Edward

Mine's maybe a bit over 5 years old, used only a 1-2 times/year in the past 2 years, and always stored properly, and I went to use it to prep the Trackmeister this weekend and whoaa!!! The hose from the bleeder to the reservoir had a coronary and spewed lovely Super Blue ALL OVER the inside of the trunk!!! I mean everywhere, including the fusebox area, ...you know, at 10psi in a beautiful spray pattern!!!

Needless to say, I had to put the entire operation on hold to cleanup the ungodly caustic mess. Not to mention Motive uses permanent crimp-on clamps (WTFruit are they thinking!!!) for the hoses that one needs to destroy in order to replace the hoses (got replacement tubing and proper hoseclamps which use screws!! at Osh hardware). And go ahead and try to find SuperBlue or Type200 on a Saturday afternoon ...argh!!!

What is a routine and very uneventful task turned into a messy, timewasting ordeal. Lesson learned: check your Motive tubing, all. Even the bad tubing I have "feels" pliable and fine to the touch ...don't trust it. Be proactive and replace it if you've got some years on it. Just thought I'd share.


Edward

NC TRACKRAT

Edward, thanks for the tip. Sorry for your trouble. Personally, I never fill the MOTIVE with brake fluid. I prefer to simply use it to pressurize the system. Yes, I have to de-pressurize when the reservoir gets low but it's a minor inconvenience compared to what you went through.

Van1

Another reason to add to my list of why I only use mine to pressurize the system.

AOW162435

Exactly what I've done for nearly six years.


Andreas

DAVISRILEY

That's the same as I do, too.

Kein_Ersatz

Thanks for sharing the tips and warnings.

ninjabones

This happened to me once... fortunately, I caught it quickly. The Onicker (?sp) type clamps really suck that come with the bleeder (mine was leaking around the small kink in the clamp). I replaced as did the PO with a screw-type hose clamp. Has held up fine for the past two seasons since switching the clamp (and I do continue to load the fluid into the power bleeder).

Flying Finn

Yep, been there, done that... What a mess although I was able to clean everything off and had no problems at all (I was afraid of corrosion).

Now I use the "dry method" although if you use good clamps and change the hose often enough (my problem was with hardened hose), it will be fine with the fluid in there.

IXLR8

Same here, but for another reason.

If I filled it with brake fluid as one would normally do, I'd want to clean it up thoroughly before using it the next time...too much of a hassle for me.

aj986s

Ditto on using the Motive "dry"; pressuring system only. Has worked well for lots of bleeding jobs.

Be aware that if using dry, the pump mechanism can wear and loose its pressurizing seal. Oil periodically (hole in cap) and you'll be fine.

firesm

First time I used it I put the fluid in it, second time I tried it dry. The dry method worked much better for me - less clean-up time. Now with this possibility, I think I'll stick to using it dry.

911Dave

Wow, I thought when it happened to me last year, it was a bizarre fluke. Mine spewed fluid everywhere as well. And you have to work FAST to clean it up before it destroys your paint. What a mess. I also repaired it using a hose clamp. Guess I'll try doing it dry next time.

simpsoap

+1

I never wanted to have to worry about a mess in the car, so as the fluid gets low I just add a little more until the job is complete.

Andy

inkatouring

Wow, is this a great place, or what? I've used a friend's motive on my prior BMWs, but ordered my own in anticipation of doing the brakes on the cab. As I haven't done the job yet, it is pristine and the innards shall remain that way, thanks to the "dry" suggestions here.

I love this place!

FisterD

Yes, along with most everyone here we use it dry as well. To clean it everytime would be a PIA, no doubt.