1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Brake fluid greenish color, bad?

Discussion in 'Generation 1 Prius Discussion' started by That_Prius_Car, Sep 13, 2019.

Tags:
  1. That_Prius_Car

    That_Prius_Car Austin Kinser

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2009
    1,282
    344
    3
    Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    last December I had the front bearings, rotors, pads, and calipers replaced on my 2002 G1 with 150,000 miles. I also had them replace the brake fluid and it’s now a greenish color which I believe used to be a light tan, after research, apparently it could mean there’s corrosion or...?

    I’m just surprised the brake fluid I replaced not even a year ago is possibly bad. Let me know your thoughts. Here’s a photo.

    F0E3244E-A3A7-4DB9-A42F-95749D257708.jpeg

    653DD887-9237-4DDB-924B-98DAF11F771C.jpeg

    77DA1445-0BDF-4615-B61B-B1A124838B59.jpeg
     
    #1 That_Prius_Car, Sep 13, 2019
  2. TMR-JWAP

    TMR-JWAP Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2016
    6,404
    6,062
    0
    Location:
    Columbia, SC
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Although I don't have direct experience with it, I've always heard green colored brake fluid is caused by moisture contamination.
     
    #2 TMR-JWAP, Sep 13, 2019
  3. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    4,297
    2,348
    33
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    Flushed once, a year ago, for the first time?
     
    #3 frodoz737, Sep 13, 2019
  4. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2018
    7,430
    6,915
    1
    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Probably best to use a tester to confirm, but to my eye that looks like a photo of water-contaminated fluid. If the cap wasn’t on tight, or if there is some other sort of air leak at the reservoir you can get that level of water absorption in weeks.

    Some brake fluids are dyed for various reasons, but I don’t know of anybody using green dye, because that would make good fluid look the same as bad un-dyed fluid.

    You can get cheap chemical dip-strips to verify water content.
     
    #4 Leadfoot J. McCoalroller, Sep 13, 2019
  5. Brian in Tucson

    Brian in Tucson Active Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2016
    981
    453
    0
    Location:
    Tucson AZ
    Vehicle:
    2003 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    take it back to the shop that did the work and ask them about it. If they tell you it's normal, ask to see a container of the stuff they use. I've seen black (contaminated) brake fluid. Seen blue--DOT 5. Never seen green, wouldn't make sense. Maybe someone put coolant in the wrong container?
     
    #5 Brian in Tucson, Sep 13, 2019
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)