right. For about .50 per strip, if you use them a lot, it might be worth it. Don’t know how long they store for without going bad, or if they do.
Mark

[Author]

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