What are the effects of accidentally adding a small amount of water to brake fluid?
1 Answers
It can cause the brake fluid's water content to exceed standards and deteriorate, affecting braking performance and posing safety risks. Here is relevant information: 1. Deterioration: Brake fluid deterioration mainly occurs when water mixes with the fluid, leading to excessive water content. This becomes particularly dangerous in high-temperature environments where the water in the brake fluid can vaporize, negatively impacting the vehicle's braking effectiveness. 2. Principle: Adding water to brake fluid dilutes it, affecting its boiling point and volatility. Brake fluid must have a boiling point of at least 205°C. During prolonged driving, high-speed travel, or downhill driving, temperatures can reach several hundred degrees. As brake pad temperatures rise, so does the brake fluid temperature. If the brake fluid's boiling point is insufficient, it can vaporize, creating air bubbles. This results in a soft brake pedal and delayed braking response.