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Thread: Shelf Life?

  1. #1
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    Shelf Life?

    Crazy question here. Was rummaging through the garage and found two quarts of unopened Valvoline Mercon V purchased about 10 years ago. I know brake fluid goes bad after it's opened, but in the case of this sealed transmission fluid, you think it would be safe to use?
    2004 Black Marauder: #2237 Born on 4/1/2004

    Eaton Swapped and a bunch of other goodies!

  2. #2
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    It probably is safe to use, but I wouldn't chance it over 2 cheap quarts of fluid.
    2004 SB #2150 of 3214 Moonroof, Heated Seats and 6 CD Changer. Non OEM Mufflers and 32,XXX miles and counting.

  3. #3
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    Yes, it will be fine.
    Considering it can be sitting in a transmission for 20 years and still work.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by alumarine View Post
    Yes, it will be fine.
    Considering it can be sitting in a transmission for 20 years and still work.
    ^^^ THIS ^^^^
    2020 Ford Ranger STX DFI Turbo 2.3L 10 speed Auto
    2017 Ford Fusion Sport DFI Twin Turbo 2.7L V6 6 speed Auto (14.000 ET bone stock in 82 degree heat)
    1985 Mustang GT 5.0 Hatchback 4bbl 5 speed manual (525 HP 363 Dart block/AFR heads with Magnum 6 speed in the works)
    1984 Mustang GT 2.3 Turbo Convertible FI. 5 speed manual
    1966 427 Cobra (ERA) 468 all Aluminum FE 2x4bbl 5 speed manual

    SOLD : 2003 Mercury Marauder FI. 4 speed Auto
    w/Crower Cams & Springs, +1mm SS valves, mild port job on the cylinder heads.
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  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Joe Walsh View Post
    ^^^ THIS ^^^^
    This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ +2.
    “When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat.”
    Ronald Regan

    "The only way to deal with the Islamic State - these blood thirsty, blood-drunken, terrorists -
    is to kill them, keep on killing them, until you kill the last one, then you kill his pet goat."

    Lt. Colonel Ralph Peters

    “Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.”
    "I come in peace. I didn't bring artillery. But I'm pleading with you, with tears in my eyes, if you **** with me, I'll kill you all"
    General James Mattis




  6. #6
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    Thank you for the perspective gents!
    2004 Black Marauder: #2237 Born on 4/1/2004

    Eaton Swapped and a bunch of other goodies!

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by loud2004marquis View Post
    " ... I know brake fluid goes bad after it's opened ... "
    Please explain how and why brake fluid "goes bad" after it is opened.

    Since it is hygroscopic, when it absorbs water, it turns dark when/if contaminated.

    I have never disposed of any brake fluid left over in a can. I just put the cap back on. Once resealed, I have never had any get dark. The cans do not have an expiration date on them.
    1957 Custom 2 dr Sedan, 1979 F-series 14' U-Haul 330 XD, 1979 F150 4X4 428 PI/CJ heads/NP 435/4:11 axles-rear Det. Lkr., 1993 Grand Marquis, Y2K CVPI supercharged 5.4, 2003 MM

    The more I learn, the more I find out I don't know.

    Confusion will be my epitaph...

    Home of the Berserker Marauder, one of the ancient Norse warriors legendary for working themselves into a frenzy before a battle and fighting with reckless savagery and insane fury, held to be invulnerable...shirtless regardless of wounds...(possibly due to ingestion of psychotropic and hallucinatory drugs such as Fly Agaric Mushrooms)...

    ΓρεεκΓοδ

  8. #8
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    Given I've used opened but capped off BF bottles for 43 years with no issues I think this subject can be over-thought. Also must consider the vehicle it's going in. I've no problem using an opened bottle on a beater or DD I didn't care about, my MM or SS is different. Only fresh bottle for them and the leftover goes to the winter beater.

    http://knowhow.napaonline.com/unders...to-essentials/
    Brake Fluid and Moisture

    Brake fluid shelf life is directly related to the amount of moisture it’s exposed to after the bottle has been opened. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, which means it attracts and absorbs water from the surrounding atmosphere. The more water that it absorbs, the less effective it becomes when introduced into your vehicle’s braking system. With water in the mix, the boiling point of brake fluid can be greatly reduced, which given the pressures it’s under during braking translates into less effective stopping power and a spongy brake pedal.
    Opened vs. Unopened

    When a bottle of brake fluid leaves the factory, it’s sealed so that it doesn’t come into contact with any outside air that might also contain moisture. Most brake fluid manufacturers state that a sealed bottle has no set expiration date. In a sense, the fluid doesn’t break down over time and offers the same level of performance even after years on the shelf.
    An open bottle is a different story. Even if you’ve only poured a little out of the bottle, you’ve still introduced moisture into the equation, and the chemical process of absorbing that liquid from the air has begun. Most manufacturers recommend that any open bottle of DOT brake fluid should be used within 12 months, or else discarded. Keep in mind that a full year is the very outside limit of what would be acceptable. A three-month period is more likely to offer a better limit of safety in terms of keeping the boiling point near its original level.

    WLB
    BB#1) 1996 ImpalaSS - 16,500 miles - 100% stock
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  9. #9
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    If my wagon can run on some 30 year-old Amoco LDO that was unopened and found in a barn...I'm sure a couple quarts of decade-old trans fluid are fine (esp. for the reason listed above)
    '03 Marauder | '91 Country Squire | '18 Flex Ecoboost | '92 Shadow VT1100
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  10. #10
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    ATF is like engine oil, no expiration date. If it was mine I'd use it in the DD or beater.

    WLB
    BB#1) 1996 ImpalaSS - 16,500 miles - 100% stock
    ______________________________ ___________

    BB#2) 2003 Marauder (300a) - 34k miles - Daily Driver
    #2912 of 7093
    Conceived 8/6/2002
    Delivered 9/19/2002
    Adopted 8/10/2011
    Trilogy 242 - Self Installed 9/9/12 (0-60 5.5 sec)
    Pioneer 6x8 Front
    Legacy 600w 6x9 Rears
    JL 6.5 SubWoofer
    K&N CAI
    Window tint 50% rear/35% front
    FBM CHMSL with Strobe mod 7/1/12
    DR Deep Aluminum Trans Pan
    Sparta FOMOCO Racing 8.8 Girdle
    Mo's Dyno Tune
    Gorilla Nuts - The System
    Ford Racing 4.10s, 31 spline Cobra carrier & axles 7/1/12
    Powder Coat Axle Housing 7/1/12
    CME HP Rear Control Arms & Watts Link 7/1/12
    ______________________________ ________________

    Rex "SC Cheesehead" Weinbender 11-14-13
    Ed "Baaad GN" Linthicum 8-6-2014

  11. #11
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    Ok, why does it not go bad in my master cylinder/lines? it doesn't seemed to be any better sealed than the can.
    MARAUDERS get me ****!

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ken View Post
    Ok, why does it not go bad in my master cylinder/lines? it doesn't seemed to be any better sealed than the can.
    If you keep the master full, very little is exposed to air but even then it will go bad over time causing the corrosion of caliper and wheel cylinder bores which is why (if you care about the car) you should flush the system every couple/few years.

    Otherwise, maintenance takes care of it, brake job which requires replacing caliper/wheel cyls = bleed system = starting with fresh fluid.

    WLB
    BB#1) 1996 ImpalaSS - 16,500 miles - 100% stock
    ______________________________ ___________

    BB#2) 2003 Marauder (300a) - 34k miles - Daily Driver
    #2912 of 7093
    Conceived 8/6/2002
    Delivered 9/19/2002
    Adopted 8/10/2011
    Trilogy 242 - Self Installed 9/9/12 (0-60 5.5 sec)
    Pioneer 6x8 Front
    Legacy 600w 6x9 Rears
    JL 6.5 SubWoofer
    K&N CAI
    Window tint 50% rear/35% front
    FBM CHMSL with Strobe mod 7/1/12
    DR Deep Aluminum Trans Pan
    Sparta FOMOCO Racing 8.8 Girdle
    Mo's Dyno Tune
    Gorilla Nuts - The System
    Ford Racing 4.10s, 31 spline Cobra carrier & axles 7/1/12
    Powder Coat Axle Housing 7/1/12
    CME HP Rear Control Arms & Watts Link 7/1/12
    ______________________________ ________________

    Rex "SC Cheesehead" Weinbender 11-14-13
    Ed "Baaad GN" Linthicum 8-6-2014

  13. #13
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    I was told that with it's humidity, vehicles in Hawaii should have their brake fluid changed on a yearly basis. Perhaps someone familiar with Hawaii can comment?

    As far as an opened bottle of brake fluid being contaminated from being opened for 10 minutes or so, how much moisture do you think would be absorbed? Even IF a tiny amount is absorbed, it would not impair the fluids usefulness, unless or until the fluid darkened. My SWAG is the boiling point would be lowered by 10F degrees.

    The brake fluid in the master cylinder reservoir is always vented to atmosphere. It can absorb exponentially more moisture in a day or two, depending on humidity, than a bottle opened for 10 minutes!

    Ergo, for all Marauder owners who wish to guard against their brake fluid constantly gaining a lowered boiling point, get yourself a turkey baster, and use it to change the fluid in your reservoir on a weekly basis, and bleed the whole system (including the ABS parts) on perhaps a 3 month basis.

    Note: to bleed the ABS parts of your brake system, I must warn everyone that you will need a special factory type tool or a $2,000 hand held programmer to cycle the ABS solenoids.

    When you are driving aggressively on the street, stop to check and see if your rotors are glowing orange or red. If they are, and your pedal feels spongy or weak, you waited too long to change the fluid!
    1957 Custom 2 dr Sedan, 1979 F-series 14' U-Haul 330 XD, 1979 F150 4X4 428 PI/CJ heads/NP 435/4:11 axles-rear Det. Lkr., 1993 Grand Marquis, Y2K CVPI supercharged 5.4, 2003 MM

    The more I learn, the more I find out I don't know.

    Confusion will be my epitaph...

    Home of the Berserker Marauder, one of the ancient Norse warriors legendary for working themselves into a frenzy before a battle and fighting with reckless savagery and insane fury, held to be invulnerable...shirtless regardless of wounds...(possibly due to ingestion of psychotropic and hallucinatory drugs such as Fly Agaric Mushrooms)...

    ΓρεεκΓοδ

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by GreekGod View Post
    Note: to bleed the ABS parts of your brake system, I must warn everyone that you will need a special factory type tool or a $2,000 hand held programmer to cycle the ABS solenoids.
    They now make low cost consumer units that will cycle the ABS. I got this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    I haven't used it yet but watched a guy use it on a YT vid

    WLB
    BB#1) 1996 ImpalaSS - 16,500 miles - 100% stock
    ______________________________ ___________

    BB#2) 2003 Marauder (300a) - 34k miles - Daily Driver
    #2912 of 7093
    Conceived 8/6/2002
    Delivered 9/19/2002
    Adopted 8/10/2011
    Trilogy 242 - Self Installed 9/9/12 (0-60 5.5 sec)
    Pioneer 6x8 Front
    Legacy 600w 6x9 Rears
    JL 6.5 SubWoofer
    K&N CAI
    Window tint 50% rear/35% front
    FBM CHMSL with Strobe mod 7/1/12
    DR Deep Aluminum Trans Pan
    Sparta FOMOCO Racing 8.8 Girdle
    Mo's Dyno Tune
    Gorilla Nuts - The System
    Ford Racing 4.10s, 31 spline Cobra carrier & axles 7/1/12
    Powder Coat Axle Housing 7/1/12
    CME HP Rear Control Arms & Watts Link 7/1/12
    ______________________________ ________________

    Rex "SC Cheesehead" Weinbender 11-14-13
    Ed "Baaad GN" Linthicum 8-6-2014

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by MyBlackBeasts View Post
    They now make low cost consumer units that will cycle the ABS. I got this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    Thanks for the info - I have been periodically checking for just such a bleeder tool, and noticed the prices have been coming down on them, with newer models being introduced.

    The one in the link looks like it could be the one to buy. I see Amazon indicates it was first available with them on 2-28-2019.
    It has the typical % of bad reviews, warnings, and comments. Autel is a major supplier and has been around for a while.

    The ad warning is ridiculous:

    "Auto bleeding are NOT universally compatible with all vehicles! If you are confused about the vehicle coverage or need any tech support, please send us back your detail car model, year, VIN number(s) and what functions you need, you will get the available solution in 12 hours"

    Why cannot these OEM and aftermarket manufacturers get their act together and make OBD a truly universal and workable system of diagnostics and repair?
    1957 Custom 2 dr Sedan, 1979 F-series 14' U-Haul 330 XD, 1979 F150 4X4 428 PI/CJ heads/NP 435/4:11 axles-rear Det. Lkr., 1993 Grand Marquis, Y2K CVPI supercharged 5.4, 2003 MM

    The more I learn, the more I find out I don't know.

    Confusion will be my epitaph...

    Home of the Berserker Marauder, one of the ancient Norse warriors legendary for working themselves into a frenzy before a battle and fighting with reckless savagery and insane fury, held to be invulnerable...shirtless regardless of wounds...(possibly due to ingestion of psychotropic and hallucinatory drugs such as Fly Agaric Mushrooms)...

    ΓρεεκΓοδ

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