What happens if water gets into the brake/clutch fluid?
Answers:
Water or moisture does get in to brake fluid naturally as brake fluid is what as known as hygroscopic, this means it absorbs moisture from the surrounding air, this is one reason why you should never use brake fluid that has been open for a a while. The brake system works on the theory that it is impossible to compress a fluid so when you press the pedal the fluid moves the brakes a proportional amount to apply the brakes, because the system is sealed this is how the brakes actually work ( a variation on newtons third law). when you introduce water or moisture in to the equation as somebody rightly said this has a much lower boiling point than the brake fluid and as temperatures in brake systems can reach over 1,000 degrees C then the water boils away and the resulting vapour is compressed which reduces the efficency of the brake, so as your pushing the pedal the response at the caliper/ wheel cylinder is reduced as well, this feels like the brakes are fading away from you and you dont stop as quickly, also as previously stated the water over a period of time (if you survive that long ) will assisst in components rusting which again could cause brake faliure.
If you have water in your hydraulic fluid you need to change the fluid and this needs to be done properly so unless you have the experiance and equipment head to a garage as quick as possible
YA DOH STOP AS GOOD
**** you should not have a licence to kill - take it to a repair shop
Water disolves brake fluid. brake fluid has a much higher boiling point than water, this along with the fact that brake fluid does not foam up is why it is used.
the affected system needs to be flushed to get ALL water out or rusting of components will occur.
ASE master tech
Nissan master tech.
It reduces the effectiveness of the hydraulic fluid. Obviously this is not a good thing. The solution is to bleed the system and replace the fluid. Any garage can do this for you shouldn't cost too much
It doesn't work properly. Drain it off, flush it with clean fluid, refill it and bleed it. (Better still, get a mobile mechanic to do it).
brakes are liable to fail big time
It messes everthing up,brakes stop working clutch also
the water turns to steam when the brakes heat causing you braking problems along with corrosion problems
All of the above is also why you should change your brake/clutch fluid as a matter of routine every 2 - 3 years. National Tyres did mine for £27.00 (less 10% for booking online) all inclusive.
It will cause rust an early malfunction of the slave cylinder and other cultch parts, It should be flushed immediatley! In other words DO NOT let it happen
Brakes lose authority - the water boils and affects braking - DANGEROUS.
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