Is there any value to brake fluid testers?

2011 Nismo#91 · 07-21-2014, 03:28 PM

Brake Fluid Tester - EBC Brakes

They seem very cheap compared to how much extra money can be spent on just changing fluid because of X amount of time or Y time at the track. Not as good as a true boil point tester but its less then a 1/10 of the price of those.

SouthArk370Z · 07-21-2014, 05:34 PM

All that instrument measures is water content. Seems to me that if you're getting moisture in your brake fluid, you have other problems that need to be taken care of. But I'm not a track person and maybe water is a bigger problem than I realize.

kenchan · 07-21-2014, 07:16 PM

seems as useless as someone taking a battery measurement using a voltmeter to determine cca...?

Fountainhead · 07-22-2014, 04:23 PM

if in doubt, change it out....

Huck · 07-22-2014, 04:40 PM

Brake fluid invariably gets moisture in it one way or the other, that's why you have to change it out every so often. DOT4 fluid sucks it up faster which is why you change it more often.

Zdayz 2014!!

2011 Nismo#91 · 07-23-2014, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huck

Brake fluid invariably gets moisture in it one way or the other, that's why you have to change it out every so often. DOT4 fluid sucks it up faster which is why you change it more often.

Zdayz 2014!!

Yep, but my question is how often is often enough? Every track day, every other autox, every few months, every year, every few years?

ValidusVentus · 07-24-2014, 04:32 PM

I have a brake fluid tester and it does seem to reflect what you would think to be reality as far as moisture content. Older less cared for vehicles seem to have more. Even my dot 4 fluid checks out as about perfect after over 6 months of not touching it. I have no doubt it'd be fine for over a year. Even so, my practice is now to bleed one bottle of brake fluid though the system every track weekend or two depending on frequency. Even this is overkill, bleeding just enough to ensure no bubbles are present on a regular basis should be sufficient. The tester is still a good peace of mind test though.

07-21-2014, 03:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
2011 Nismo#91 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 2,400 Drives: slowly Rep Power: 40569	Is there any value to brake fluid testers? Brake Fluid Tester - EBC Brakes They seem very cheap compared to how much extra money can be spent on just changing fluid because of X amount of time or Y time at the track. Not as good as a true boil point tester but its less then a 1/10 of the price of those.

07-21-2014, 05:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324198	All that instrument measures is water content. Seems to me that if you're getting moisture in your brake fluid, you have other problems that need to be taken care of. But I'm not a track person and maybe water is a bigger problem than I realize. __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

07-22-2014, 04:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
Fountainhead Track Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: FL Posts: 834 Drives: 2019 Civic Type R Rep Power: 14	if in doubt, change it out.... fuct likes this.

07-22-2014, 04:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
Huck A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Cocoa, Florida Age: 42 Posts: 5,075 Drives: Pantydropper machine Rep Power: 33	Brake fluid invariably gets moisture in it one way or the other, that's why you have to change it out every so often. DOT4 fluid sucks it up faster which is why you change it more often. Zdayz 2014!! __________________ VLEDS \| Evo-R \| Moddiction \| CF Hood Struts \| F.I. CF CBE & LTH \| Stillen CAI \| NST Pulleys \| UpRev \| Z1 \| M7 \| Status \| Forgestar \| PSS \| Whiteline \| SPL \| SPC \| Kenwood \| Zenclosure \| Kicker \| Alpine Type R

07-24-2014, 04:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
ValidusVentus Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Washington State Posts: 400 Drives: #18 Z34 Rep Power: 23	I have a brake fluid tester and it does seem to reflect what you would think to be reality as far as moisture content. Older less cared for vehicles seem to have more. Even my dot 4 fluid checks out as about perfect after over 6 months of not touching it. I have no doubt it'd be fine for over a year. Even so, my practice is now to bleed one bottle of brake fluid though the system every track weekend or two depending on frequency. Even this is overkill, bleeding just enough to ensure no bubbles are present on a regular basis should be sufficient. The tester is still a good peace of mind test though. __________________ Mods: Dedicated caged track car, lots of things. \|\|\| Valkyrie Autosport \|\|\|

07-21-2014, 07:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	seems as useless as someone taking a battery measurement using a voltmeter to determine cca...?

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