When using the Motive Power Bleeder how much brake fluid do you usually put in when bleeding the brakes? The capacity of brake fluid in the c280 is only .5 quarts according to the owner's manual. I realize some new fluid will be wasted in the exchange but if done in a reasonably skilled way, how much is needed in the Power Bleeder? Can you refill the Power Bleeder, say after you complete the bleeding at one wheel but before you go to the next? Thanks for this and any other insight on this procedure.

Dear 96C280:

Buy 2 quarts of DOT 4 brake fluid and you are set to go safely.
It's slightly more than enough for a COMPLETE brake fluid flushing and refilling.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Eric

If you are flushing them annually, one quart will be enough. If they have not been flushed regularly then I would run two quarts through it to really clear it out, then one quart per year. If your car is a manual transmission, don't forget the clutch.

Good luck,

The fluid had not been changed for about 3 years. Thanks for the info. The procedure turned out to be pretty easy and I only needed half of the 2 quarts because fluid looked cleaned after that much has passed throught the brake lines, so I decided I would change the fluid on another vehicle. The fluid in my car didn't look that bad and pedal feel is pretty much the same as before (a good thing). The only disconcerting thing was seeing a couple pockets of air in the line of the Motive Power Bleeder leading to the brake reservoir. The pockets of air didn't move during the procedure however. I suppose this is normal?

The power bleeder will pump some air into the master cylinder along with the fluid. Once the air is inside the master cylinder it simply rises to the top because the velocity of the fluid being pumped through the system in almost zero. So long as the master cylinder is topped off before you start, none of the air will make it into the brake lines.