What does brake fluid do to paint?

**Commander FAT** · 09-03-2004, 10:27 PM

I had a brake flush done about a week ago on my 330Ci.

A cuople days ago while doing a little touch up work I noticed little greenish spots behind the rear left wheel (wheel they used to bleed the old fluid out of).

I clay barred the hell out of these spots and they aren`t going anywhere. I even ran my fingernail across them and nothing happens.

My car is metallic gray color. Anyone help me out here?

**Anthony O.** · 09-03-2004, 10:32 PM

It eats the paint

Sadly the only correction is usually a re-paint.

I cannot say for 100% that it was the brake fluid, but I do know that if you want to ruin a persons paint........pour brake fluid on it....but an Autopian would never do that:nono

Take care,

Anthony

**Commander FAT** · 09-03-2004, 10:34 PM

When you say "eat" what do you mean? Will it tear apart the paint down to the metal or will it just stain it kinda like bleach does to a colored shirt. It turns the shirt a color that isn`t exactly white.

I can`t say for sure they spilled brake fluid on my car either. I didn`t find it until a week afterwards and I`m not even 100% sure the spots weren`t there before the brake fluid flush.

Is your last name really Orosco? If so we have the same last name only mine is spelled with a Z.

**imported_Homer** · 09-03-2004, 10:49 PM

Putting brake fluid on your paint is like using paint stripper on wood!

It`ll flake off and peel....not a good thing!

**EdLancer** · 09-03-2004, 10:52 PM

Brake fluid is very corrosive and acts like a medium acid.

**Commander FAT** · 09-03-2004, 10:58 PM

How long does it take for brake fluid to corrode and ruin the paint? It`s been over a week since my brake fluid flush.

**Eliot Ness** · 09-03-2004, 10:58 PM

Originally posted by Commander FAT

When you say "eat" what do you mean? Will it tear apart the paint down to the metal or will it just stain it kinda like bleach does to a colored shirt. It turns the shirt a color that isn`t exactly white.

Enough brake fluid will bubble paint off. If it`s just a minor drop or so it may just discolor it like you`re noticing. The only exception to this is silicon brake fluid which is much safer on paint. Note that you would have to flush your entire brake system before using silicon brake fluid, and it is more expensive.

**Accumulator** · 09-04-2004, 11:52 AM

What the others have said. Unfortunately, the damage is probably permanent. At least it didn`t strip the paint off to bare metal. A brake fluid leak on one of my Jags stripped everything off just like a paint stripper, just bubbled it right off the metal.

**imported_DetailGirl** · 09-04-2004, 12:01 PM

Think butter in the microwave

**Maxima Moose** · 09-04-2004, 12:09 PM

I along with some other people in an apartment building found out first hand what brake fluid does to paint. Like what others have said it will strip the paint off metal.

It will also melt plastic. For example they hit my red tail lights and that needed to be sanded to make it smooth again.

Also the brake fluid was caught with in an hour or two of the vandalism and we poured water on immediatly to remove. Then we drove to the coin op car wash down the road to power wash the rest off- needless to say I along with others in that parking lot needed some paint done on their cars after.

MM

**Commander FAT** · 09-04-2004, 01:21 PM

OKay from what everyone has said it doesn`t seem like brake fluid got on my car. Thanks everyone.

**imported_perry** · 09-04-2004, 11:56 PM

Couple years ago I bought some used calipers that were painted yellow. I decided to spray them black before installing. As I was doing the switch (my first time doing brake work of any kind), I got brake fluid on the "new" caliper. Off came the black paint in the areas where the fluid touched. Always been too lazy to fix it, so I have black and yellow calipers

**Hawaiianelement** · 09-05-2004, 02:32 AM

Glad to hear it wasn`t BF .So did you find out what it was and did it come off? :up

**Don** · 09-05-2004, 05:50 PM

Originally posted by perry

Always been too lazy to fix it, so I have black and yellow calipers

I`ve heard of BAER brakes, but never bumble bee :lol

**Commander FAT** · 09-06-2004, 12:55 PM

Originally posted by hawaiianelement

Glad to hear it wasn`t BF .So did you find out what it was and did it come off? :up

Not sure what it is and no, it`s still on there. I tried tar remover, clay bar, scrubbing hard, scrubbing really hard, and more clay bar. None of it is working.