shelf life of brake fluid

[356robo]

I found 2 cans of ATE 200, DOT 4 brake fluid dated purchased June of 07. The cans are still sealed. The plastic pull out plugs are still intact. Are they safe to use to flush and refill my brake system?

Thanks in advance,
Rob

[RWebb]

maybe

maybe not - the metal cans last pretty well

if I was just DYING to use it, I might put it in a Kia or something and then send some out for testing. Of course, then you saved no $$.

A lot of it is about risk tolerance. How do you feel about nuclear power? The likelihood of a failure is very low, but the consequence if that failure happens are high. OTOH, with a coal fired nuclear power plant, the likelihood of a failure is certain (health effects from the pollution), but the consequence of that failure are low and chronic.

Your brakes are like the nuke plant.

Your choice.

[Zeke]

Threads before have indicated yes. Most folks fluid is much older than that and subject to moisture retention from the day it was installed.

[Kidasters]

If the cans are sealed, you are fine. Use it.

They go bad when exposed to air. They can't go bad in 3 years sitting in the can. Or at least, they shouldn't.

I'd use it in my cars.

[RWebb]

actually, vapor can infiltrate the "seal" - I doubt it is bad, since '07. Ask on their web site re shelf life.

[jorian]

A manufacturer will err on the side of caution and recommend you only use new stuff. As Milt said condensation can occur from the day you put the new stuff in.

That said, I am just rebuilding my brakes and have one open bottle of Motul and two sealed ones. I'll use the open one to flush the existing fluid and chase it with the new stuff.

[Bill Verburg]

Unopened steel container, no problem. Plastic is reputed to be more permeable but unopened I'd say fine.

once they are opened all bets are off, B/F is hygroscopic, it absorbs moisture from the air. It doesn't need condensation to influence it's insidious degradation though w/ track use that is certainly going to be happening too.

[gregwils]

I found this on ATE's website. It doesn't address sealed storage though it does state the change interval is up to three years, but determined by the vehicle mfg's spec. I think the manual for my '86 says 2 years. I have been changing annually, and probably will continue. This was surprising to me, thought the yellow and blue would be more susceptible to moisture absorption.

If they are saying up to a three year change interval, hard to imagine a sealed container would go bad in the same time frame.

ATE -ATE Brake Fluids

[RWebb]

interval depends on usage (& env'l conditions) -- for a street 911, 2 years should be fine for fluid that is in the m/c; for a race with mid-range fluid 2 years may not be fine

for a Subaru, 3 yrs likely fine (unless it is a WRX...)

his fluid is approx. 3 yrs old; it is in a metal can, but apparently has a plastic cap

So...