Pete Lewis Posted December 16, 2018 Report Share Posted December 16, 2018 I followed Dougs clues in a post to get a tester form fleabay its never arrived and is about to be refunded so a simple search showed many are available from places like Amazon and i purchased one delivered next day for £17 ish this is to use on local club nights or whatever , whenever needed there are pocket ones for less than £5 all well worth having so you know the water content of your reservoirs these all do Dot3 Dot4 Dot5.1 easy to use and good stocking filler Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 16, 2018 Report Share Posted December 16, 2018 24 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: this is to use on local club nights or whatever , whenever needed I read that completely wrong and thought it said "this is to use in local night clubs or whatever"... thought it could maybe check if your drink's been spiked. Interesting bit of kit though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mjit Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 Can't say I see the point in brake fluid moisture testers. If you can't remember the last time you change the fluid, it's time to change it. With a bottle of DOT4 under £5 that should see you through 3 changes for less than the cost of the tester, and at a full change every 3 years that's 9 years of ownership - at which point the tester will either have broken/been lost/you'll have forgotten you bought one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 I agree but trouble is whilst many of us understand the problems many just have no idea , its just a way of proving the point . and its something to occupy drinking time and banter evenings Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 My brother bought one this year and tested his 1999 Vauxhall. It used to be our dad's car and the fluid has not changed since new. Tester said mid range, which is just about OK. He then tested his wife's 2 year old Vauxhall and it said STOP! Which is change VERY soon. The tester has settings for DOT 3, 4 and 5.1, but the results make me wonder about long lasting quality of new and older versions of the DOT fluid. I've silicone in the Triumph so tester unnecessary, but no silicone in the modern, it's not good with ABS, so I'm going to get one if only to scare my daughters in their rust heaps. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 19 minutes ago, dougbgt6 said: My brother bought one this year and tested his 1999 Vauxhall. It used to be our dad's car and the fluid has not changed since new. Tester said mid range, which is just about OK. He then tested his wife's 2 year old Vauxhall and it said STOP! Which is change VERY soon. The tester has settings for DOT 3, 4 and 5.1, but the results make me wonder about long lasting quality of new and older versions of the DOT fluid. Or the quality of the instrument ie how accurate it is. I agree with Mjit, that in our club cars we change brake fluid quite often, and even with an unknown ie a new purchase I'll change the fluid as one of the first maintenance jobs. With moderns it's a different story; I've never done a complete change in my Mundano, although when I replaced the brake discs earlier in the year I bled the fronts. I'd guess, as Doug states, that modern fluid is nowhere near as long lasting as the older stuff, which is strange given that very very few drivers touch their own cars these days, or even suspect they might have to change the fluid periodically I don't think I'll need to buy one of the testers, although if you could use it as a taser by reversing the battery I'd buy one for the cat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 34 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said: . I agree with Mjit, that in our club cars we change brake fluid quite often, and even with an unknown ie a new purchase I'll change the fluid as one of the first maintenance jobs. My first car was a Mk1 Vitesse. When I'd owned it for a month or so, I drove to my then-local TSSC meet in Basingstoke. On the way back, driving enthusiastically along a curvy road, I dabbed the brakes for a bend and my foot went straight to the floor with no effect. For the rest of the journey the brakes needed pumping to get any result. The next morning, it was absolutely fine. These days I use Silicon and change the fluid on all new (classic) purchases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 36 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said: in our club cars we change brake fluid quite often, Do we? It's only in recent years East Berks and Thames areas have become aware of the 2 year rule and I suspect that some who have 3/4 or 5.1 don't bother. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 In the little handbook for my 13/60 where it gives details of service intervals it only mentions toping up the level not changing the fluid (unless I've missedit somewhere), so back in the day did owners change brake fluid regularly or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 39 minutes ago, dougbgt6 said: Do we? It's only in recent years East Berks and Thames areas have become aware of the 2 year rule and I suspect that some who have 3/4 or 5.1 don't bother. Doug Never knew there was a rule. I usually do it once a year pre-show season, if I have a car on the road, to expel air or moisture that may have built up whilst off-road, and usually more often as things like rear axles fall off the car. Our club - hence the term 'in OUR club' meaning the local area - has a few yearly garage days where we do trunnion oiling, fluid changes, greasing etc. so it 's usually every year - two at most - for local members. The TR I bought in September won't go near the road without at the very least new hoses, pads and shoes and a fluid change. I can't really blame a PO if the car won't stop for me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 i reckon back in the days or 4/- a gallon braking was less arduous speeds where lower . vaporising the moisture didnt happen you entered a roundaout at 40 not 70 driving was less aggressive , brake fluid testing we carried out on unsold truck stock certainly back in the 70s and 80s as an audit function and a two year old chassis could be silly high water just down to reservoir temperature change breathing. so it did happen back in the happy years how about blue tac the breather whe in winter storeage,, but dont forget to to remove it for driving !!!!! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 Yes Colin it's a rule, same as greasing the trunnions. I admire your area's industriousness, our area, we do a lot of intensive sitting and talking about doing things. Doug 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 There wasn't any laid down schedule for changing brake fluid back in the 1960's for cars. It was generally only changed when a major brake overhaul took place or it was considered to be "old". In the 1950's Standard's stipulated trunnions should be greased. i.e. Mayflower, Standard 8/10 and TR2/3. Following an investigation into trunnion failure by the factory they changed to EP90 oil in 1959. Hence the confusion. The Courier did an article about it a number of years ago. The article was produced by the Standard Triumph engineer who did all the research work. Talking about brake fluid or trunnions beats Brexit anytime! Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 4 hours ago, dougbgt6 said: Yes Colin it's a rule, same as greasing the trunnions. Never knew that. Given enough time and a failed Brexit the EU will no doubt make it compulsory, although they'll probably make trunnions illegal too. We do a lot of sitting round and talking too but that's only on club nights. The other 29-odd days of the month are for garages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 1 hour ago, Colin Lindsay said: and a failed Brexit I live in hope Colin, otherwise I'm off to mother's house in Scotland where Ms Sturgeon will look after us. The border is 1/4 mile away so will be quite busy with check points and asylum seekers. db Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 At least with brake fluid we have some idea of whats going on Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 2 hours ago, dave.vitesse said: Talking about brake fluid or trunnions beats Brexit anytime! Dave Going to the dentist is better than Brexit. My main interest is centred on pension increases for retired Ex Brits in the EU and taxes on imports of Scotch and Irish Whisk(e)y 🍷 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyman Posted December 17, 2018 Report Share Posted December 17, 2018 I had an uncle who had the most bizarre fixation back in the day- he would drink brake fluid. Maybe back in those days it was less toxic than it is today, because he never expired of it, but we were always worried about him doing it.I remember one time my dad told him that he was addicted and needed to cut it out, that it was bad for him.My uncle replied “Nonsense, I can stop anytime.” Christmas drink warning......................... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Posted December 18, 2018 Report Share Posted December 18, 2018 Doug i think I’d like to take my chances with the fish rather than the Ms Sturgeon. But can’t deny the beauty of Scotland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 18, 2018 Report Share Posted December 18, 2018 I love Scotland, but then I love England too, the wild bits or the olde-worlde parts like York or Lincoln; in fact anywhere I go to stay where I feel like a guest and the hotels and restaurants etc look after me. For that reason I like Europe too, and love meeting visitors to my own place, but the whole thing isn't about the people, it's the politics, which involves a disproportionate few. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted December 19, 2018 Report Share Posted December 19, 2018 Pete, So, now you've got the tester what's it say? Does it work? Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted December 19, 2018 Report Share Posted December 19, 2018 You can used a multi meter on its highest resistance range. Water conducts, brake fluid shouldn't!. But a tester is much easier to use and gives a clearer indication. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68vitesse Posted December 19, 2018 Report Share Posted December 19, 2018 On 17/12/2018 at 20:11, Colin Lindsay said: Never knew that. Given enough time and a failed Brexit the EU will no doubt make it compulsory, although they'll probably make trunnions illegal too. We do a lot of sitting round and talking too but that's only on club nights. The other 29-odd days of the month are for garages. A failed Brexit would only reflect the wishes of self serving politicians and the E U not the majority that voted leave. Regards Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 19, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2018 Mine shows as <1% Just done friends Stag and its amber warning 2.5% If I spit on my finger its red alert > 4% Its a nice hand held does dot 3 dot 4 dot 5.1 moisture has 6 % levels and a beeper 0.1 1% 1.5% 2.5 3 4+ Does need a pp3 9v battery Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted December 19, 2018 Report Share Posted December 19, 2018 Could you use the 2.5% rule to change brake fluid rather change every 2 years Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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