brake fluid

[Nissan87]

I will be bleeding the brakes soon and I'm not sure about one thing. I don't know what brake fluid is in there now, since I had a mechanic install a new brake master cylinder with new brake fluid.

Would it be ok to just start filling her up with a possibly different brake fluid to bleed the brakes as long as it's DOT-3, and still be ok if some of the old brake fluid is left in there?

Also, I've heard that you should start with the caliper that's farthest from the master cylinder for bleeding the brakes which would be the passenger side rear. However, in the FSM it says that I should start with the "Left Rear" and I'm assuming that's the driver's side rear.. Just wanted someone to clarify this too, thanks.

Modified by Nissan87 at 1:27 PM 2/25/2010
Modified by Nissan87 at 1:50 PM 2/25/2010

[r3v_v3ng3]

any dot 3 is fine and so is the old fluid since it was just recently changed

[Nissan87]

any dot 3 is fine and so is the old fluid since it was just recently changed

It's actually been a little less than an year since the old fluid has been put in (It's been stored in a garage without changing any of the fluids). Would that make it unusable?
Modified by Nissan87 at 1:48 PM 2/25/2010

[sx moneypit]

Your fluid should be fine.As far as bleeding them ,starting on either side of the rear shouldn't make a whole lot of difference.

[tyrodtom]

The brake lines go across the front firewall to the right side, down to the right body rail and along that rail to the rear, then back to the left rear wheel, making the left rear the geatest distance from the master cylinder.

[Nissan87]

The brake lines go across the front firewall to the right side, down to the right body rail and along that rail to the rear, then back to the left rear wheel, making the left rear the geatest distance from the master cylinder.

Ah I see. Thanks for the input