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Brake Fluid Color
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Thomas
Posted 2011-05-11 8:09 AM (#85987)
Subject: Brake Fluid Color


Central Wisconsin

 

Brake Fluid Color

                                              Brake fluid on left from rear and on right from front.

Fluid 2yrs old with 12,000 miles.   Do you think this is just a heat issue?

Riding the Vision 2up 99% of the time and use the front brake more then rear.

I just installed speedbleeders and after seeing this I will change the fluid every season and maybe the rear twice a year.

 

 

 

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Arkainzeye
Posted 2011-05-11 8:14 AM (#85988 - in reply to #85987)
Subject: Re: Brake Fluid Color


Visionary

Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA
Thanks for sharing! My clutch fluid was black last year..
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Thomas
Posted 2011-05-11 8:28 AM (#85989 - in reply to #85988)
Subject: Re: Brake Fluid Color


Central Wisconsin

Thanks for sharing!     Your welcome!

 

My clutch fluid was black last year..

Hmmm...my clutch fluid was lighter then the front brake fluid pic.



Edited by Thomas 2011-05-11 8:35 AM
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RedRider
Posted 2011-05-11 8:35 AM (#85990 - in reply to #85987)
Subject: Re: Brake Fluid Color


Visionary

Posts: 1350
What is the color of fresh brake fluid?
Same as the jar on the right?
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Thomas
Posted 2011-05-11 8:37 AM (#85991 - in reply to #85990)
Subject: Re: Brake Fluid Color


Central Wisconsin

What is the color of fresh brake fluid? 

The color of new/fresh brake fluid is clear. Make sure to buy DOT 4.

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WillieByte
Posted 2011-05-11 8:47 AM (#85992 - in reply to #85987)
Subject: RE: Brake Fluid Color


Cruiser

Posts: 104
Plainfield Illinois
Excellent post.  The brake and clutch fluids need to be changed and bled periodically or pain, cussing, and/or expense can result.
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Thomas
Posted 2011-05-11 8:59 AM (#85993 - in reply to #85992)
Subject: RE: Brake Fluid Color


Central Wisconsin

Excellent post.  Thanks Willie!

The brake and clutch fluids need to be changed and bled periodically or pain, cussing, and/or expense can result. Very true! 

Years ago on a different bike I couldn't shift, had to bang gears just to get home. Changed the clutch fluid and life was good again.  

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tom334
Posted 2011-05-11 9:48 AM (#85997 - in reply to #85993)
Subject: RE: Brake Fluid Color


Puddle Jumper

Posts: 7
Valley Grande, AL. / 2009 Anniversary Vision
Did the part listed on the Speedbleeder site for all Victory's fit your Vision?

Thanks
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Thomas
Posted 2011-05-11 10:08 AM (#86001 - in reply to #85997)
Subject: RE: Brake Fluid Color


Central Wisconsin

Did the part listed on the Speedbleeder site for all Victory's fit your Vision?

Brian ByteN2it  did a speedbleeder post , he determined the SB8125's are the correct one's.

I ordered five of them and they fit perfect.


Thanks

Your welcome.

 


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radioteacher
Posted 2011-05-11 1:51 PM (#86031 - in reply to #85987)
Subject: Re: Brake Fluid Color


Visionary

Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX
DOT4 attracts water and gets itself contaminated. If it looks darker than Honey....replace it ASAP.
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Thomas
Posted 2011-05-11 4:28 PM (#86043 - in reply to #86031)
Subject: Re: Brake Fluid Color


Central Wisconsin

radioteacher - 2011-05-11 1:51 PM DOT4 attracts water and gets itself contaminated. If it looks darker than Honey....replace it ASAP.[/QUOTE

 

 

Do you think the heat caused the DOT 4 brake fluid in the rear to be darker then the front?

 

Brian ByteN2it said he used 5.1 Motul brake fluid.

 

 

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SteveS
Posted 2011-05-11 5:50 PM (#86048 - in reply to #85987)
Subject: RE: Brake Fluid Color


Cruiser

Posts: 154
Danbury, Connecticut
All brake fluid, with the exception of DOT5 is hygroscopic meaning it absorbs water from the atmosphere. DOT5 is silicone based and repels water. The problem with DOT5 is if water is in or gets into the system it tends to be isolated(concentrated) and not flushed out quite as easily. It is also a no no to use DOT 5 with ABS brakes because it tends to foam when agitated which is what the ABS solenoids do when they are activated. In my experience as an automotive tech I find color has little to do with fluid condition, influenced a lot by seal material used and fluid stock. Look at an asian car that is 15 years old with original fluid and it probably looks better than a domestic brand that is a few years old. Copper is the main indicator of fluid condition. Google "brake fluid test strips" and you can find info on a quick, inexpensive way to test it. If you flush it out every couple of years you'll be fine. If you're anal do it every year. As far as the two samples you show it may be components were sourced from different vendors. Unless you had a caliper stick, I doubt your brake fluid got even close to the boiling point of the fluid.
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Boots
Posted 2011-05-11 6:11 PM (#86050 - in reply to #85987)
Subject: Re: Brake Fluid Color


Tourer

Posts: 599
New Mexico
Wow! Maintenance interval for replacement is 30k. Mine still looks nearly clear after 12+k miles.
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ByteN2it
Posted 2011-05-11 6:43 PM (#86051 - in reply to #86048)
Subject: Re: Brake Fluid Color


Tourer

Posts: 482
Beer Collins, Colorado (there is no fort)
I'm pretty sure the difference in color from the front to the back fluid is from heat not from contamination, the line runs right above the exhaust cross over, and the fact that the rear system holds a smaller volume of fluid. Hopefully the 5.1 with its higher boiling point will hold up better than the stock DOT4 fluid-it has in my other bikes, and actually discolored fluid works OK it just bugs me. Mine was changed at 1yr /14,000 and was similar to the above pictures but not quite as dark. See you on the road-Brian
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Thomas
Posted 2011-05-11 7:11 PM (#86054 - in reply to #86048)
Subject: RE: Brake Fluid Color


Central Wisconsin

SteveS - 2011-05-11 5:50 PM All brake fluid, with the exception of DOT5 is hygroscopic meaning it absorbs water from the atmosphere. DOT5 is silicone based and repels water. The problem with DOT5 is if water is in or gets into the system it tends to be isolated(concentrated) and not flushed out quite as easily. It is also a no no to use DOT 5 with ABS brakes because it tends to foam when agitated which is what the ABS solenoids do when they are activated. In my experience as an automotive tech I find color has little to do with fluid condition, influenced a lot by seal material used and fluid stock. Look at an asian car that is 15 years old with original fluid and it probably looks better than a domestic brand that is a few years old. Copper is the main indicator of fluid condition. Google "brake fluid test strips" and you can find info on a quick, inexpensive way to test it. If you flush it out every couple of years you'll be fine. If you're anal do it every year. As far as the two samples you show it may be components were sourced from different vendors. Unless you had a caliper stick, I doubt your brake fluid got even close to the boiling point of the fluid.

Interesting information you provided. I like the idea of flushing out any/all water by using DOT 4 brake fluid.  With the use of speedbleeders the task is easier.

I read were the Motul 5.1 is ok with ABS brakes.

 

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Thomas
Posted 2011-05-11 7:17 PM (#86055 - in reply to #86050)
Subject: Re: Brake Fluid Color


Central Wisconsin

Boots - 2011-05-11 6:11 PM Wow! Maintenance interval for replacement is 30k. Mine still looks nearly clear after 12+k miles.

Bob, Must be that Southwest low humidity climate you live in

 



Edited by Thomas 2011-05-11 7:18 PM
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Thomas
Posted 2011-05-11 7:25 PM (#86056 - in reply to #86051)
Subject: Re: Brake Fluid Color


Central Wisconsin

 

 ByteN2it

...actually discolored fluid works OK it just bugs me.     I hear ya...

Mine was changed at 1yr /14,000 and was similar to the above pictures but not quite as dark.

See you on the road-Brian     That's a possibility. We plan on a Wisconsin - Salida,Colorado - Wisconsin trip in July.

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Boots
Posted 2011-05-11 7:43 PM (#86061 - in reply to #86055)
Subject: Re: Brake Fluid Color


Tourer

Posts: 599
New Mexico
Thomas - 2011-05-11 6:17 PM

Boots - 2011-05-11 6:11 PM Wow! Maintenance interval for replacement is 30k. Mine still looks nearly clear after 12+k miles.

Bob, Must be that Southwest low humidity climate you live in

?



Low humidity my butt! It rained today!! For craps sake, it just rained last year!


Edited by Boots 2011-05-11 7:43 PM
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ByteN2it
Posted 2011-05-11 9:43 PM (#86067 - in reply to #85987)
Subject: Re: Brake Fluid Color


Tourer

Posts: 482
Beer Collins, Colorado (there is no fort)
Thomas,when your in Salida be sure to have a wood fired pizza & homebrew at Amica's-mmmm
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