brake fluid test strips in decent quantities? preferred tester?

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cwerdna

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Ok... there are numerous threads debating how often the brake fluid should be changed vs. the seemingly absurd every 2 year recommendation in the maintenance guide. I even found https://www.cars.com/articles/how-often-do-i-need-to-change-my-brake-fluid-1420680336417/.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/seattlenissanleaf/permalink/1367372159960884/ pointed to https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Systems-3001-B-Strips-BrakeStrip/dp/B000JFJMGO/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&%2AVersion%2A=1&%2Aentries%2A=0, but that's a quantity of 100 (!) for $65.75. If I visit https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Systems/b/ref=bl_dp_s_web_3216413011?ie=UTF8&node=3216413011&field-lbr_brands_browse-bin=Phoenix+Systems, I only see other strips that are about that much for 100 w/slightly different numbers (3006-B and 3009-B vs. 3001-B) or just 2 of these 3003-B at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E6TXWA6/ref=s9_acsd_al_bw_c_x_2_w for $9.40.

Would be nice if there were quantities less than a 100 but not at the absurd per unit price of $4.70/piece. I only need to test 2 cars no more than once or twice a year. Unsure of the shelf-life of these strips.

At http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=21203&p=448143&hilit=brake+fluid+test+strips#p448148, powersurge pointed to https://www.amazon.com/Brake-Fluid-Tester-calibrated-fluids/dp/B005HVG4GQ/?tag=myelecarfor-20& that measures only moisture content.
 
I've used both the Phoenix test strips and the moisture content meter. Those test strips are THIN! I read someone's suggestion to cut the strip in half, but when I tried that, it ruined the strip instead, so I ended up using both strips on the same car. It was easy to use, but the results weren't unexpected (some copper in the line due to it being an old car).

As for the moisture content meter, that one was a little more difficult - the deeper you plunge the meter and the longer you hold it, the HIGHER the reading!! I had to re-read the instructions to test it correctly (moisture level was low as the fluid was in good shape).

The takeaway was that you should probably just get the meter, as the strips only test for copper content, which is just an indication of the age of the brake system due to corrosion: http://www.brakebleeder.com/solutions/brake-fluid-testing/resources/copper-vs-water/
 
Here are two strips for $10 from Phoenix Systems that test copper content.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E6TXWA6/ref=s9_acsd_al_bw_c_x_2_w

This might be enough, or perhaps it should be combined with a water content test ?
 
SageBrush said:
Here are two strips for $10 from Phoenix Systems that test copper content.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E6TXWA6/ref=s9_acsd_al_bw_c_x_2_w
Click to expand...
I posted about these in the OP. The price per unit is absurd vs. a pack of 100 (<$70).

If I check both my cars twice a year, that's $18.80.
 
Why are you testing so often ?
I think it is unnecessary for one; and perhaps more important, ill advised because of the water that enters the brake fluid every time you expose it to air.

You don't want to create a self-fulfilling prophecy here of requiring brake fluid replacement.
I recommend Hobbit's monograph on brake fluid in his Prius if you have not read it.
I Ignore the per strip cost and just consider the money I saved by not taking the car in for an un-needed brake flush. Just the sales tax on that service pays for the strip for a couple of years.
 
TomT said:
Remember that you can also use a voltmeter to test...

http://www.ramacorders.com/NewsfeedPublic.asp?CID=204
Click to expand...
Have you personally done this, or know how it works? I just don't see where the voltage would come from. Instructions from your link.
"Set it to DC volts, ground it and drop the probe in the reservoir. The magic number you are looking for is .3 volts. Anything above this indicates over 3% moisture in the system"
Personally, I wonder if they mean to set your VOM to ohms, I mean where is the DC voltage coming from? :?
 
Yep, it is volts and I have done it on many of my cars over time and it works fine. Basically any water and/or copper in the fluid creates an electrolysis battery and you are measuring the voltage of that.

jjeff said:
TomT said:
Remember that you can also use a voltmeter to test...

http://www.ramacorders.com/NewsfeedPublic.asp?CID=204
Click to expand...
Have you personally done this, or know how it works?
Click to expand...
 
SageBrush said:
Why are you testing so often ?
I think it is unnecessary for one; and perhaps more important, ill advised because of the water that enters the brake fluid every time you expose it to air.

You don't want to create a self-fulfilling prophecy here of requiring brake fluid replacement.
Click to expand...
Well, I haven't tested once yet. I'll keep your advice in mind.

SageBrush said:
I recommend Hobbit's monograph on brake fluid in his Prius if you have not read it.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I looked over it. Frankly, Leaf != Prius. It certainly wouldn't have been the first place I'd have gone to look for Leaf advice. Prius (IIRC) doesn't have the (crazy? excessive? unnecessary?) every 2 years, replace the brake fluid interval. I might still be on the original brake fluid on my 06 Prius, which I bought new in Jan 06.
 
cwerdna said:
Thanks. I looked over it. Frankly, Leaf != Prius. It certainly wouldn't have been the first place I'd have gone to look for Leaf advice. Prius (IIRC) doesn't have the (crazy? excessive? unnecessary?) every 2 years, replace the brake fluid interval. I might still be on the original brake fluid on my 06 Prius, which I bought new in Jan 06.
Click to expand...
Understood :D

I thought it relevant because both cars have little friction brake use.
 
cwerdna said:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/seattlenissanleaf/permalink/1367372159960884/ pointed to https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Systems-3001-B-Strips-BrakeStrip/dp/B000JFJMGO/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&%2AVersion%2A=1&%2Aentries%2A=0, but that's a quantity of 100 (!) for $65.75.
Click to expand...
These have gone up slightly in price to $68.04 for 100.

cwerdna said:
If I visit https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Systems/b/ref=bl_dp_s_web_3216413011?ie=UTF8&node=3216413011&field-lbr_brands_browse-bin=Phoenix+Systems, I only see other strips that are about that much for 100 w/slightly different numbers (3006-B and 3009-B vs. 3001-B) or just 2 of these 3003-B at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E6TXWA6/ref=s9_acsd_al_bw_c_x_2_w for $9.40.
Click to expand...
The pack of 2 3003-B have now shot up to $15.74! The is an all time high per https://camelcamelcamel.com/Phoenix-Systems-3003-B-Package-Condition/product/B00E6TXWA6.

I was about to order these with some AmazonBasics AAA NiMH batteries (good deal per https://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/1584810 at $9.99 for an 8 pack) to help bring up the total for $25+ to get free shipping but err... the test strips are more than I want to pay now.
cwerdna said:
Would be nice if there were quantities less than a 100 but not at the absurd per unit price of $4.70/piece. I only need to test 2 cars no more than once or twice a year. Unsure of the shelf-life of these strips.
Click to expand...
Now the unit price is an absurd $7.87 each.

I ended up ordering these double-ended coolant + brake fluid test strips: https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Systems-8006-B-Double-Ended-Coolant/dp/B0753MZT7P/. They're $21.99 for 15. That's only $1.46 each and should last me a long time.
cwerdna said:
At http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=21203&p=448143&hilit=brake+fluid+test+strips#p448148, powersurge pointed to https://www.amazon.com/Brake-Fluid-Tester-calibrated-fluids/dp/B005HVG4GQ/?tag=myelecarfor-20& that measures only moisture content.
Click to expand...
I also noticed that tester says it's calibrated only for DOT 4. My '13 Leaf manual says "Genuine NISSAN Super Heavy Duty Brake Fluid*2 or equivalent DOT 3" in two places. Seems like Nissan's fluid (e.g. https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Nissan-Fluid-999MP-A4100P-Brake/dp/B00AKYOOTO) is also only DOT 3, so that tester could be wrong.
 

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