Automotive fluids are fairly gross and poisonous, and brake fluid is among the many worst of them. Glycol-based brake fluid (DOT 3 or 4), used within the overwhelming majority of automobiles, can act like paint thinner if spilled, inflicting lasting injury in as little as 5 minutes. It was not a superb day when my Honda PC800’s hydraulic clutch, which used glycol brake fluid, sprang a leak everywhere in the bike’s uncommon unobtainium bodywork.
Happily, if you understand what to do and act shortly, you’ll be able to keep away from everlasting paint injury. Drop every thing, clear it up instantly, and it can save you your paint job. When you wait 5 minutes or extra, the brake fluid will begin consuming the clear coat and paint, leaving seen marks. The longer you wait, the more serious the injury will get, till about half-hour after the spill. You do not want any fancy cleaners which will or could not work, both. Simply paper towels, cleaning soap, and water will do.
Time is of the essence
It is simple to spill brake fluid when filling or topping off your brake fluid reservoir, maybe whereas bleeding your brakes (and you do not want a specialised device to bleed the brakes). Happily, the paint on any metallic under the reservoir will not be seen from exterior the automobile, nevertheless it’s nonetheless essential to wash up the spill shortly to keep away from damaging the paint, exposing naked metallic, and welcoming rust.
Take a second to placed on some gloves. If brake fluid can injury paint this badly, it is no good for human pores and skin both. Dab the spill space with paper towels to soak up as a lot spilled fluid as doable. Don’t wipe! This may unfold the fluid over a fair wider space, and we’re attempting to include it as a lot as doable.
As soon as you’ve got soaked up as a lot brake fluid as you’ll be able to, clear the realm with cleaning soap and water. You’ll be able to wipe it with a rag or sponge soaked in soapy water, or spray the realm and wipe it up with a dry towel. Lastly, rinse the realm with clear water to take away any remaining residue. When you’ve acted shortly sufficient, congratulations — you’ve got saved your paint from everlasting injury.
