Brake Fluid and Lubrication

DOT 3 is recommended for most production vehicles. If you need anything that is rated higher than that, there should be large warning labels somewhere near the master cylinder.

Worn rubers, lose bleeding valve, loosefluid tube conection. bad seal at tube conection. crack in cylinder,

Generally contaminated brake fluid is very dark and grimy looking. It also may cause a spongy brake petal, but not always. If you have reason to believe that your brake fluid is contaminated, you should definitely have it changed. If there is more than 3% water in your brake fluid, you run the risk of super heating the water causing one or more of your brake lines to explode, which apart from being incredibly dangerous is also tremendously expensive to repair. Brake fluid is very hygroscopic, and when exposed to air, it readily absorbs water.

Hi, I own a '56 OLds 98 It is rather unconfortable but not difficult. Get your head in the front left wheel well and look just over the chassis and below the steering column. There is a metal circle like a 1 in. diameter ring that is attached to a dipstick. Turn it counter clockwise as if to unscrew it (it is threaded in) and lift it out. You add brake fluid through this hole and then screw the dipstick back on. Hope this helps. Israel Delgado idelgado@totalbank.com

Among other things, I just had this done to my CR-V for its 90,000 mile checkup. Bring it back and tell them your problem. The system probably needs to be re-bled. to make sure that ALL air is removed.

Under the hood on the driver side.

DOT 3, DOT 4 or DOT 5.1 (but NOT DOT 5, which is silicone brake fluid) can be used in your car.

start at right rear, left rear, right front, and then left front. Always go from furthest wheel from master cylinder to closest.

For a 1994 Ford Thunderbird :

( DOT 3 brake fluid , meeting Ford specification ESA-M6C25-A )

master cylinder holds the brake fluid,open it up and add brake fluid to the tank. Make sure you use NEW brake fluid and one that has not been laying around in someones trunk. Remember this what stops your car. Contaminated fluid is very bad for you and your brakes. Usually the master cylinder tank is white in color and sits on the master cylinder itself.

Depends on the amount that was added. Brake fluid is not a a sufficent lubricant, so if enough was installed it can do damage.I personally would, Drain the oil, change the filter, install a new filter, and add the correct amount of oil. I heard you can reconduction an old engin with brake fluid , free up rings and soften rubber seals to seal better. You use 1/2 a bottel and run for 1 or 2 hours

In a 2001 Ford F-250 :

( DOT 3 brake fluid meeting Ford specification ESA-M6C25-A is used in the

brake system )

Defective Master cylinder?

No, and do not mix. They are different viscosity and different type oils

Disconnect the line in two places starting from the master cylinder and blow each section with an air compressor.

Hi Not sure if this will help but I had an "unknown" light on in that area and car went well but it was telling me the catalytic(?) converter was over heating. Had them removed as was told they were blocked, reconnected the temp sensors (or computer alters fuel mix etc)... and no further problems.

Hope it assists.

Brian Dow NZ

Contamination is indicated by

Discolored Fluid

Corroded Parts

Soft or swollen rubber parts

because the brakes and the engine are separate systems that don't over ride each other

Sounds like there is a leak in the system. You need to stop driving this car and locate and replace the part(s) that are broken, check all brake hoses steel and rubber. Look at the calipers and wheel cyclinders(drum brakes only). Once the part(s) are fixed you must bleed the brake system. If you dont know how to do this I highly suggest you take your vehicle to a mechanic. General brake bleeding guidelines You needClean coffee jar with about an inch of clean brake fluid added to it Rubber tube that is a tight fit onto the bleed nipples Brake fluid Assistant to press the brake pedal. Procedure Top up the master cylinder & keep topped up during the bleeding procedure Place one end of the bleed tube on the nipple furthest away from the master cylinder Place the other end into the coffee jar below the fluid level slightly open the bleed nipple Get your assistant to gently pump the brake pedal until all air bubbles in the jar stop When the bubbles stop get assistant to hold the brake pedal down to the floor Tighten the nipple Assistant can now release pedal Do the same to the next nipple that is furthest away from the master cylinder Until all four brakes have been bled Do not press the pedal to try the feel of the brakes Before all 4 wheels have been bled as you will pump air round the system When all are bled and the pedal feels good Get your assistant to hold pressure on footbrake while you check for leaks around all the nipples that have been opened, your assistant should make sure that the pedal does not creep while you check for leaks. Normal sequence for a right hand drive car is left rear, right rear, left front, right front.

You fill it up with 90 weight (WT) gear oil unless you have positrac rear end, then it's a gear oil / transmission mix (check with GM). It should take around 1.5 quarts. It's not a specific amount, it is fill thru the check hole/plug until it start coming back out when the truck is parked on level ground. This means you fill it until the oil is the same level as the bottom of the hole where you are checking the level. This answer applies the 90% of rear wheel drive automobiles and trucks.

If the brakes were working before bleeding and now are worse, then is possible all of the air is not out of the system. Check the wheel cylinders and master cylinder for leaks, and re check any parts just replaced. It is possible that the last repair done to the system caused the problem.

You would put it in your clutch master cylinder, not your brake master cylinder. Most are located on the firewall under the hood on the drivers side.

in the brake fluid reservoir, somewhere along the back of the engine bay. the cap will say something like "brake fluid dot 4 only"

The brake fluid reservoir is located on the left side of the engine firewall. It is basically right in front of the driver. It is attached to the master cylinder which is a large black round object with a small white container (reservoir) attached to it. If you still can't find it I suggest you go to Autozone and have them show you.

Use a turkey baster or something similar to suck the brake fluid from the 2001 Altima reservoir. Open the bleeder valves and drain the lines as much as possible. Refill the system and bleed the wheel cylinders to complete the fluid change.