peter J
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Sep 18, 2024
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Noticed that the brake fluid was low in the resevoir of my 1973 xj6. the label says to use girling or castrol . the fluid is a green color. what should i use to top up?
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I always hated it when people would top up the fluid as routine maintenance because the reservoir volume is calculated to be LOW when the brake pads were worn enough to allow the caliper pistons to have enough fluid displaced to cause the level indicator to illuminate.
If there is NO LEAK and the level indicator comes ON, then a brake pad change is required!!!!
I'm sure the engineers spent time to calculate this and NOBODY uses this logic.
Even when I replace the fluid in the system I try to put the level at the same point before I drained/flushed/replaced the fluid. (recommended every 2 years)
Just me thinking out loud.
If there is NO LEAK and the level indicator comes ON, then a brake pad change is required!!!!
I'm sure the engineers spent time to calculate this and NOBODY uses this logic.
Even when I replace the fluid in the system I try to put the level at the same point before I drained/flushed/replaced the fluid. (recommended every 2 years)
Just me thinking out loud.
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Green? That's not good... Either your car has very very old Castrol-Girling Green fluid—which I think would have been the factory-recommended fluid in '73—or the fluid is so old contaminants have turned it green.
To be safe I would flush the system entirely with new fluid, rather than top it up. Castrol-Girling Green was replaced by their Amber fluid in the late 1970s, a.k.a. Castrol-Girling "Universal" fluid; the Universal fluid is what's spec'ed in my '88 Series III. The modern equivalent is Castrol DOT4, but really any DOT4 fluid should do.
To be safe I would flush the system entirely with new fluid, rather than top it up. Castrol-Girling Green was replaced by their Amber fluid in the late 1970s, a.k.a. Castrol-Girling "Universal" fluid; the Universal fluid is what's spec'ed in my '88 Series III. The modern equivalent is Castrol DOT4, but really any DOT4 fluid should do.
motorcarman
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I always hated it when people would top up the fluid as routine maintenance because the reservoir volume is calculated to be LOW when the brake pads were worn enough to allow the caliper pistons to have enough fluid displaced to cause the level indicator to illuminate.
If there is NO LEAK and the level indicator comes ON, then a brake pad change is required!!!!
I'm sure the engineers spent time to calculate this and NOBODY uses this logic.
Even when I replace the fluid in the system I try to put the level at the same point before I drained/flushed/replaced the fluid. (recommended every 2 years)
Just me thinking out loud.
If there is NO LEAK and the level indicator comes ON, then a brake pad change is required!!!!
I'm sure the engineers spent time to calculate this and NOBODY uses this logic.
Even when I replace the fluid in the system I try to put the level at the same point before I drained/flushed/replaced the fluid. (recommended every 2 years)
Just me thinking out loud.
Quote:
I prefer to use the BLUE coloured Dot 4 fluid. Reason? Easier to see the fluid level in the (aged) yellowed plastic master cylinder reservoir !!!Originally Posted by peter J
Thank you both for your replies!
My two shillings worth.
Pete
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yarpos
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Quote:
If there is NO LEAK and the level indicator comes ON, then a brake pad change is required!!!!
I'm sure the engineers spent time to calculate this and NOBODY uses this logic.
Even when I replace the fluid in the system I try to put the level at the same point before I drained/flushed/replaced the fluid. (recommended every 2 years)
Just me thinking out loud.
mmmmm you would think they would have put it in the owners manual wouldnt you?Originally Posted by motorcarman
I always hated it when people would top up the fluid as routine maintenance because the reservoir volume is calculated to be LOW when the brake pads were worn enough to allow the caliper pistons to have enough fluid displaced to cause the level indicator to illuminate.If there is NO LEAK and the level indicator comes ON, then a brake pad change is required!!!!
I'm sure the engineers spent time to calculate this and NOBODY uses this logic.
Even when I replace the fluid in the system I try to put the level at the same point before I drained/flushed/replaced the fluid. (recommended every 2 years)
Just me thinking out loud.
Banned
Quote:
If there is NO LEAK and the level indicator comes ON, then a brake pad change is required!!!!
I'm sure the engineers spent time to calculate this and NOBODY uses this logic.
Even when I replace the fluid in the system I try to put the level at the same point before I drained/flushed/replaced the fluid. (recommended every 2 years)
Just me thinking out loud.
I'm currently preparing my car for it's MOT at the end of February, and as such doing jobs where I can on my days off. (Currently I've had to replace the lower ball joints and doing the track rod ends next week!) Today I was checking under the bonnet to check the fluids and I noticed the brake fluid is looking lower than usual. Can I simply open the cap and add more fluid? Or do I have to bleed the brakes? I'm not 100% sure I can just top up as I thought exposure to air had a negative effect on the fluid? Thanks,Originally Posted by motorcarman
I always hated it when people would top up the fluid as routine maintenance from the car garage mussafah abu dhabi because the reservoir volume is calculated to be LOW when the brake pads were worn enough to allow the caliper pistons to have enough fluid displaced to cause the level indicator to illuminate.If there is NO LEAK and the level indicator comes ON, then a brake pad change is required!!!!
I'm sure the engineers spent time to calculate this and NOBODY uses this logic.
Even when I replace the fluid in the system I try to put the level at the same point before I drained/flushed/replaced the fluid. (recommended every 2 years)
Just me thinking out loud.
Doug
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Quote:
Can I simply open the cap and add more fluid?
YesCan I simply open the cap and add more fluid?
Cheers
DD
motorcarman
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The brake fluid reservoir caps are VENTED for air to displace the fluid as the level drops.
It is always exposed to air.
The small vent hole might limit the exposure but it is always there.
It is always exposed to air.
The small vent hole might limit the exposure but it is always there.
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