The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

My offspring took his Renault Clio in for MOT and one of the advisories was....
" High measurement of water content in the Brake Fluid ".

O.K. it was corrected at the service and it passed the MOT but this sounds like a new requirement with an electronic measurement.
I couldn't see it in my old .pdf copy of the manual btw.
Is this just for newer cars ?
Ta,
Tony.

Part of the proposed EU test as its something that is checked in other countries, but not part of the official UK test.

Probably a good thing, you wouldn't want you brake fluid to boil, create steam and get spongy brakes as you hurtle down a steep hill. Still, I'm not sure how often that happens, I suspect next to never and not just as fluid replacement is a basic service item. I suppose it might catch out the odd couldn't give a rats arse to maintenance person with a £100 hack.

_________________
Current fleet: '75 Sprint, '73 1850, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Honda CG125, Yamaha Fazer 600, Shetland 570 (yes it's a boat!)

Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3

Wasnt aware but will ask the tester when he's in next week.

Probably a good thing to test as so many people don't bother to change it regularly.

_________________
Mark

1961 Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier Sportswagon
1980 Dolomite Sprint project using brand new shell
2009 Mazda MX5 2.0 Sport
2018 Infiniti Q30

I've got a customer MOT on Tuesday so I'll see what my tame tester says, but i've not heard of this one and I usually get advance notice from him of new introductions like this. It's entirely possible that it's not yet on the statute book as a RFR, having the testing equipment is voluntary and results obtained thereby only advisory.
Personally, I think it's a good idea. I change the brake fluid on my Cavs every 2 years, as per the service literature and about every 3 years on the Carledo (which is on synthetic Dot5.1 fluid)
But of possibly 2-300 customers that I have, only 3 that I can think of have their brake fluid replaced regularly. I occaisionally do one off changes for specific failures (very rare) and will usually bleed through an entire system if changing more than one metal pipe for MOT, but most of them look at you blankly when you suggest they add it to their service and flatly refuse to spend more money than they absolutely have to. Mind you, the locals round here have a reputation for being "careful" with their cash! I don't much like doing it myself as the potential for doing expensive damage releasing (or failing to release) recalcitrant bleed screws is too high!
I can see the wheel cylinder manufacturers and caliper reconditioners rubbing their hands with glee from here though, since this will no doubt boost their business no end. If only from the snapping off of long undisturbed bleed screws by ham fisted fitters!

Steve

_________________
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.

Its not part of the MOT test, in fact its not allowed as part of the test to even remove the brake fluid reservoir cap - and if VOSA was watching you, it would earn you disciplinary points.... So although its entirely sensible to measure and advise the water content of the brake fluid as part of a service, i would not do so on an MOT...

I asked my tester about this, not only is it not a test requirement or a RFR, there are no plans to make it so. And as Matt correctly points out, it is absolutely VERBOTEN for a tester to remove ANY part of a car for inspection, so taking the master cylinder lid off to check is a total no-no. There are NO plans to change this either.
My man says they have a fluid hygrometer but rarely use it, even on services. By coincidence one of my other customers took her uncle's nearly new Skoda into the main dealers for service and phoned me in a bit of a panic when they advised her the fluid had a high water content and should be changed (at a cost of 15 megabucks or so) But this was not on an MOT, so OK. At least from a legal standpoint.
As far as I can see, this is just another legal scam to scare customers into parting with their hard earned! I very much doubt that a less than 2 year old, low mileage (11k) Skoda would actually desperately need it's brake fluid changing!

Steve

_________________
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.

Those little scallywags that work in garages have always been good at inflating their profits.
I remember taking my Sprint into a garage for an MOT and they declared the front tie rods of having worn bushes...................ah but they were new but I had used the old rusty nuts.
Two new shiny nuts and it passed and I never went there again, for anything.

_________________
track action maniac.

The lunatic is out................heres Jonny!