How much brake fluid?

[Ricky]

Hi going to change my brake fluid, how much fluid do I need to buy? 250ml 500ml?

[tommyardin]

Ricky,
Buy the bigger one and you will have some left over to top up both front and rear reservoirs as the pads wear. If there is much to much you will have enough to replenish the whole system in a few years time.
About 7 or 8 quid a litre tops.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/COMMA-Dot-4-Synthetic-Brake-And-Clutch-Fluid-1-Litre-BF41L-/191545844167?hash=item2c9905a1c7:g:buUAAOSw7aBVGCFd

[PieEater]

Definitely the larger size, the actual system doesn't hold a lot of fluid but you may get through more than you think when replacing the fluid and bleeding the system depending on how you go about it.


I bought a cheap brake fluid change valve from my local car spares place which is essentially a sealed bit of rubber tube with a slit in it, when you squeeze the lever the fluid comes out of the slit which seals and stops air going back into the system when you release the lever, this works even better if the tube is immersed in some brake fluid as there is then no possibility of air getting back into the system. Makes brake fluid changes an easy one man job and is cheaper than the alternatives.

[topgun44]

when u open the seal off the brake fluid the air will get in I will only keep left overs for few weeks and then I will bin it as it will start to break down

[slappy]

From the web :

Castrol recommends that DOT fluid in previously opened containers should be discarded after 12 months. In our opinion it would be unwise to use DOT fluid from a bottle which has been open for more than a few months, unless you have no other alternative.

[Gaz66]

Hi..
I go thru at least 8-10 ltrs a wk at work, Honda supply fluid in 250ml bottles as Dot 4 is Hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from air) hence it will then compress in a Hydraulic system, that's why opened containers should either be used or only saved a short while.
I'd advise to buy 250ml bottles, one bottle  should be more than enough to flush a bikes hydraulics.
I always flush my bikes every 6mths, keeps system moisture & corrosion free.


Rgds
Gaz

[PieEater]

Yup 2 x 250ml bottles sounds like the best plan in case you don't end up having to use more than one bottle.

[RMT1983]

Ricky,
Buy the bigger one and you will have some left over to top up both front and rear reservoirs as the pads wear. If there is much to much you will have enough to replenish the whole system in a few years time.
About 7 or 8 quid a litre tops.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/COMMA-Dot-4-Synthetic-Brake-And-Clutch-Fluid-1-Litre-BF41L-/191545844167?hash=item2c9905a1c7:g:buUAAOSw7aBVGCFd

why would you want to top up the brake fluid as the pads wear down???!!!??? The fact that the fluid goes down means only 1 thing, new pads not a top up of fluid!!!


I always buy half a litre as you will be surprised how much you can use when trying to bleed them..............