DUMB QUESTION #5: Under hood reservoir??

[thefaculty]

Perhaps you guys can help clear this question up for me while I explore my old/new 911 SC.

In the hood space, drivers side there is this small reservoir and filling cap. Some places I have read that it is a second reservoir for some kind of concentrated window cleaning solution. In others I am told it is for brake fluid!

Given the choices I absolutely do not want to get that wrong so am hoping you guys can point me in the direction that will not cost me the most embarrassment and thousands of $$$!!

cheers
dK

[carreradpt]

Brake fluid

[lsf911]

Yup, definitely brake fluid

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by thefaculty

Given the choices I absolutely do not want to get that wrong so am hoping you guys can point me in the direction that will not cost me the most embarrassment .............

You will progress to the point of buying the Motive power bleeder some day. It's $50 and pressurizes the air on top of you brake fluid so you can crawl underneath and bust the caliper bleeders loose and bleed your brake system solo.

Instead of posting a pic of the giant pool of brake fluid on your garage floor along with the OMG what have I done freak out question, plug off that side port with a short piece of hose with a couple of hose clamps and a small bolt in the outbound side of the hose. Seal that port off.

That is an overflow vent. The Motive allows you to force fluid from the Motive container into the brake reservoir. It will vent onto floor if not sealed off.

Thank me later.

Ask me how I know.

[HorstP]

recommending a bleeder to somebody who cannot identify a brake fluid reservoir is probably ill advice. Not that he has to identify it...

[jac1976]

Give the guy a break, he’s enthusiastically investigating his new-to-him Porsche. He could more easily jump in and drive and let someone else take care of the details, but he obviously wants to do the work himself.

[Jameel]

Get the Bentley manual, Wayne's 101 book, a couple cold beers and spend some quality time with above items in a comfortable chair. I was in your shoes once, and good old fashioned book learning will answer 80% of your questions long before a forum response.

Your owner's manual also has a surprising amount of basic info inside.

[OldSpool87]

Originally Posted by jac1976

Give the guy a break, he’s enthusiastically investigating his new-to-him Porsche. He could more easily jump in and drive and let someone else take care of the details, but he obviously wants to do the work himself.

Agreed. Remember when it was new and exciting?

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by HorstP

recommending a bleeder to somebody who cannot identify a brake fluid reservoir is probably ill advice. Not that he has to identify it...

I don't think thefaculty indicates he is Jewish.

What is your major malfunction? Describe it or STFU.

I have seen many punk ass chumps on this forum before. You gonna respond or are you gonna use your head and go away?

Make your decision.

[gr jetson]

It's not completely clear that our German friend in Munich, Horst P, necessarily means ill-will to the OP, thefaculty. Horst could be meaning that brakes are not always the best place to first practice one's do-it-yourself skills for the obvious reason that the inability to stop is unforgiving. I once had a girlfriend who decided she was going to do her own car repairs. The first thing she did was to add brake fluid to the windshield washer. When she turned on the washer while driving down the freeway, it stripped the bright yellow paint right off the roof and back of her Datsun 240Z. It's funny now, but it wasn't then, but at least she could still stop her paint-deprived car.

This is not to say anything against the great Bob Kontak! He's one of my favorite posters, and I'm constantly amazed how much he's involved in everything Porsche. Where does one find the time?

[gtc]

Do not trust the above responses. That is the blinker fluid reservoir.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by gr jetson

It's not completely clear that our German friend in Munich, Horst P, necessarily means ill-will to the OP, thefaculty.

This old man stands on what he said. Not so much the Jewish thing but mine was a killer stab in the throat attempt. Horst was probably the guy that said Shhhhh, Shhhhh, in Saving Private Ryan. Perhaps wrong?

He must be old as eff by now.

Don't punk a newb. Never, ever.

[86 ssinit]

Yes for brake fluid. Hey no Dumb questions your new and ask away. Lots of good and knowledgeable people here. .

[Bill Douglas]

Brake fluid. Not just brake fluid but dot 4 brake fluid. Not dot 5. I thought bigger number = newer = better. It didn't work out that way.

[Driven97]

Not sure what's going on here, but to the OP:

Yes, that's your brake fluid reservoir.

The big black cylinder behind it is the brake booster. It's hooked up to engine vacuum on one side, and when you push the brakes it helps you push the brakes - aka vacuum assisted or more commonly called power brakes.

Behind that (hidden by the corrugated fresh air hose) sits the master cylinder. There's a plunger and a distribution block and the brake fluid is distributed to all four brake lines from here, which are routed to each caliper.

I *think* the silver block on the front is where the mechanical linkage to the brake pedal attaches, but I've never had that apart myself so I could be wrong.

Anyways, as your brake pads wear, the pistons in the calipers have to go further out to clamp the brake discs. This takes more fluid in the system than full thickness pads, hence the need for a reservoir with a small amount of extra fluid. Brake fluid doesn't (or at least shouldn't) "go away" so you should never top off the reservoir with old pads, or you'll leak extra fluid out of the top when you compress the calipers to install new pads. Brake fluid is nasty stuff that can strip paint.

[jac1976]

...Strip paint and catch fire.

[James Brown]

yuup, washer fluid

[Canada Kev]

Brake fluid for sure.

The intensive washer system is the one to which you refer, designed for the special fluid to clean off stubborn road grime. It also wasn't available until sometime in the 3.2 Carrera era, I believe, in post 1984. It looks like this with the big red cap.

[RSBob]

Originally Posted by James Brown

yuup, washer fluid

Did you miss your flogging today?

[thefaculty]

Thanks so much everyone (well almost everyone!). As many of you have been awesome enough to point out, we all have a day one and this is mine. So to those kind enough to invest their own time in help guys like me out and simple thank you doesn't feel enough. I may be very slowly learning about this new adventure but, in turn, I am rapidly learning that the Pelican community seems to be truly unique in it's comradarery and willingness to help others. I'm gonna learn a lot from you guys and, some day, maybe I can pass it on to someone in a similar position as I find myself in today.

So, to those of you how have helped out, thank you again.

I'm off to top up the washer fluid! I'll let you know how it goes! lol