brake fluid for apex seals?
 

i had a guy tell me today that if you put a few caps full of brake fluid in and turn the engine, itll swell your apex seals possibly fixing a bad one?

Brake Fluid? That's the first I've heard of it... I've heard of ATF... never DOT 3 or 4 Though.

umm..no. Apex seals are steel and cannot swell due to brake fluid, etc. No way to fix a broken apex seal without tearing the engine down. Now a stuck apex seal (due to carbon buildup) can be fixed. Different fluids have been used for this purpose, but probably Seafoam is the safest product for that situation.

I would recommend that you do NOT put brake fluid in the engine. You don't know what damage may be done to the soft seals from using it.

I never come into the FB section but saw this thread title on the main page and just had to click on it.

I recommend that you slap whoever told you that directly across their face. Hard.

I 2nd it...... :lol:

i guess on this forum u really do hear of everything. brake fluid? wow...

apex seals are metal. it that were true, anything metal that brake fluid came in contact with would swell up. tell that guy he's full of shit and he don't have a clue.

Arent they a carbon compound? Either way they wouldnt swell. I third the slapping motion

hahaha. thats why i refused to do it and came straight here to see what everyone had to say. haha. he was working on an old Z28 with a 700cbi engine to race prostock. he also said he had an rx7 but he sold the heart, and got a chevy small block.. probably because he tested his theory of brake fluid and apex seals.

I used to put brake fluid in the power steering on my first GSL because the pump leaked. It worked, too!

I also put brake fluid in the oil to stem the tide of oil coming from the beehive O-rings. That worked, too. For a while.

I remember there was a guy on Mazspeed who thought the "apex seals" were the oil O-rings between the housings that caused the massive oil leakage common on late 12As. Maybe that is what the guy was thinking, too.

Next time he holes a piston, tell him to put some brake fluid in the oil, that will swell the piston right up and he'll be good to go :)

hahahahahahah
:lol::lol:

Nah, just hav 'em pay for your rebuild when the brake fluid eats right through the thin sheen of oil on your internals, and the bad apex seal gets chewed up and spit out the exhaust...literally. ATF/MMO/Seafoam/etc. treatments were invented to get an otherwise junk engine to running condition for a few more miles. And you NEVER just pour stuff down your carb--even gas. If you have a stuck seal, pull your plugs and MMO it properly, if it's bad or chipped, go ahead and rebuild. And I say we should put goodfella's motion to a vote!

A couple ounces of brake fluid added to the oil is an old trick to cause soft seals to swell. I've tried it on a dowel pin oil leak with minimal results. I wouldn't recommend it.

Seafoam down the carb always does a rotary good. Even better if you just put it through the gas tank though. But still, if the apex seal is broken there's nothing to be done other than replace the motor or rebuild it. Good luck...



.

...and sooner rather than later. A damaged apex seal can ruin an otherwise useable housing very rapidly.

lol.

off topic a little, but I have an 81 Z with a power steering leak, if I put brake fluid in it, it will help the leak without hurting anything? Am I understanding this correctly?

If so, how much, whole bottle, or just a little?

Brake fluid will cause seals to swell, but it will also make them much softer. It could lead to terminal deterioration. I wouldn't risk it.

Instead, I would first try Lucas power steering stop leak. Lucas makes excellent products, and I haven't found one that doesn't do what it claims yet. Cost will be about 8 bucks if I remember right, and I've had great success with it. :)

This must be why my calipers keep locking up!! lol

Absolutely agree; at the high pressures power steering units run at, the last thing you want is anything "softening" your seals or hoses.

Thanks, yes, I have already tried the Lucus stop leak, did not work. I think I will end up needing a rebuilt unit to get it to stop. Its leaking out the front where it attaches to the steering rod. Guess I better not try the brake fluid. Thanks again.

When I added the Lucus, it was added to synthetic ps fluid, do you think that had anything to do with it not working for me?

please refer to my sig..and slapping that guy is a must.

:AA: