Things I used in this video: 1. Brake Fluid Tester: amzn.to/2jO09GP 2. Mechanic’s Tool Set: amzn.to/2Bzmccg 3. Shop Towels: amzn.to/2jGDfkA 4. Disposable Gloves: amzn.to/2zSRuxO 5. Common Sense 6. 4k Camera: amzn.to/2hZ4AxX 7. Mini Microphone: amzn.to/2newgV9 8. My computer for editing / uploading: amzn.to/2i2sKYz 9. Video editing software: amzn.to/2jv5Fhf 10. Thumbnail software: amzn.to/2k7tz6C
One quick note is to never bleed the master cylinder dry. Getting all the air out of that is a real mission. If you do remove the brake fluid from the master cylinder, take out only enough to go the the 'minimum' level, then top it with fresh. Then bleed the brakes as normal, topping up with new brake fluid every so often.
Thanks Scotty,Toyota said it was time to change my brake fluid. But they didn’t say they had tested it. Always get good information from Scotty. I’m going to buy a brake fluid tester.
Wow, learning something new everyday. Thanks for the tip Scotty. I didn't know that there's a brake fluid tester. Definitely gonna look into the details on that.
i had a mustang that wrecked brake fluid every 4 years. i ended up buying a Pressure bleeder. They come in handy when you do brake jobs. Love the videos!
Your the best Scotty! Your videos are simple and to the point and very enjoyable to watch. I have learned so much thanks to guys like you on the internet. You are much appreciated!
Scotty are you on TV in the USA - if not somebody give this guy his own show on a network - call it "Rev up your engines" with Scotty KIlmer - You are a top man giving all this information away that costs a small fortune, I myself would never try any of these repairs but a least Ill understand a bit what machanics have to do and what they charge you for. Good you tube channel thanks .
When bleeding your brakes don't forget to refill the reservoir because you do not want any air getting into the system. Keep the fluid above minimum. I never fill mine to the maximum because the fluid expands due to heat.
Also, mark with a pen where the fluid initially sits so during your final refill you only go to that line. Else, if you top off and your pads are at 50%, then the next time you change the pads, fluid can burst out of the master cylinder when the calipers are reset.
Thanks Scotty!! I was not aware of a tester. With 4 older cars, this makes decision making more certain on brake fluid. Keeping the brake fluid good has made a big difference for my '88 and '89. The '88 was bought new.
IN CASE OF RIGHT HAND DRIVE VEHICLES: Start flushing the the brake fluid from Left Hand Rear. Or the easy formula is to start flushing from far side wheel from the driver and come closer.
Forgot to mention the mechanic will need to fill up, and cap the reservoir between corners (rear passenger, rear driver, passenger and driver). Thanks for the time you put these videos together, to the point and fast action without being over simple or overly complex.
If you like my car help, be sure to watch my live car talk show every Saturday morning at 10 AM CST on TH-cam. I answer your car questions LIVE there. Just check it out at How To Ask A Live Mechanic Car Questions Free On TH-cam . And remember, every TUESDAY I upload a new video on the scotty kilmer channel on TH-cam, th-cam.com/users/scottykilmer , so don’t miss them.
Acura & Honda say first flush at 45k or 3 years then every 2 years 30k. I do mine every 2 years. Cheap to do and never have had problems but saw a lot of master cylinder failures in early Integras due to never changing the fluid.
Picked up the same tester you showed on eBay for $15. Came in handy yesterday when my local shop tried to tell me I needed the brake fluid flushed in my 97 Lincoln Mark VIII (which I did right after buying it last November). Fluid looks clear and had 0% water. Thanks for the awesome info!!
Cool video! It's worth noting my brake light came on and the fix in the rare reason the brake light comes on is that the master cylinder is split into 2 systems for redundancy. Generally one system for the front brakes and one for the back. So there is an internal pressure comparing pin situated between exposed to the two systems pressures so that if the pressure in one system is much lower than the other, the pin is pushed off center position and turns on your brake light. So if say a front brake system fluid valve is open or that system is full of air and you push the brake pedal down hard, the pin will snap off center because there is great pressure in one system side of it but not the other and this activates the brake light. The fix is very easy though, once the system that was open or full of air is fixed, simply press VERY hard on the brake pedal and since both systems will have a lot of pressure, the pin will snap back to center and the light will go off.
Scotty Kilmer Changed brake fluid yesterday and had some spill when adding to the master cylinder. I thoroughly rinsed out that part of the engine bay but was wondering if I need to go back with soap. Thanks for all the videos!
Try checking the fluid in the caliper then tell me if there is a problem. That is where the most heat takes place. I take them off and clean them on the bench and drain all the fluids in the system, when ever doing the brake pads. Nothing like a clean start to the next 80- 90,000 miles in my rigs.
if I were flushing my brake system, or bleeding my brakes, I wouldn't push the brake pedal more than half or three-quarters of the way, because the master cylinder isn't used to the seals running in an unused area, and you could compromise the longevity of the master cylinder. My experience with Toyota's has been good and bad, they do have tighter tolerances, I definitely notice the nuts and bolts don't rust nearly as badly in the Rust Belt where I live. Bolts on an American car are rusted and want to break, and the Japanese bolts are rusted and they always come out and there's no rust in the thread below the head. Tighter tolerances and better factoring specifications. I wonder how that works if they're made in Mexico or USA?
What if i just get all i can out of the reservoir, refill it, wait a month, do that again, refill it, will that lower the ph enough to get by on an really old car or must I empty the lines? Does the fluid circulate or just sit there at the same place in the lines?
Hi Scotty! I recently changed the brake master cylinder and brake booster in my 1981 Porsche 928 and flushed the brake fluid. It came out cloudy and kind of dark at first and then came out clear because of the new DOT 4 fluid I put in it. I suspect the fluid to never have been changed in the 33 years this car has been on the road. Would that be a good assumption or would something else cause that? Thank you
I have seen master Cylinder tanks with rubber bellows to prevent any air from getting in, often have to make sure they are seated properly before replacing the cap, both my cars have them.
"I wonder if Scotty ever did a video on changing brake fluid?" Awesome vid, Scotty. While I am sure I could change the brake fluid after watching this, I don't have a second set of competent/capable hands at my disposal.
Is there anyway to clean or brighten the fluid tanks under the hood? I have pretty bad vision and it's always extremely difficult for me to see where fluid levels are in the brake, coolant, and power steering reservoirs. I have to shine a bright flashlight from the back and practically shake the container to try and see movement of the fluid line. Other than that, it's so yellowed and opaque I just can't see it.
Is it true that most dealerships will just extract the fluid from the reservoir and refill it as the brake fluid service? I have heard that this does help somewhat in that there is a bit of circulation throughout the system.
Moisture (water) is heavier than brake fluid so it works it's way to the lowest points in the system, which is the bottom of the brake calipers and/or brake cylinders. How is testing the fluid in the master going to give you a good indication of the moisture level in the cylinders?
Just flushed my whole brake system. First time in 12 years. Definately needed to do it. I got some brake bleeders with one-way valves built in. Just open the bleeder and pump the pedal. No need to open and close the bleeder between pumps.
Scotty, I replaced my rear callipers and pads. There’s two brake reservoirs. The one master and a little beside it! When we replaced the passenger rear was leaking fluid, some red trans like fluid was leaking. What’s the low down?
Scotty my brakes are spongy, the hand break is really loose and the clutch takes up really quickly. It's my 2006 Corolla and the clutch and brakes use the same system. If I pump the brake or clutch it doesn't change the way it feels so is that still air in the system or has the brake fluid lost it's properties? I'm about to change all the brake pads and bleed the brakes/slave cylinder. Car has done 280k km.
Thanks Scotty! While the brake fluid doesn't have even 1% water (as measured by the tester), the Firestone guy says it has more than 500 ppm copper. Does that warrant brake fluid flush? The car is at 130k miles and I just bought it 6k miles ago.
scotty, i own '69 dodge dart with a weiland 318 in it. when you slow down, not using the brakes, it starts popping. it is no big deal, cause i am putting the original 340 back in over the winter. (original p-code 340 4 speed car)
Doesn't which side you start on depend on which side your master cylinder is on? I think you are supposed to start on the rear with the side opposite the cylinder, then the other rear, then the front opposite the cylinder and then finishing with the front closest to the cylinder. Working your way from farthest to nearest. Correct?
If you like my car help, be sure to watch my live car talk show every Saturday morning at 10 AM CST on TH-cam. I answer your car questions LIVE there. Just check it out at How To Ask A Live Mechanic Car Questions Free On TH-cam . And remember, every TUESDAY I upload a new video, so don’t miss them.
I have a 2014 Jetta in bone-dry southern California with only 28k miles. Brake fluid still looks brand new and I've never had it changed, but I plan to have it changed in a year or so. I don't buy VW's recommendation of changing it every 2 years, give me a break. Does testing the fluid like this directly in the reservoir account for the moisture content of the fluid that's down inside the brake lines?
Will the measurement be adequate ? Is the fluid in the pipes that are the way to the back the same quality and water free as the one in the master cylinder up in the engine bay ?
If you like my car help, be sure to watch my live car talk show every Saturday morning at 10 AM CST on TH-cam. I answer your car questions LIVE there. Just check it out at How To Ask A Live Mechanic Car Questions Free On TH-cam . And remember, every TUESDAY I upload a new video on the scotty kilmer channel on TH-cam, th-cam.com/users/scottykilmer , so don’t miss them.
Do you have to drain the line at each tire or is it okay to just change it just in the canister? My brake fluid is dark green. But I don't think I could get the tires off and back on.
to a small extent yes, but it doesn't remove the brake fluid nearest the calipers, which is the fluid that experiences the most extreme temperature and wear conditions. far better to replace every 4 years or so.
they say to bleed first from the wheel farthest from the ABS module, is that true? are all ABS module always on the opposite of the master cylinder? 2010 toyota camry le 2.5 here
Thank you for this! My Toyota dealership is trying to tell me that my 2021 Santa needs the brake fluid to be flushed when it's only 1.5 years old. I'll definitely be getting one of those tester things!
Hey Scotty was just wondering isn't the order of bleeding different depending on the type of vehicle or the distance from master cylinder...? whats the deal?
ohhh forgot this too... I dont know If there is a pattern to bleed out the system the one I use is FL RR RL FR I see you used RL RR FRFL never seen that one before.... thats just me but is there a specially way how to flush them out Im a Honda Tech and is always good to know more stuff from someone with more experience
some companies have different bleeding schedules due to different designs. But normal cars are bleed starting at the furthest wheel from the master and ending up at the closest.
Always check your owners Manuel but I would say almost all cars have the same procedure. Bleed the valve that is the most farthest from the master cylinder. In this case it was Rear passenger side Rear driver side Passenger side Driver side
Hai Scotty does the brake fluid circulates to and from master cylinder and whole system? I mean is it okay to remove the old fluid from master cylinder add fresh fluid or bleed and fill the brakes?
Here in The Netherlands it's ussual recommended around 5-7 years. It's noticable when you need to change it. I had to change mine when I had bough a second hand car and now it breaks perfectly.
I replaced most of the brake fluid with a turkey baster but did not bleed the brakes after. It's been 6 months and my brakes are still working. Did it hold the vacuum?
just for myself I got a bmw 328i i do the brake flush myself every 8 months I dont believe that 2 years thing... thats just me actually like to have a nice and clean brake fluid in there and takes more time to take off the tires than actually popping out the bleeder am I right? keep the good job I have learn a lot from
My problem with the E brake pedal is that it won't go down to engage the parking brake. It's stuck!! Do you have any suggestions on what to do about that?
Scotty! I have a bit of a novice question; What does it mean when only applying the brake, the red dash brake light appears? I tried topping it off with DOT3, but that didn't seem to help much.
Scotty, I was searching for brake fluid tests and ran across the Brake Engineering site. This particular page on their site was titled "The Dangers of Conductivity Type Brake Fluid Testers" Basically, they highly argued against using the type of tester you used in this video. Any thoughts? I assume you don't see a problem with them, but wondering what you think about Brake Engineering's opinion. Thanks!
Jon Alsager engineers can be weird anal people, that's for sure. There are of course other testers, like strips that measure for copper contamination from the copper used to seal the inside of the steel brake lines from rusting. For water, these testers work fine though,and water is the main problem
I think you have a good point. These brake fluid testers *must* be testing either conductivity or capacitance, and not actual water content. I would not trust my car's health to a simple conductivity test, especially when there is a significant chance that they can give misleading/incorrect results..
When I got my oil changed they told me the color my brake fluid indicated that it was bad. Well I knew my car was old so I used the pump method to change the fluid myself (without bleeding them). I'm curious if the color really can tell you that your brake fluid is bad. Scotty, what's your view? Thanks.
Wow! I didn't know these things existed! Quite a handy tool, and for only $35. Only problem is that if you have a Toyota, each time you want to test your brake fluid you have no idea of where you put that tester last time.
Things I used in this video:
1. Brake Fluid Tester: amzn.to/2jO09GP
2. Mechanic’s Tool Set: amzn.to/2Bzmccg
3. Shop Towels: amzn.to/2jGDfkA
4. Disposable Gloves: amzn.to/2zSRuxO
5. Common Sense
6. 4k Camera: amzn.to/2hZ4AxX
7. Mini Microphone: amzn.to/2newgV9
8. My computer for editing / uploading: amzn.to/2i2sKYz
9. Video editing software: amzn.to/2jv5Fhf
10. Thumbnail software: amzn.to/2k7tz6C
Scotty Kilmer how to replace a faulty ac compressor
Where can I buy number 5 from?
I suck it out with a straw
this man is the best. we are blessed to have this man in this world
One quick note is to never bleed the master cylinder dry. Getting all the air out of that is a real mission. If you do remove the brake fluid from the master cylinder, take out only enough to go the the 'minimum' level, then top it with fresh. Then bleed the brakes as normal, topping up with new brake fluid every so often.
How do I bleed these breaks man I need advice asap
I watched this at the dealership so I didn’t get ripped off! THANKS SCOTTY!$!$!
How?
By testing the fluid
Absolutely, you just can't trust some of these mechanics
Same!😂
Neighbors must be like "Oh my godddd. It's Scotty doing burnouts down the street again." Lol.
And with a customers car too. Hahaha!
😂😂😂
He needs to be playing 'Rev On The Red Line' by Foreigner when he does that! 8-D
They probably don't mind much, since he probably works on there cars too.
Thanks Scotty,Toyota said it was time to change my brake fluid. But they didn’t say they had tested it. Always get good information from Scotty. I’m going to buy a brake fluid tester.
Who grandfather is this? And where can I get one?
Myles G whos DAD is this. Nobody likes to feel old.
Who's son is this?
Who's baby is this?
Who’s idea was it to conceive this?
whos fetus is this
I’m gonna be a pro mechanic by the time I’m done with Scotty lol
Wow, learning something new everyday. Thanks for the tip Scotty. I didn't know that there's a brake fluid tester. Definitely gonna look into the details on that.
i had a mustang that wrecked brake fluid every 4 years. i ended up buying a Pressure bleeder. They come in handy when you do brake jobs. Love the videos!
Your the best Scotty! Your videos are simple and to the point and very enjoyable to watch. I have learned so much thanks to guys like you on the internet. You are much appreciated!
Thank you Mr. Scotty for talking about brake fluids. It is probably the most underestimated maintenance there is.
Do you have to light a scented candle before, or after you flush?
Scotty are you on TV in the USA - if not somebody give this guy his own show on a network - call it "Rev up your engines" with Scotty KIlmer -
You are a top man giving all this information away that costs a small fortune, I myself would never try any of these repairs but a least Ill understand a bit what machanics have to do and what they charge you for. Good you tube channel thanks .
When bleeding your brakes don't forget to refill the reservoir because you do not want any air getting into the system. Keep the fluid above minimum. I never fill mine to the maximum because the fluid expands due to heat.
I agree, I'm a bit concerned Scotty missed this tip.
Also, mark with a pen where the fluid initially sits so during your final refill you only go to that line. Else, if you top off and your pads are at 50%, then the next time you change the pads, fluid can burst out of the master cylinder when the calipers are reset.
Angry Whale mech/techs, are told not to fill master cyl, unless there's a leak. When fluid gets low, then brakes probably need replacing.
@@oldtwinsna8347 explain please mate
Thanks Scotty!! I was not aware of a tester. With 4 older cars, this makes decision making more certain on brake fluid. Keeping the brake fluid good has made a big difference for my '88 and '89. The '88 was bought new.
Those tools are great. Everyone should have one. I take it along when helping friends buy used cars.
Thanks from a gal in Sydney. So easy to understand to keep the mechanics honest!
Scotty, the best thing about your videos is your sunny disposition. Keep up the great work!
In my 86 F-150 there are 2 holes in the floor. So when I need to stop I just put my feet through the floor.
make sure you flush your blinker fluid too.
I once did those and forgot my elbow grease. Not fun.
come on now, you could make up better names than that. I assume you are not a pro comedian
Scotty Kilmer Scotty! Hello! Have you ever had customers come in and claim their car had a bunch of made up problems?
+MRsjovealek you must be dumb cause I flush mine all the time.
+Scotty Kilmer come on Scotty, have a little sense of humor, it is somewhat original but still a laugh. I Iove your vids and I respect you.
IN CASE OF RIGHT HAND DRIVE VEHICLES: Start flushing the the brake fluid from Left Hand Rear. Or the easy formula is to start flushing from far side wheel from the driver and come closer.
Forgot to mention the mechanic will need to fill up, and cap the reservoir between corners (rear passenger, rear driver, passenger and driver). Thanks for the time you put these videos together, to the point and fast action without being over simple or overly complex.
dot 3-4 usually turns black or green when its fucked, so I just saved you $35 on a tester
Sometimes you can smell that it's fucked
but the one thats linked is $8 lol
Scotty Kilmer, best auto channel on youtube!!!!
If you like my car help, be sure to watch my live car talk show every Saturday morning at 10 AM CST on TH-cam. I answer your car questions LIVE there. Just check it out at How To Ask A Live Mechanic Car Questions Free On TH-cam . And remember, every TUESDAY I upload a new video on the scotty kilmer channel on TH-cam, th-cam.com/users/scottykilmer , so don’t miss them.
Great Vid Scotty. So often is PS Fluid and Brake fluid overlooked on maintenance. Love the brake fluid tester, nifty!
Scotty what happens if I just remove the fluid from the resivore and fill it up with new stuff rather than flushing the whole system?
Would love to know this answer myself.
A mechanic taught me to do just that spring and fall. My 98 Corolla has never had a problem because of this. I highly recommend.
Break fluud is not antifreeze, it does not circulate. Its just additional fluid. So you can do that, but its pointless.
It probably also depends on where you live. I dare say moisture will build up in the brake fluid faster in S Florida than in Arizona.
Acura & Honda say first flush at 45k or 3 years then every 2 years 30k. I do mine every 2 years. Cheap to do and never have had problems but saw a lot of master cylinder failures in early Integras due to never changing the fluid.
Picked up the same tester you showed on eBay for $15. Came in handy yesterday when my local shop tried to tell me I needed the brake fluid flushed in my 97 Lincoln Mark VIII (which I did right after buying it last November). Fluid looks clear and had 0% water. Thanks for the awesome info!!
Your 1 of a just a few who say the truth ... really enjoy your videos
And Toyota makes high quality vehicle's ,only if more could appreciate it
It's like you always read my mind. You always publish a video about what I'm wondering about.
I like the way u say "before its too late"...
nice ending !
lol
Cool video! It's worth noting my brake light came on and the fix in the rare reason the brake light comes on is that the master cylinder is split into 2 systems for redundancy. Generally one system for the front brakes and one for the back. So there is an internal pressure comparing pin situated between exposed to the two systems pressures so that if the pressure in one system is much lower than the other, the pin is pushed off center position and turns on your brake light. So if say a front brake system fluid valve is open or that system is full of air and you push the brake pedal down hard, the pin will snap off center because there is great pressure in one system side of it but not the other and this activates the brake light.
The fix is very easy though, once the system that was open or full of air is fixed, simply press VERY hard on the brake pedal and since both systems will have a lot of pressure, the pin will snap back to center and the light will go off.
Scotty Kilmer Changed brake fluid yesterday and had some spill when adding to the master cylinder. I thoroughly rinsed out that part of the engine bay but was wondering if I need to go back with soap. Thanks for all the videos!
Try checking the fluid in the caliper then tell me if there is a problem. That is where the most heat takes place.
I take them off and clean them on the bench and drain all the fluids in the system, when ever doing the brake pads.
Nothing like a clean start to the next 80- 90,000 miles in my rigs.
Simple and straight to the point, couldn't ask for more.
I never knew there was a tester!! Thank you so much uncle Scotty!
if I were flushing my brake system, or bleeding my brakes, I wouldn't push the brake pedal more than half or three-quarters of the way, because the master cylinder isn't used to the seals running in an unused area, and you could compromise the longevity of the master cylinder. My experience with Toyota's has been good and bad, they do have tighter tolerances, I definitely notice the nuts and bolts don't rust nearly as badly in the Rust Belt where I live. Bolts on an American car are rusted and want to break, and the Japanese bolts are rusted and they always come out and there's no rust in the thread below the head. Tighter tolerances and better factoring specifications. I wonder how that works if they're made in Mexico or USA?
What if i just get all i can out of the reservoir, refill it, wait a month, do that again, refill it, will that lower the ph enough to get by on an really old car or must I empty the lines? Does the fluid circulate or just sit there at the same place in the lines?
Scotty...thanks for all your videos that you do. I do have the Fluid Tester that you recommended and my current 2014 Honda Accord is at
This may be my new favorite youtuber.
Hi Scotty! I recently changed the brake master cylinder and brake booster in my 1981 Porsche 928 and flushed the brake fluid. It came out cloudy and kind of dark at first and then came out clear because of the new DOT 4 fluid I put in it. I suspect the fluid to never have been changed in the 33 years this car has been on the road. Would that be a good assumption or would something else cause that? Thank you
I think this guy is so cool. I wish i could fix my car like that.
I have seen master Cylinder tanks with rubber bellows to prevent any air from getting in, often have to make sure they are seated properly before replacing the cap, both my cars have them.
Once again, THANK YOU for the great video Scotty!
Have you tried it on new bottles, to just see what it reads? Or at least on 3-5 different cars? I'm just asking before I buy one..
That was very helpful and the only video I could find that gave me the exact location of the brake fluid reservoir...Thanks!!!
you can get the tester on ebay for $8.23
Next video will be about power steering fluid? Plz
Do you have any videos on how to change fix or replace brake lines....?
yes, "fixing a car that pulls to one side when braking"
"I wonder if Scotty ever did a video on changing brake fluid?" Awesome vid, Scotty. While I am sure I could change the brake fluid after watching this, I don't have a second set of competent/capable hands at my disposal.
Is there anyway to clean or brighten the fluid tanks under the hood? I have pretty bad vision and it's always extremely difficult for me to see where fluid levels are in the brake, coolant, and power steering reservoirs. I have to shine a bright flashlight from the back and practically shake the container to try and see movement of the fluid line. Other than that, it's so yellowed and opaque I just can't see it.
not really, but use a bright flashlight, really bright, that should shine through
Is it true that most dealerships will just extract the fluid from the reservoir and refill it as the brake fluid service? I have heard that this does help somewhat in that there is a bit of circulation throughout the system.
Moisture (water) is heavier than brake fluid so it works it's way to the lowest points in the system, which is the bottom of the brake calipers and/or brake cylinders. How is testing the fluid in the master going to give you a good indication of the moisture level in the cylinders?
it does mix in the whole system to an extent, checking at the master gives a good indication of the whole system's health
Just flushed my whole brake system. First time in 12 years. Definately needed to do it.
I got some brake bleeders with one-way valves built in. Just open the bleeder and pump the pedal. No need to open and close the bleeder between pumps.
Scotty, I replaced my rear callipers and pads. There’s two brake reservoirs. The one master and a little beside it! When we replaced the passenger rear was leaking fluid, some red trans like fluid was leaking. What’s the low down?
Scotty my brakes are spongy, the hand break is really loose and the clutch takes up really quickly. It's my 2006 Corolla and the clutch and brakes use the same system. If I pump the brake or clutch it doesn't change the way it feels so is that still air in the system or has the brake fluid lost it's properties?
I'm about to change all the brake pads and bleed the brakes/slave cylinder. Car has done 280k km.
Thanks Scotty! While the brake fluid doesn't have even 1% water (as measured by the tester), the Firestone guy says it has more than 500 ppm copper. Does that warrant brake fluid flush? The car is at 130k miles and I just bought it 6k miles ago.
scotty, i own '69 dodge dart with a weiland 318 in it. when you slow down, not using the brakes, it starts popping. it is no big deal, cause i am putting the original 340 back in over the winter. (original p-code 340 4 speed car)
Doesn't which side you start on depend on which side your master cylinder is on? I think you are supposed to start on the rear with the side opposite the cylinder, then the other rear, then the front opposite the cylinder and then finishing with the front closest to the cylinder. Working your way from farthest to nearest. Correct?
Depends on the ABS location too.
Hey Scotty, quick question, does old power steering fluid make your steering noticeably heavier?
yes, that you should change every 4 years or so, uber high pressure, crud builds up over time
Scotty thank you so much for your videos, quick and to the point and easy to follow i appreciate all the videos you put out
If you like my car help, be sure to watch my live car talk show every Saturday morning at 10 AM CST on TH-cam. I answer your car questions LIVE there. Just check it out at How To Ask A Live Mechanic Car Questions Free On TH-cam . And remember, every TUESDAY I upload a new video, so don’t miss them.
I have a 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid, can I bleed the brakes like a regular car or do I NEED to have a scanner? What if I bleed them without it?
What is the environmentally friendly way to dispose of old brake fluid?
I do it myself every two years.
10 bucks for the fluid,one hour to flush it.
michaelovitch What do you do with the old brake fluid?
o0Avalon0o recycle it with your town dump/transfer station or the auto parts stores if they accept brake fluids and motor oil.
Next time you do your brake fluid video tape it and upload on TH-cam
Or you could waste your money on a fancy "brake fluid sensor" and stick it in the hole every 10 years so then you "know when to change it".
michaelovitch What brake fluid do you use? Dot 3 dot 4?
I have a 2014 Jetta in bone-dry southern California with only 28k miles. Brake fluid still looks brand new and I've never had it changed, but I plan to have it changed in a year or so. I don't buy VW's recommendation of changing it every 2 years, give me a break. Does testing the fluid like this directly in the reservoir account for the moisture content of the fluid that's down inside the brake lines?
Will the measurement be adequate ? Is the fluid in the pipes that are the way to the back the same quality and water free as the one in the master cylinder up in the engine bay ?
Great video! Found your channel about a week ago and I have learned a lot. Keep the videos coming.
If you like my car help, be sure to watch my live car talk show every Saturday morning at 10 AM CST on TH-cam. I answer your car questions LIVE there. Just check it out at How To Ask A Live Mechanic Car Questions Free On TH-cam . And remember, every TUESDAY I upload a new video on the scotty kilmer channel on TH-cam, th-cam.com/users/scottykilmer , so don’t miss them.
Do you have to drain the line at each tire or is it okay to just change it just in the canister? My brake fluid is dark green. But I don't think I could get the tires off and back on.
A question, can you freshen up the brake fluid by taking 1/2 a quart out with the turkey baster, then top up with fresh brake fluid.
to a small extent yes, but it doesn't remove the brake fluid nearest the calipers, which is the fluid that experiences the most extreme temperature and wear conditions. far better to replace every 4 years or so.
they say to bleed first from the wheel farthest from the ABS module, is that true? are all ABS module always on the opposite of the master cylinder? 2010 toyota camry le 2.5 here
Just bought one of these from a well-known auction site for £5 inc. shipping, thanks for the tip!
Scotty, you saved the day again!!
Thank you for this! My Toyota dealership is trying to tell me that my 2021 Santa needs the brake fluid to be flushed when it's only 1.5 years old. I'll definitely be getting one of those tester things!
I'm doing clutch and flywheel work next spring. Since the clutch is hydraulic and uses brake fluid, should I flush and replace it?
Does the same information apply to clutch fluid since brake fluid is used?
Hey Scotty was just wondering isn't the order of bleeding different depending on the type of vehicle or the distance from master cylinder...? whats the deal?
+Dylan Campbell technically it is, so follow directions for your car IF it's a modern one with ABS brakes and all their insane computer run lines
ohhh forgot this too... I dont know If there is a pattern to bleed out the system the one I use is FL RR RL FR I see you used RL RR FRFL never seen that one before.... thats just me but is there a specially way how to flush them out Im a Honda Tech and is always good to know more stuff from someone with more experience
some companies have different bleeding schedules due to different designs. But normal cars are bleed starting at the furthest wheel from the master and ending up at the closest.
Hey Scotty where do you buy that brake fluid tester
got min on amazon
Is the bleed order the same on right hand drive vehicles? Right rear, left rear, front right, front left?
Always check your owners Manuel but I would say almost all cars have the same procedure. Bleed the valve that is the most farthest from the master cylinder. In this case it was
Rear passenger side
Rear driver side
Passenger side
Driver side
best way to flush and bleed brakes?
what about solo, without help?
vacuum bleeding?
JK 241 Check out 'gravity bleeding' which is how I do my cars. Almost impossible to mess up. Works well.
Scotty Kilmer is the best!!!!
Hey Scotty could you do a video on replacing your differential fluid?
Scotty, can you post a link to where to get the brake fluid testers?
just google "auto brake fluid tester" and buy the cheapest one, mine's on OTC model
Can you take fluid out of the reservoir and replace, drive, take more out, drive, take more out, drive until you put a whole bottles worth?
Hai Scotty does the brake fluid circulates to and from master cylinder and whole system? I mean is it okay to remove the old fluid from master cylinder add fresh fluid or bleed and fill the brakes?
Here in The Netherlands it's ussual recommended around 5-7 years.
It's noticable when you need to change it.
I had to change mine when I had bough a second hand car and now it breaks perfectly.
Wow, I never knew a brake fluid tester exists. Thanks, Scotty!
I replaced most of the brake fluid with a turkey baster but did not bleed the brakes after. It's been 6 months and my brakes are still working. Did it hold the vacuum?
just for myself I got a bmw 328i i do the brake flush myself every 8 months I dont believe that 2 years thing... thats just me actually like to have a nice and clean brake fluid in there and takes more time to take off the tires than actually popping out the bleeder am I right? keep the good job I have learn a lot from
you're doing overkill there, if you do my test you'd find maybe you'd have to do it once every 4 years, BMWs are pretty well sealed brake systems.
I suspect Scotty showers with AT-205. Watching this in 2021 and the man hasn't aged at all....
My problem with the E brake pedal is that it won't go down to engage the parking brake. It's stuck!! Do you have any suggestions on what to do about that?
+dshedder1 spray WD 40 all over it and pray it's just rusted, otherwise, time for a new pedal or new cable assembly
Ok . I'll give that a shot. Thanks for the quick reply!!
If you have never believed anything in your life, believe this: This man is a genius. Case closed.
Scotty! I have a bit of a novice question; What does it mean when only applying the brake, the red dash brake light appears? I tried topping it off with DOT3, but that didn't seem to help much.
Hey scotty whats your opinion on new Cadillacs? Endless money pits as they age?
Scotty, I was searching for brake fluid tests and ran across the Brake Engineering site. This particular page on their site was titled "The Dangers of Conductivity Type Brake Fluid Testers" Basically, they highly argued against using the type of tester you used in this video. Any thoughts? I assume you don't see a problem with them, but wondering what you think about Brake Engineering's opinion. Thanks!
Jon Alsager engineers can be weird anal people, that's for sure. There are of course other testers, like strips that measure for copper contamination from the copper used to seal the inside of the steel brake lines from rusting. For water, these testers work fine though,and water is the main problem
I think you have a good point. These brake fluid testers *must* be testing either conductivity or capacitance, and not actual water content. I would not trust my car's health to a simple conductivity test, especially when there is a significant chance that they can give misleading/incorrect results..
What about flushing the brake fluid inside the ABS unit? Is it possible to do without any special equipment? :(
NO, you need a dealer level scanner to do that
When I got my oil changed they told me the color my brake fluid indicated that it was bad. Well I knew my car was old so I used the pump method to change the fluid myself (without bleeding them). I'm curious if the color really can tell you that your brake fluid is bad. Scotty, what's your view? Thanks.
Wow! I didn't know these things existed! Quite a handy tool, and for only $35. Only problem is that if you have a Toyota, each time you want to test your brake fluid you have no idea of where you put that tester last time.
LOL!! Thats so true.
Can not changing the brake fluid cause the ABS light to come on?