Brake fluid on paint

[Hendog]

I have a Motive pressure bleeder. I originally bought it for my Pcar and so it came with a single length of tubing fitted with the correct Pcar cap. Always worked well when bleeding the 911.
I recently bought the universal cap which requires you to cut the the tubing and crimp on brass mating terminals which allows me to bleed my Accord's brakes. Saturday I replaced the right calliper and the pads on both sides, then bled the system. The universal cap worked somewhat OK, but if I exceeded 5psi it would begin to leak fluid out the reservoir and down all over the parts below. If I kept it just under 5psi I was able to get the work done. Afterwards I put the wheels back on and drove it for the day. It seemed I still had air in the system so the next day (yesterday) I bled it again. Well at some point while bleeding the brakes on the Accord, the crimped mating terminal started to leak fluid on the shock tower. I finished bleeding the system, put everything back together and hosed down all the parts that got brake fluid on it. I let the water run a good while and scrubbed where I could. I also sprayed some VIM on there and ran the water again for a while. What are the consequences of this fluid on the paint and also on the other parts?

[afterburn 549]

Wipe it off with hot soap and water.
I would say use a thinner , but I do not know if your paint is already soft?
If you can push it with a fingernail and not leave a mark wash it dwn with a thinner (start in a small spot in case disaster STRIKES)
Brake fluid is not a instant paint remover....it will bust it dwn, ........

[onewhippedpuppy]

You should be fine. As long as you clean the surfaces shortly after they get brake fluid on them, it's all good.

BTW, I love my Motive bleeder but the universal caps are pure crap. I have the universal one for older dual reservoir domestic master cylinders that clamps over with hooks and chains, it takes forever to get it leak free.

[john70t]

Hey why not use a low-pressure Motive at the M/C reservoir and a Mityvac at the caliper?
Double trouble.

[masraum]

It's been my experience that you can't wipe brake fluid off fast enough to keep it from affecting the finish on paint. Maybe my first expertise or two was on really old crappy paint. I am very careful about brake fluid on paint.

[john walker's workshop]

I just use air in my motive. Drilled a hole through the bottle and installed a metal tire valve. You can put 40# in it. Just keep the reservoir full as you go. Lots better than leaking fluid on everything.

[Hendog]

OK, I think I'll be alright. Besides it's just an '02 Accord I bought new and will drive into the ground as it's only a commuter appliance, so I'm not too concerned about a little "smudge" in the engine bay. Thanks for the replies.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by masraum

It's been my experience that you can't wipe brake fluid off fast enough to keep it from affecting the finish on paint. Maybe my first expertise or two was on really old crappy paint. I am very careful about brake fluid on paint.

That's because wiping it off will not remove it. You need to use water. The good news is that water will dissipate brake fluid immediately. Soapy water should be used for sure but keep a bottle or pail of plain water handy when working with brake fluid for immediate rinses.

Wiping it off painted surfaces with a rag only will result in removed or severely damaged paint.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Hendog

OK, I think I'll be alright. Besides it's just an '02 Accord I bought new and will drive into the ground as it's only a commuter appliance, so I'm not too concerned about a little "smudge" in the engine bay. Thanks for the replies.

Just spray it with the hose a little on the areas where it spilled under the hood, (once everything is buttoned-up and sealed, obviously). The problem with removed paint under the hood is the resultant rust, especially where you live.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

I just use air in my motive. Drilled a hole through the bottle and installed a metal tire valve. You can put 40# in it. Just keep the reservoir full as you go. Lots better than leaking fluid on everything.

I agree with this.

[Mrmerlin]

WHOA lets talk about this for a few mins.

So while using the motive bleeder ,
I use mine empty other than pressurized air.

Now it occurs to me that others may fill the bottle with brake fluid and then pump this into the reservoir. why would you do this?
I have found that pumping up the bottle to about 10 PSI is sufficient to push the fluid out the bleeders without blowing the reservoir off the MC.

Any one with thoughts about this please respond

[fxeditor]

Yeah, the Motive filled with brake fluid is pure evil. I had the feed hose blow on me the one time it tried it! Had it pumped to 10psi on the dial, went over to the far right tire to statr my bleed and heard a sound like rushing water. . . So much fun cleaning up a liter of brake fluid from the front trunk of a 911!

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Mrmerlin

Now it occurs to me that others may fill the bottle with brake fluid and then pump this into the reservoir. why would you do this?

I may be mistaken, but I believe that the instructions tell you to fill the reservoir with brake fluid, and I did just that the first time.

It worked, but I subsequently learned to use it dry.

It makes life oh, so much easier....

[Hendog]

I've used it "wet" and "dry" and worked well both ways, until this last time. The nice part about using it wet is you put in a liter of fluid and pressurize it then bleed without stopping to fill, but this latest episode has taught me it's not worth it. I'll be using dry from now on. The time I "saved" using it wet was wasted in the end.
BTW, I don't think I would want to pressurize beyond 10 lbs. That's plenty of pressure to get the job done.