Honda Car Forum

I have a 99 Civic with 230k miles and I've never changed the brake fluid.
But I just read an article about moisture content decreasing the boiling
point of the fluid over time. Now I'm concerned about the master cylinder
because I've never changed the fluid. Any thoughts?

Pete

Pete wrote:

> I have a 99 Civic with 230k miles and I've never changed the brake fluid.
> But I just read an article about moisture content decreasing the boiling
> point of the fluid over time. Now I'm concerned about the master cylinder
> because I've never changed the fluid. Any thoughts?
>
> Pete

Any damage to the master cylinder from lack of maintenance is already
done. That said, changing the fluid now will most likely result in the
master cylinder failing, either at the conclusion of the change, or shortly
thereafter.

--
Tp,

-------- __o
----- -\<. -------- __o
--- ( )/ ( ) ---- -\<.
-------------------- ( )/ ( )
-----------------------------------------

No Lawsuit Ever Fixed A Moron...

Pete wrote:
> I have a 99 Civic with 230k miles and I've never changed the brake fluid.
> But I just read an article about moisture content decreasing the boiling
> point of the fluid over time. Now I'm concerned about the master cylinder
> because I've never changed the fluid. Any thoughts?
>
> Pete
>
>
It's a good idea.

dan

"Pete" <archer1157@verizon.net> wrote in
news:fDDql.445$gm6.383@nwrddc02.gnilink.net:

> I have a 99 Civic with 230k miles and I've never changed the brake
> fluid. But I just read an article about moisture content decreasing
> the boiling point of the fluid over time. Now I'm concerned about the
> master cylinder because I've never changed the fluid. Any thoughts?
>
> Pete
>
>


Brake fluid change is ALWAYS a good idea, even on cars that have been badly
neglected, like this one.

Get the dealer or another garage to do it. They have equipment that does
not endanger the master cylinder during bleeding.


--
Tegger

Tegger wrote:
> "Pete" <archer1157@verizon.net> wrote in
> news:fDDql.445$gm6.383@nwrddc02.gnilink.net:
>
>> I have a 99 Civic with 230k miles and I've never changed the brake
>> fluid. But I just read an article about moisture content decreasing
>> the boiling point of the fluid over time. Now I'm concerned about the
>> master cylinder because I've never changed the fluid. Any thoughts?
>>
>> Pete
>>
>>
>
>
> Brake fluid change is ALWAYS a good idea, even on cars that have been badly
> neglected, like this one.
>
> Get the dealer or another garage to do it. They have equipment that does
> not endanger the master cylinder during bleeding.
>
>

there's not much danger to seals from the process - it's almost always
chemical. fresh fluid causes slight sizing change, and on worn seals,
that can cause leakage. for this mileage, if you're not doing the work
yourself, it's probably cost effective to simply replace.

jim beam <retard-trap@bad.example.net> wrote in
news:sfWdnf3RIcT9eTbUnZ2dnUVZ_gmWnZ2d@speakeasy.ne t:

> Tegger wrote:
>> "Pete" <archer1157@verizon.net> wrote in
>> news:fDDql.445$gm6.383@nwrddc02.gnilink.net:
>>
>>> I have a 99 Civic with 230k miles and I've never changed the brake
>>> fluid. But I just read an article about moisture content decreasing
>>> the boiling point of the fluid over time. Now I'm concerned about
>>> the master cylinder because I've never changed the fluid. Any
>>> thoughts?
>>>
>>> Pete
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> Brake fluid change is ALWAYS a good idea, even on cars that have been
>> badly neglected, like this one.
>>
>> Get the dealer or another garage to do it. They have equipment that
>> does not endanger the master cylinder during bleeding.
>>
>>
>
> there's not much danger to seals from the process - it's almost always
> chemical. fresh fluid causes slight sizing change, and on worn seals,
> that can cause leakage. for this mileage, if you're not doing the
> work yourself, it's probably cost effective to simply replace.



Honda says differently.
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/misc/A011000.pdf


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Tegger wrote:
> jim beam <retard-trap@bad.example.net> wrote in
> news:sfWdnf3RIcT9eTbUnZ2dnUVZ_gmWnZ2d@speakeasy.ne t:
>
>> Tegger wrote:
>>> "Pete" <archer1157@verizon.net> wrote in
>>> news:fDDql.445$gm6.383@nwrddc02.gnilink.net:
>>>
>>>> I have a 99 Civic with 230k miles and I've never changed the brake
>>>> fluid. But I just read an article about moisture content decreasing
>>>> the boiling point of the fluid over time. Now I'm concerned about
>>>> the master cylinder because I've never changed the fluid. Any
>>>> thoughts?
>>>>
>>>> Pete
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> Brake fluid change is ALWAYS a good idea, even on cars that have been
>>> badly neglected, like this one.
>>>
>>> Get the dealer or another garage to do it. They have equipment that
>>> does not endanger the master cylinder during bleeding.
>>>
>>>
>> there's not much danger to seals from the process - it's almost always
>> chemical. fresh fluid causes slight sizing change, and on worn seals,
>> that can cause leakage. for this mileage, if you're not doing the
>> work yourself, it's probably cost effective to simply replace.
>
>
>
> Honda says differently.
> http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/misc/A011000.pdf
>
>

written locally, not in japan. bottom line - the cylinder needs to be
effective through the full stroke, any time, any reason. period. if
it's not, it needs to be replaced. besides, as you yourself show with
the internal condition of your own master cylinder rebuild on your web
site, the corrosion inhibitors in modern fluids pretty much prove this
to be ancient history.

Sounds like both Jim Beam and Tegger are right -- under different
circumstances.

Well eqiupped shops use pressure/vacuum bleeders. So the brake pedal
isn't pumped during the process. However, the brake pedal should be
depressed a little (past the vent port) so the area behind the seal
can be flushed. I think Jim meant how new, drier brake fluid affects
the old, well-moisturized rubber seals (e.g., shrinkage issue).

However, for the smaller or less well equipped shops that do pump the
pedal as in the manual method, not depressing the pedal all the way to
the floor should save the rubber seals.

Sure, the cost of a flush ~$100 is probably better applied towards a
new master cylinder. IIRC the Honda OEM online dealer sells for about
$100.

On Mar 1, 2:54*pm, TomP <road...@socal.rr.com> wrote:
> * * * * Any damage to the master cylinder from lack of maintenance is already
> done. * That said, changing the fluid now will most likely result in the
> master cylinder failing, either at the conclusion of the change, or shortly
> thereafter.

johngdole@hotmail.com wrote:
> Sounds like both Jim Beam and Tegger are right -- under different
> circumstances.
>
> Well eqiupped shops use pressure/vacuum bleeders. So the brake pedal
> isn't pumped during the process. However, the brake pedal should be
> depressed a little (past the vent port) so the area behind the seal
> can be flushed. I think Jim meant how new, drier brake fluid affects
> the old, well-moisturized rubber seals (e.g., shrinkage issue).
>
> However, for the smaller or less well equipped shops that do pump the
> pedal as in the manual method, not depressing the pedal all the way to
> the floor should save the rubber seals.

how? if the new fluid shrinks the seals, then not pumping them isn't
going to save them.

besides, the master cylinder /should/ work, new fluid, all the way,
regardless. imagine you cut a brake line, debris or whatever, and now
you only have one circuit working. suddenly, you're going to want to
use the "unused" portion of the master cylinder real damned quick, and
having that suddenly fail because you've never checked that it worked
all the way last time you bled the brakes could suddenly be just a
teensy weensy little bit inconvenient.

bleeding kits are for speed, convenience and one-man operation, not seal
preservation.