Ever heard of green brake fluid?

[ericthered]

My neighbor said that the dealer said (in writing) that their brake fluid had a light green color... and that the dealer did not add that fluid. (Nor does anyone else, for that matter). The car has 65K miles on it, and the brake fluid has already been flushed.

So I searched the net...

I see references to a mineral based brake fluid (HSMO) only for Citroens that is dyed green, hard to find, and expensive. The vehicle has only been prof. maintained.

I also see references to greenish fluid due to either copper corrosion or due to algae. http://www.wheels.daytondailyn....htmlThat posting alone is not enough for me to make heads or tails out of what the dealer said.

Any trusted information or good ideas about the source of the light green brake fluid is likely to be?

Note: This is one piece of a bigger story where the brakes on an RX300 worked correctly under normal circumstances, but failed only in a panic stop. Can I ask a Lexus question here?

[qship96]

maybe some idiot mistakenly topped it up with antifreeze? stranger things have happened

[maxnix]

ATE makes a blue and a gold fluid. Mix them and you could have green, but usually one is used to chase the other out, the change in color confirming the new fluid has purged the old.
Modified by maxnix at 8:27 PM 12/30/2007

[texasoil]

GREEN is NOT allowed as brake fluid according to SAE specs. Must be clear/amber or blue.

The Citroen LHM fluid is OIL, and NOT compatible with automotive brake system seals.

Q45a suspension fluid is OIL and is yellow-clear when new, turns green with use.

[Gerardjg]

LHM is a green mineral based hydraulic fluid used in Citreon and Rolls Royces . I found this out when i needed this fluid for an Italian made (Fantuzzi) fork lifts brake system. It was about $30.00 a quart

[ericthered]

This was seen in a Lexus RX300 that was professionally cared for, thought not always by the dealer. It seems highly unlikely that this other fluid got in there.

The greenish fluid was blamed for causing the brakes to fail in a peculiar way... According to the dealer, the brakes failed to work only when you stopped very hard, I assume hard enough to engage the ABS. Under normal conditions the brakes worked as expected.

Yeah, it is not an Infiniti, but I don't post on Lexus boards.

Is it possible that this fluid could cause this bizarre behavior?

[maxnix]

Is it possible that this fluid could cause this bizarre behavior?

Sure, if it had too low a boiling point.

[Gerardjg]

Sure, if it had too low a boiling point.

THE MSDS shows the boiling point at >250 Centigrade

[maxnix]

THE MSDS shows the boiling point at >250 Centigrade

Only if it is not oxidized, previously overheated, of contaminated with moisture.

Why brake fluid must be changed frequently.

[ericthered]

I agree on the moisture boiling point... or possibly other gaseous contaminants. Maybe this was inside the ABS system, but not in the lines used for normal braking.

Only if it is not oxidized, previously overheated, of contaminated with moisture.

Why brake fluid must be changed frequently.

Which brings me back to the first question.... if brake fluid is somehow contaminated with products of oxidation (is water necessary?), can it begin to look greenish instead of clear or the typical used-brakefluid brown?

If so, has anyone seen this?

[maxnix]

I agree on the moisture boiling point... or possibly other gaseous contaminants. Maybe this was inside the ABS system, but not in the lines used for normal braking.

Yes, usually the ABS needs to be activated to purge it during a brake fluid exchange.

[ericthered]

Yes, usually the ABS needs to be activated to purge it during a brake fluid exchange.

It would seem pretty difficult for some professional to inadvertently put just enough green fluid into the system, and have it end up only in the ABS system... especially since the only brake work done on the car was changing pads.

What I can't figure is what might have gotten into the ABS system fluid, or how?

[maxnix]

Moisture as no seall is perfect. If fluids not flushed correctly and regularly, then fluid captured in ABS is acidic and destrying seals necessitating replacement, whichis not inexpensive.

I'd worry less about color and more about restorative and preventative maintenance. Fluid color is seconday. And not all mechanic or tehcnicians are professional or knowledgeable about a particular model.