Turkey baster method for clutch and brake fluid

One of my friends suggested that I use a turkey baster to remove the
fluid from the brake and clutch reservoirs over the next few oil changes
in lieu of bringing it somewhere and having the system flused out.
Basically, he said to use the turkey baster to suck out the dirty fluid,
then replenish it with clean fluid. After about 2 or 3 times, he said
the fluid in the reservoir should be fairly clean and I don't have to
flush the system.

Is this really an effective method? My initial plan was to purchase a
bleeder that pushes fluid through the system.

 

the best method is to use both systems. the turkey baster is good in
that you don't end up having to flush through a load of old fluid before
you get down to the real business of bleeding at the brake cylinders.

be careful on the choice of baster. the clear plastic ones can be
attacked by the brake fluid and crack. the milky white ones are poly
propylene and hold up perfectly.

one more hint: remove the filter from the brake fluid reservoir. not
only do you not want to inadvertently damage it, you can get more fluid
out also.

 

Simply changing the reservoir fluid is not effective at all. Such an
approach would do absolutely nothing about the fluid that's /already/ in
the lines and in the slave cylinder.

Replacing the reservoir's fluid prior to flushing is a very good idea, as
jim beam has pointed out, BUT it needs to be supplemented with proper
bleeding at the slave cylinder's bleed screw so as to also introduce new
fluid into the lines and slave. Your pressure-bleeding idea is an excellent
one.

Your brakes need to be serviced in the exact same manner. It would be wise
if you did that system at the same time as when you do the clutch.

 

with respect to freshening conditioners for the master cylinder seals,
replacing the reservoir fluid only /is/ beneficial. true, you're not
replacing it all, but like an automatic transmission fluid which you
cannot 100% replace, dilution is effective.

 

True, but I think only marginally beneficial. It will slightly
prevent corrosion of the master cylinder. The crud is still in the
lines and calipers, though. If you don't mind spending a few bucks,
you can have a reputable shop power flush the system for you. That
gets things really cleaned out, they deal with the fluid disposal,
etc.

 

Except that the dilution will not manage to get down to the slave cylinder,
so you're effectively treating only half the seals when you drain/fill the
reservoir only. A full fluid change is the only proper way to do it.

Unlike in an automatic transmission, brake/clutch fluid does not
recirculate, and thus there's little intermixing of fluid.

 

Not to mention the effect it has on the turkey...

 

Or theLesbians !

 

It really doesn't matter what country they're from.
--
When you wish upon a falling star, your dreams come true.
Unless it's really a meteorite hurtling to the Earth which
will destroy all life. Then you're pretty much hosed no
matter what you wish for. Unless it's death by meteor.


- dillon