Mods - Not really a warranty issue, but please move it to that section if you feel it belongs there.

I went to get my oil changed today and while waiting was checking out a black GT/CS (which is uber sweet by the way). Anyway, I'd been having problems like everyone else with brake fluid slowly leaking and building up dirt and grime around the seam in the reservoir. So before I took it in I cleaned it all up with Simple Green so I could show my service advisor how it looked clean so we can watch it over time to see it leak (she's been working with me on this since I got it new). Anyway...

As I'm looking at the GT/CS and a Tungsten vert I look at the brake fluid reservoirs and there is something very different (beside the fact that they are clean). The fluid was almost transparent. I remembered from when I was cleaning my reservoir that my fluid was black, like oil it was so black.

What the heck is that all about? Is that just residue from the brake lines themselves or an indication of the fluid starting to break down?

 

Can't help you on the color, but I siphoned about 1 1/2 inches of fluid from my reservoir and it hasn't leaked since. I'll have to take the cap off and see if any dirt is building up underneath like you stated.

 

Brake fluid should be semi transparent and almost look like motor oil except it's a little lighter. If it's just deep jet black, that's a problem.

 

The dealer should flush your break system and replace the old fluid. Brake fluid usually isn't that dirty until its a few years old. I'd have it changed and keep an eye on it. The problem might not come back.