Old Brake Fluid Switched Out - Feels AWESOME - Page 2

LeiZ · #1 08-20-2013, 08:31 AM

I did read the sticker on the bottle. Can't remember on top of my head, but it does say off-street use only. Looks like my car is gonna be the last one on the street which is filled with BLUE brake fluid, according to this news.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCL

Didn't know it was illegal in some staes. As of August 16th, however, it is illegal in all states. They have been ordered to pull it from the shelves.

Link here:

Braking News: ATE Super Blue Deemed Illegal for US Distribution*|*Hooniverse

TiAgX5 · #2 08-20-2013, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeiZ

I did read the sticker on the bottle. Can't remember on top of my head, but it does say off-street use only. Looks like my car is gonna be the last one on the street which is filled with BLUE brake fluid, according to this news.

No the case, I have enough SuperBlue for 2 more blue brake flushes (2 new sealed cans), just did an Amber flush a few mos ago. That means I will have blue fluid going in 6 yrs from now. If the bottle is factory sealed and kept in a cool/dry place it has a looooong shelf life.

LeiZ · #3 08-20-2013, 11:08 AM

Ha! you cheated!

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

No the case, I have enough SuperBlue for 2 more blue brake flushes (2 new sealed cans), just did an Amber flush a few mos ago. That means I will have blue fluid going in 6 yrs from now. If the bottle is factory sealed and kept in a cool/dry place it has a looooong shelf life.

Ricky Bobby · #4 08-20-2013, 08:51 AM

From my VW days, I recall that ATE super blue did not play well with the clutch seals and make for squeaking clutches and such (the blue dye was the culprit, TYP 200 was fine), so I never considered using it, however, I'm sure you have an automatic anyway so you don't really care lol.

FWIW, Typ 200 is gold colored and exactly the same compound as Super Blue, only difference is the coloring. It was supposed to be easier when changing fluid between TYP 200 and Super Blue as you could see the different color flowing through the lines, making frequent changes easier to see fresh fluid.

TiAgX5 · #5 08-20-2013, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

From my VW days, I recall that ATE super blue did not play well with the clutch seals and make for squeaking clutches and such (the blue dye was the culprit, TYP 200 was fine)......

I've used Ate super blue racing in 6 different MT cars. 2 BMWs, 2 Vipers, 1 ZR1 Vette, 1 Cobra Mustang. All had/have over 100k miles and none had/have any clutch seal issues. And yes, I did use the special tool to flush the slave cylinders, they were not operating on old OE fluid (some people forget to flush the clutch slave cyl during brake fluid changes).

Ricky Bobby · #6 08-20-2013, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

I've used Ate super blue racing in 6 different MT cars. 2 BMWs, 2 Vipers, 1 ZR1 Vette, 1 Cobra Mustang. All had/have over 100k miles and none had/have any clutch seal issues. And yes, I did use the special tool to flush the slave cylinders, they were not operating on old OE fluid (some people forget to flush the clutch slave cyl during brake fluid changes).

And I wouldn't suspect they would have issues, as I remarked, VW/Audi master cylinders seemed to have issue with the blue dye, that is why I never used it when I drove VW's. I would be interested to give it a whirl on my next brake/clutch flush on my E53 however, glad to see you've been using it for years with no issues.

TiAgX5 · #7 08-20-2013, 03:48 PM

I pick up the Ate Blue DOT 4 from BavAuto, seems they are still selling it......

Welcome to bavauto.com | Ate Super Blue Racing Brake Fluid - 1 liter.

JCL · #8 08-20-2013, 06:22 PM

The letter from Continental says they will buy back all stock on the shelves, but retailers are certainly able to sell it and make a buck off it if they want to. Until stock runs out.

TiAgX5 · #9 08-20-2013, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JCL

The letter from Continental says they will buy back all stock on the shelves, but retailers are certainly able to sell it and make a buck off it if they want to. Until stock runs out.

Understand. I'm sure most retail stock will go out to consumers and not back to Conti, no profit margin on the latter. FWIW, only total idiots will confuse blue brake fluid with other blue fluids (coolant, window wash and such). Stupid grounds for a federal law.

I like the high contrast between the blue and amber (gold actually), no doubt when the system if flushed.

JCL · #10 08-20-2013, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TiAgX5

Understand. I'm sure most retail stock will go out to consumers and not back to Conti, no profit margin on the latter. FWIW, only total idiots will confuse blue brake fluid with other blue fluids (coolant, window wash and such). Stupid grounds for a federal law.

I like the high contrast between the blue and amber (gold actually), no doubt when the system if flushed.

I don't think it is designed to save consumers from using other fluids. It is designed to identify DOT 5 (which must be purple) and ensure it never gets mixed with DOT 4 or DOT 5.1 (which must be clear or amber). Mixing DOT 5 with the others can be catastrophic, so there is a technical reason for the law IMO. It also doesn't look like it was the US federal government that went after Continental, but rather that the Continental lawyers decided that the legal exposure for selling non-legal brake fluid was too high. I don't know if the strategy of claiming it was for off road vehicles only was eventually deemed insufficient, or whether because it was blue it wasn't actually DOT 4, but rather "suitable for vehicles that require DOT 4", ie truth in labelling laws. Anyway, I am sure it will work fine. I wouldn't keep it too long, though. I always thought it was a good idea to use fresh brake fluid, not old stock.