Of course not. unless you go pump the pedal with an empty res, but that would be pretty silly.

 

I did this a little over a week ago on my recently purchased '00 s2k. Since I wasn't sure if it had ever been done, I did it again last night, and sure enough there was a little gunk (nothing like the first time). So, if it hasn't ever been changed (or not changed in a long time), you may want to do it a couple times.

 

You may find in a month or so it will need replacing again. When I bought my 02 in 2009 the reservoir was coated in solid black sediment, I actually thought the reservoir had a rubber bladder inside of it until I figured out that it was deposits !. I had to do the fluid swap quite a few times before it stabilized. I now do it about once every 6 months for good measure. I actually had a fluid leak when I first got the car (which is a side effect of dirty fluid) but after changing out the fluid it hasn't leaked again.

 

Up until now I've just bled the clutch. The last time I had to have my wife help, which is like pulling teeth. It's nice to see an alternate method that works. I've done the clutch bleed enough times that my reservoire reamins pretty clean, but the fluid turns a darker amber after a couple of years.


Does emptying the brake reservoire and refilling a few times accomplish the same thing. Or do you still have to bleed the brake valves?


Thanks Billman!

 

Indy you can do the brake reservoir the same way, you don't have to bleed the brakes unless they are feeling a bit spongy, and just wait until you need to replace the brake pads.

I also use my wife to help me bleed my brakes after I work on them, she does it but very reluctantly, lol.

 

A clean reservoir is nice but IMO it's the fluid in the caliper, behind the piston, that really matters.
Again, I'm not sure how much of that you will flush out by just bleeding.
Suppose your pads are 2/3 worn, there will be a certain volume of fluid in the calipers to compensate.
That fluid will heat up, get old, absorb moisture, ect, ect and may give a spongy brake feeling.
There is only 1 way to get it out for sure: push the piston all the way back in with the bleeder open - so you don't push the old fluid back into the lines and maybe as fas as into the ABS pump
It will fill up with fresh fluid from the reservoir first time you press the brake - and second, and third

 

I think you're right Spitfire. Anytime I've bled the brakes on any vehicle the initial fluid coming out looks pretty grungy, and then gets cleaner looking soon after. I think that gunk needs to come out.

 

What kind of fluid do I need to top it back up with? What does OEM use? Dot3?

 

just did mine,...had to suck it out about 8 times before it stayed clean.

 

Just did this yesterday. Filthy fluid in there! I used a drinking straw to suck out the fluid. Just suck up a bit before it reaches your mouth of course. I filled it with new fluid, stirred it up and sucked it out again.