I was looking at the fluid in my brake reservoir and noticed it has a greenish tint to it. Is this normal? What is it? I was going to bleed my brakes with regular fluid but this has stopped me. I just got the car in June, so all the fluid that's there was in there when I bought it.

Thanks,

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Charlie

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'66 VW 1300 96K miles
'97 E300D 239K miles
'85 300D 203K miles (sold Sep 2012)

Impossible to say if it's normal or not. Different colors are used for brake fluid; some is clear, some is blue, some is amber. When in doubt, flushing it cannot be a bad option. That way, you know exactly what you have and how long you have had it.

The OP reads like I wrote it -- green brake fluid, yes! -- except I bought the '95 E300 in March, not June. Wonder what brand is green? Querty is right, I'll be flushing the fluid soon. My personal preference is for clear fluids as then you can tell when they're dirty, contaminated, or just "old."

Jeremy

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"Buster" in the '95

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"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
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Use the DOT type listed on the cap and you should be fine. You did not mention the type car but if has SBC (and you do not have SDS) you will need to disconnect the module prior to starting the job.

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Jim

PO probably went from ATE Blue to ATE Amber of the same DOT Type without doing a full flush. I do the brake fluid color change to tell when I've cycled a full flush of fluid through the system.

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It's a car not a science experiment! Open the throttle!

There is a green Castrol brake fluid, whoever bled the brakes in my 300e used this as well, mine was dark green though (no telling how old it was).

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TC
Current stable:
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- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Vehicles that use newer mineral-based brake fluid are green. I don't know if the latest MBs do or not.

DOT-type brake fluid is vegetable-oil based, except for DOT5, I believe.

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Strelnik
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After searching I can't find what I was referring to (although I know its out there somewhere)...to the OP I'd just flush with new fluid and keep an eye on it.

__________________
TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Here I was thinking we were going to have another argument about eco-friendly fluids.

Bottom line is I wouldn't trust it. Too many unknowns. If it were clear and clean, I would say you are probably OK. Just flush it out and replace it with MB and DOT spec fluid that is clear.

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1991 F250 super-cab 7.3 IDI. (rebuilt by me) Banks Sidewinder turbo, hydroboost brakes, new IP and injectors.
2003 S430 - 107K
1983 300SD - Tanoshii - mostly restored ~400K+.
1983 300SD - Good interior. Engine finally tamed ~250K.
Monark Nozzle Install Video - http://tinyurl.com/ptd2tge

Good idea - thanks.

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Jim

I went from Blue to Amber not too long ago. My reservoir did this at first, but as I was/am having brake troubles I flushed again and it went away.

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82 300SD 145k
89 420SEL 210k
89 560SEL 118k
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Thanks to all who replied. Will flush when I get a chance. For now, fluid that came out of front wheel brake bleeder was light green but clean looking.

__________________
Charlie

---------------------------
'66 VW 1300 96K miles
'97 E300D 239K miles
'85 300D 203K miles (sold Sep 2012)

ignore the color. you want dot4 fluid. some is yellow, some is clear, some blue, some green. so long as it's dot4 grade, you're good.

fyi, like your owners manual says, brake fluid must be changed every 2 years. brake systems rot from the inside out. if you change your fluid, and it comes out looking dark, you already have damaged your system! that dark color is dissolved brake seals and rust! change it every 2 years and keep the system healthy and working like new.

ATE Super Blue isn't legal in FL even though it is the same as TYP 200 ( amber )

www.800helpfla.com/Standards/Downloads/ApprovedLists.pdf

What exactly does "legal in FL" mean? Note that your expired reference says "approved," not "legal."

It appears that the Florida Dept of Agriculture has jurisdiction over the sale of brake fluid, not the end use.