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Food coloring in brake fluid

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Old Apr 17, 2007, 01:21 PM
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Food coloring in brake fluid

I bled my brakes a while back after installing SS brake lines. The Motul fluid is the same color as the OEM fluid and made it really hard to tell when the old fluid was out. If one were to add food coloring to it, would it damage anything in the brake system? Or even worse, ruin the brake fluid?

I know you can buy colored fluid already, but some are not as good as the Motul.

Any input appreciated.
Old Apr 17, 2007, 01:24 PM
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Food coloring is not brake fluid. It won't hold up to heat, compression, or anything else a brake fluid must do.
Old Apr 17, 2007, 01:32 PM
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So, are there any dyes that one can put into the system so one can see when bleeding is done?

I know food coloring is not brake fluid, but this would just be done for bleeding purposes.
Old Apr 17, 2007, 01:57 PM
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I wouldn't put any type of dye in the brake fluid system. If you had to, try some of the universal UV oil dye. It is supposed to be very inert and does not change the overall chemical makeup of the oil/fluid. Leaks can also be detected conveniently with a any UV (black) light.
Old Apr 17, 2007, 02:00 PM
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You should do it by volume.
Old Apr 17, 2007, 02:17 PM
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Yea don't use food coloring.
Old Apr 17, 2007, 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by ETS Michael
Yea don't use food coloring.
try atf super blue
Old Apr 17, 2007, 02:23 PM
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Originally Posted by MR.MITSU
try atf super blue
You mean ATE super blue. That stuff doesn't work as well as Motul I've tried it...a few long brake pedals later I was back with Motul. If you frequently bleed your brakes you only need to bleed out the stuff that got heated in the calipers.
Old Apr 17, 2007, 02:24 PM
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Anything but brake fluid is a bad idea. Food dye, water, fruit juice... they might as well all be the same thing.
Old Apr 17, 2007, 02:37 PM
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Originally Posted by machron1
You mean ATE super blue. That stuff doesn't work as well as Motul I've tried it...a few long brake pedals later I was back with Motul. If you frequently bleed your brakes you only need to bleed out the stuff that got heated in the calipers.
I have ATE super blue, two bottles but for that reason I did not use them.
Old Apr 17, 2007, 02:41 PM
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Originally Posted by vesendak
You should do it by volume.

+1.... please be carefull if you do otherwise
Old Apr 17, 2007, 02:56 PM
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If you have the time/patience or whatever, why don't you just crack open all your break lines and let the fluid out. Then bench bleed your master cylinder and then bleed the lines. Just to make sure you absolutely have nothing but Motel fluid.
Old Apr 17, 2007, 02:59 PM
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Not a good idea...AT ALL.

Brake fluid goes in the resevoir and THAT'S IT.
Old Apr 17, 2007, 08:01 PM
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don't do that.... just put through 3 bottles. best thing to do anyway... otherwise you don't get it all out.
Old Apr 18, 2007, 03:05 PM
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if you can, use a brake flush machine.....
thats a really good way to push all the old fluid, dirt and moisture out of the entire system...but they are expensive. most shops have them so if u know a buddy that works at a shop, see what he can do


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