Here's a lesson I learned the hard way concerning brake fluid and cold weather.
Brake
fluid is hygroscopic, i.e., it absorbs moisture, so if it has been a spell
since your
car's last fluid change there is a good chance that there is moisture
accumulated in the
brake lines, at the lowest point in the system. In cold enough weather (and I
think 150 F
is plenty cold enough!) this little bubble of moisture may freeze and become a
plug. This
might not be too big a problem if it is in the middle of a line somewhere, but
if the
lowest point in the system is a slave cylinder (like the clutch slave in my old
BMW
3.0Si), the first push on the pedal will push that plug past a seal or o-ring,
and voila!
no brakes (or clutch, in my case).
I've never had the need for a checklist of things to do to get my car ready for
winter
storage, living in sunny California like I do, but if I were making one, I'd
include
"Change brake and clutch system fluids".
Gary McCormick
San Jose, CA
Russell Southwell wrote:
> 15 oF outside, put the hard top on the roadster and pushed it deeper in
> the Garage.
> I should change brake fluid this year as I haven't since I've owned it.
> maybe in Feb we'll get one of those just above freezing days when you've
> been too cold for too long, and it will feel like a roadster top down
> day.
> sure hate to put it away.
> since its too cold and I do have more broke ones I'll join NOROC.
> Russ Southwell,
> ps Sid I have an 8 point 210 lb whitetail hanging beside the roadster,
> good eating this winter.
|