Motive Power Bleeder WARNING!

Is fuel line compatible with brake fluid?
I know it's some corrosive, odd stuff.

 

WOW, I use the same unit, its a life saver, makes bleeding the hydrolics so much simpler.
I can't thankyou enough for this warning!!!!!! I will take your advice and make the repair ASAP. My unit is 2 years old and trouble free so far.

I hope your paint and finishes are unharmed!!!

I have never gone above 10psi on the guage and it works fine. Check the bottle after each wheel, maybe 2 or 3 pumps, and on to the next bleeder.

 

I'll check with NAPA and see if I can find a hose that is brake fluid safe in that size.

 

here's my take on the motive brake bleeder.

i believe that the vinyl tubing that comes with the unit is soluable in dot 3,4 fluid.
if you rely on it to carry brake fluid to the resevoir, you could be asking for it.
over time it could fail and spray all over your car at a very unopportune moment.

i fill the brake resevoir with fluid and use the brake bleeder solely as a pressure
accumulator. no fluid can explode out of the tank and do damage.

this can be a pain as you are forced to repeatedly re-fill the brake resevoir. also
residual air pressure must be relieved from the motive prior to opening it.

however, i feel this is the safest way to use the motive and avoid expensive
clean-ups.

i also installed a 1/4"ball valve inline between the motive and the brake resevoir.
that way i can control what's happening and abort keeping pressure on the
brake system if i see something i don't like. the assumption here is that the
vinyl tubing is capable of sustaining pressure on the motive side.

yes, it takes me an eternity to change brake fluid. however, i like taking my
good old time to perform this task.

p.s. thanks birdman. i got my mat grabbers.

 

I prefer the vacuum approach. It's a little quirky sometimes but it works and is less likely to spray brake fluid around.

 

that hose is pretty crappy. The brake fluid does seem to weaken it over time. so even if you've only used it 4-5 times, after a few years the hose seems to break down.

mine did. luckily I noticed mine was splitting before I ran brake fluid through it the last time so no damage, but it is a bit of a scary situation.

(Also, I never pressurize mine to more than 5-7 lbs.)

 

Wow, really sorry to hear about that!

Like Bill, I fill only the brake reservoir with fluid and top up as required, without ever putting fluid in the bottle of my pressure bleeder. I use a Speedi-Bleed, which is similar to the Motive pressure bleeder, except it attaches to a tire valve as a pressure source, and has a pressure regulator in-line so one can easily dial in the desired pressure (I find around 8-10 psi is plenty). The one I have has worked great, but I have only had it a few years, so I will inspect the tubing beforehand when using it in the future.

 

A very effective paint remover.

Really sorry to hear about the big gd mess. I hate brake fluid ... Ranks just behind guard rails that attack ...

Bob S.

 

hi gents,

i forgot to mention one other thing....

i never know how much fluid a complete change is going to consume.

do i pour in 1litre, or 1 1/2 litres? now you may end up wasting fluid if you didn't use up
all of it in your bleeding operation.

by pouring into the brake resevoir, you only use up what you need.

on the other hand, if you alternate fluid colors from 1 year to the next, you could end
up trashing last year's fluid anyway.

just my spin.

btw.. pvc tubing is not the best choice for brake fluid. if mcmaster or some lab supply
house could provide clear polyethelene, it might hold up better. motive probably used pvc
for cost reasons.


any chemists out there?

 

It's not petroleum-based, I know that. A quick google (Topeka?) search indicates that it will sweat through fuel line in a matter of days and that EPDM is preferred for brake fluid compatibility. But then the following link points to silicone. I'm sure an interested party could find some good stuff and inform us all! I'm hungry for breakfast...

http://speedbleeder.zoovy.com/product/SPEEDBLEEDERHOSE
http://www.yoyodyneti.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=19.6371.26

I also caught reference to VWs using some kind of remote brake reservoir leading to hope that import parts or repair places might have something compatible in stock. And never forget McMaster-Carr for any specific hose needs!

 

I learned something new today from a DOT 4 Brake Fluid MSDS. The DOT 3 MSDS said the same thing:

______________________________________________________

General Storage Information: Glycol ethers as a family of solvents can be stored in carbon steel. Stainless steel or high baked, phenolic-lined tanks may be considered for critical applications sensitive to slight discoloration or trace iron contamination. Piping can be made of the same material as the storage tank. A centrifugal pump is suitable for transfer services. Butyl rubber or EPDM can be used for gaskets and packing.

NOTE: UCC does not recommend using aluminum, copper, galvanized iron, galvanized steel, Viton, neoprene, nitrile or natural rubber with glycol ethers. Glycol ethers do not present a significant flammability hazard at normal storage temperatures. They have relatively low vapor pressures, viscosities and freezing points.

________________________________________________________

Gaskets and packing are not movable during normal use, so even if the fluid caused a swelling of the packing material, it wouldn't impact the unit that it is in. Since Viton is not compatible, neither would other soft tubing materials IMO. While one could use the tubing, the brake fluid will cause a softening/swelling of the tubing over time and eventually a failure like what Birdman experienced will occur.

 

Dot 3 and 4 is some nasty stuff. I recently overhauled the brakes on a 1983 Honda Gold Wing. Everything on the bike was original including the brake fluid. the calipers, master cyl bodies hoses pistons had to be replaced it cost the owner over $2500 to do the repairs.

The golden rule flush your brake systems regularly and it you are using a pressure bleeder make sure all of the gaskets and seals are all replaced regularly.

if you get an fluid on anything painted get it cleaned up quickly. Depending on the quality of paint it may start to dissolve it in a matter of miniutes.

 

Had this happen to me couple of times already on the motive bleeder. So now I try to remember to flush the bleeder with water after each use.

 

There is flexible hose made for brake fluid low, usually used between a master cylinder and a remote reservoir. Not sure who made it, but I don't think it is something that is too hard to find.

 

If you do that I would make sure that the bleeder is 100% dry before putting brake fluid into it again as the brake fluid is hygroscopic and will absorb the water.

 

I don't know what is in brake fluid, But gasoline does not 'eat your paint like brake fluid does'!
So I don't think fuel line will do the job.
Stephen

 

I wash mine out in the sink with hot water and dishwashing soap EVERY time after using it, and rinse it out thoroughly after.

My line still split after around 4 years. Either the line is just plain cheap, or the exposure to the brake fluid damages it, even after cleaning it.

I've used it just as a pressurizer, like people above describe. It is more of a hassle, but it's safer that way. I think from now on, I'll just change the hose every year. It's cheap, and every year changes will ensure that it doesn't burst.

 

I don't have a unit, but I suspect if one can get rigid polyethylene/polyproplyene tubing like the stuff used for a water supply to a refrig. ice maker, it would be acceptable or at least last much longer than the origional soft tubing. The rigid tubing would still flex so it may be a useful fix if it can be properly fitted to the unit.

 

Several Italian cars and all air cooled VWs use a special ("green" or "blue") hose between the master cylnder and the master cylinder reservoir.

It is easy to find, even over the counter, at VW bug repair shops.

Jay

 

Sorry, no luck at NAPA today.
The tech line was closed today (sat.) I'll try next week and inquire about the brake lines others have mentioned.
In the long run I think I'll feel safest replacing the hose every two years no matter whats on there, just another cost to having fun, enjoying the toys, and saving money at the same time.