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Tag Archive for: car maintenance

Posts

Changing Brake Fluid With a Turkey Baster

Tech Discussion

In a previous article, we covered the process of changing power steering fluid with the help of a simple turkey baster. When preparing for a brake fluid flush last summer, we considered purchasing a fancy evacuation pump designed to pump out the old brake fluid. As we pondered the process a little further, we elected to use a handy turkey baster to remove the old brake fluid and then conducted a standard brake bleeding procedure.

Why Change Brake Fluid?

Like any other automotive fluid, brake fluid degrades and deteriorates over time. But what is even worse is that brake fluid attracts moisture and this happens even in a sealed system. As brake fluid absorbs moisture, it loses its high temperature resistance and also starts to promote rust and corrosion. Brake fluid should be changed every two years, even if you don’t put big miles on your vehicle. If you haven’t changed your fluid for several years (or ever), you will note the old fluid comes out looking like Coca-Cola, while the new fluid will have a clear or light amber appearance.

Items Needed for a Brake Fluid Change

  • The correct grade of brake fluid (DOT3, DOT4 or DOT5) as prescribed by your owners manual or the cap on your brake reservoir.
  • Turkey baster for drawing out old fluid from the brake reservoir.
  • About 4 feet of clear plastic or rubber tubing with a ¼” inner diameter.
  • An empty plastic soda pop bottle with a hole drilled in the cap, allowing the hose to fit tightly through cap.
  • A jack with sufficient capacity to raise your vehicle, along with jack-stands and blocks.
  • An assistant to manage the brake pedal.
  • The correct box-end wrench to open and close bleeder screws.

Before Starting

  • Be sure that you have jacks, jack-stands and blocks that are capable of safely raising and holding your car or truck.
  • Brake fluid is corrosive to painted surfaces. Be sure to protect any areas that could be exposed to accidental contact.
  • During the bleeding process, never let the brake reservoir empty out as the system can draw air.

Raise All Four Wheels or One At a Time?

If you are not comfortable with having all four wheels off the ground, you certainly can bleed the brakes of each wheel separately. It is better to have one wheel elevated safely, then to have all four wheels up in a precarious fashion.

How To Change Brake Fluid

Step 1. Raise and remove at least one wheel. When bleeding brakes, work your way from the wheel farthest from the fluid reservoir and end with the brake-set closest. Generally the furthest wheel from the reservoir is the rear passenger side wheel.

Step 2. Using the turkey baster, remove old brake fluid from the reservoir until it is as empty as possible. Note that the filler neck on some reservoirs is offset, making it impossible for the baster to reach the fluid. In these cases, all of the old fluid will have to be removed through the bleeding process. This can be more time consuming, but it is certainly doable.

Step 3. Fill reservoir with fresh fluid to the “Full” marker and leave the cap loose on top of the fill hole.

Step 4. Lubricate the threads of the bleeder valve on the brake caliper. Fill the pop bottle with a few inches of fresh brake fluid. Attach cap and feed the hose through the hole in the cap into the bottle so that the end of the hose is submerged in the fluid. This prevents air from draining back into the system during the process. Place the appropriate box-end wrench on the valve and attach the other end of the hose to the bleeder valve.

Step 5. With your assistant operating the brake pedal, open the valve and have them slowly press the brake pedal. As they reach the bottom of the stroke, close the bleeder valve. The assistant can then release the brake pedal once the bleeder is closed. You will note the old fluid and air bubbles in the hose as the brake pedal is pressed.

Communication is important during this process. Make sure that your assistant is not releasing the pedal while the bleeder valve is open.

Step 6. Repeat step five until fresh fluid and no air bubbles are visible in the hose.

Important: As mentioned, regularly monitor the fluid level in the reservoir and top-up as necessary.

Step 7. Perform this process on each brake assembly, top-up the reservoir one final time and you are done.

A brake fluid flush can be performed with no special tools or pumps. Do this every couple of years and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that you’ve done your part to optimize the performance and reliability of your braking system.

November 14, 2014/by Marc Roden

Using A Turkey Baster To Change Power Steering Fluid

Tech Discussion

Turkey Baster for Car RepairTo perform tasks like power steering fluid changes or brake fluid flushes, did you think you needed a specialized vacuum pump or evacuation device? Not at all! There is a $4 item that is available at almost any store that is invaluable for these tasks. The lowly turkey baster is ideal for either of these jobs and is asset to any toolbox.

Why Change Power Steering Fluid?

Few car owners ever think of changing their power steering fluid. But like any other oil, it deteriorates with time and its depletion can cause excessive wear and deposit formation. Changing to a good synthetic power steering fluid is an upgrade for any car or truck and can offer the following benefits:

  • Reduced friction for optimized efficiency
  • Lower wear, longer steering pump life
  • Fast oil flow in cold weather
  • Improved resistance to extreme heat
  • Makes pump seals more pliable for leak prevention

Items Needed To Change Power Steering Fluid

  • Turkey baster
  • 2 bottles of power steering fluid (450 to 473ml each, or so)
  • Used oil container such as an old margarine container
  • Paper towels or rags

Before Starting

Clean top of power steering fluid reservoir. Important: there is likely an accessory belt adjacent to the fluid reservoir. At each step of this process, prevent oil drips from defiling this belt by covering it with rags or paper towel. A small amount of oil can leak from the baster during the evacuation process.

How to Change Power Steering Fluid

  1. With the engine turned off, use the turkey baster to draw out old fluid until the reservoir is as empty as possible.
  2. Refill the reservoir with new fluid, replace reservoir cap and remove any rags or paper towels from engine area.
  3. Start engine and turn steering wheel back and forth to full stop several times. As an alternative, take the car for a good drive to make sure that the power steering fluid has circulated completely.
  4.  Stop engine and use baster to remove fluid again. Remember to cover accessory belt to protect from oil contamination.
  5. Repeat these steps until the reservoir has been emptied and refilled at least 3 to 4 times.

The reason that new oil is added, circulated in the power steering system and then removed is that this is the only practical way to remove most all of the old fluid. By the time the reservoir has been re-filled 4 times, there is mostly brand new fluid in the system. One can certainly perform this task a few more times for good measure, but be sure to have enough power steering fluid on hand.

In our next post, we will discuss the process for flushing brake fluid.

 

November 6, 2014/by Marc Roden

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