Miatapower List Archive

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: rmcelwee <(email redacted)>

My whole life (well, at least as long as I've been working on cars) I've
taken great pains to keep brake fluid away from paint. I knew something
catastrophic would happen if the two ever met. A few days ago I changed out
my brake/clutch fluid and had the old stuff sitting in a 2-liter soda
bottle. I saw a post about it being one of the best paint strippers known to
man so I decided to run a test. I grabbed an old Smurf Blue Miata gas lid I
was saving for a DIY polishing (faux chrome) project, threw it in a
Tupperware container, and poured brake fluid all over it. Wallyman's comment
reminded me it was out there so I went to check up on it a few minutes ago.
After 48 straight hours of soaking in the fluid there is ZERO paint missing!
I'm kind of disappointed (I really need the paint off this part) but it has
shown me the truth. Either brake fluid DOES NOT eat paint or Smurf Blue
Miata paint is somehow immune to the fluid. My wife won't let me pour a
bottle of it on her hood to test my theory about the power of Smurf Blue
paint so I'll have to default to the "does not eat it" theory.


Robert McElwee and Red Beast
1991 10PSI Hotside JRSC
Link ECU, BSP A/W IC, 9:1 pistons
Over 300 lbs of "added lightness"
miata.cardomain.com/id/rmcelwee

Lightweight Miata Group:
autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/lightweightmiata/


----- Original Message -----
From: <(email redacted)>
To: "Chad J Douglas" <(email redacted)>
Cc: <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>;
<(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 1:09 PM
Subject: RE: Brakes, Bleeding and ABS


>
> ...and repaint your car after you spray brake fluid all over it which will
> remove the paint.... at least that's what I'd end up doing. ;)
>
> Wallyman

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: "Larry Alster" <(email redacted)>

Well look on the shelf under the brake master cylinder and tell me if you
think that
brake fluid doesn't remove paint.

Larry

White Knight 1991 Crystal White #99 CSP
Silver Bullet 1992 Silverstone #17 EM BEGI System IV Turbo +
Honey B 1992 Sunburst Yellow
Whoosh 2004 Titanium MazdaSpeed MX5

LowCountry Miata lowcountrymiataclub.net
Masters Miata
RAGS 074

----- Original Message -----
From: "rmcelwee" <(email redacted)>
To: <(email redacted)>
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 6:39 PM
Subject: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)


> My whole life (well, at least as long as I've been working on cars) I've
> taken great pains to keep brake fluid away from paint. I knew something
> catastrophic would happen if the two ever met. A few days ago I changed
out
> my brake/clutch fluid and had the old stuff sitting in a 2-liter soda
> bottle. I saw a post about it being one of the best paint strippers known
to
> man so I decided to run a test. I grabbed an old Smurf Blue Miata gas lid
I
> was saving for a DIY polishing (faux chrome) project, threw it in a
> Tupperware container, and poured brake fluid all over it. Wallyman's
comment
> reminded me it was out there so I went to check up on it a few minutes
ago.
> After 48 straight hours of soaking in the fluid there is ZERO paint
missing!
> I'm kind of disappointed (I really need the paint off this part) but it
has
> shown me the truth. Either brake fluid DOES NOT eat paint or Smurf Blue
> Miata paint is somehow immune to the fluid. My wife won't let me pour a
> bottle of it on her hood to test my theory about the power of Smurf Blue
> paint so I'll have to default to the "does not eat it" theory.
>
>
> Robert McElwee and Red Beast
> 1991 10PSI Hotside JRSC
> Link ECU, BSP A/W IC, 9:1 pistons
> Over 300 lbs of "added lightness"
> miata.cardomain.com/id/rmcelwee
>
> Lightweight Miata Group:
> autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/lightweightmiata/
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <(email redacted)>
> To: "Chad J Douglas" <(email redacted)>
> Cc: <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>;
> <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
> Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 1:09 PM
> Subject: RE: Brakes, Bleeding and ABS
>
>
> >
> > ...and repaint your car after you spray brake fluid all over it which
will
> > remove the paint.... at least that's what I'd end up doing. ;)
> >
> > Wallyman
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Bill Cardell <(email redacted)>

Yup. The seals from reservoir to master leaked on my '90 and the paint is
gone.

Bill Cardell (TurboDog's Dad)
(email redacted)
Flyin' Miata
1-800-359-6957 (sales only)
970-242-3800 (tech support)
flyinmiata.com
flyinprotege.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Larry Alster [mailto:(email redacted)]
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 4:58 PM
To: rmcelwee; (email redacted)
Subject: Re: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)


Well look on the shelf under the brake master cylinder and tell me if you
think that
brake fluid doesn't remove paint.

Larry

White Knight 1991 Crystal White #99 CSP
Silver Bullet 1992 Silverstone #17 EM BEGI System IV Turbo +
Honey B 1992 Sunburst Yellow
Whoosh 2004 Titanium MazdaSpeed MX5

LowCountry Miata lowcountrymiataclub.net
Masters Miata
RAGS 074

----- Original Message -----
From: "rmcelwee" <(email redacted)>
To: <(email redacted)>
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 6:39 PM
Subject: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)


> My whole life (well, at least as long as I've been working on cars) I've
> taken great pains to keep brake fluid away from paint. I knew something
> catastrophic would happen if the two ever met. A few days ago I changed
out
> my brake/clutch fluid and had the old stuff sitting in a 2-liter soda
> bottle. I saw a post about it being one of the best paint strippers known
to
> man so I decided to run a test. I grabbed an old Smurf Blue Miata gas lid
I
> was saving for a DIY polishing (faux chrome) project, threw it in a
> Tupperware container, and poured brake fluid all over it. Wallyman's
comment
> reminded me it was out there so I went to check up on it a few minutes
ago.
> After 48 straight hours of soaking in the fluid there is ZERO paint
missing!
> I'm kind of disappointed (I really need the paint off this part) but it
has
> shown me the truth. Either brake fluid DOES NOT eat paint or Smurf Blue
> Miata paint is somehow immune to the fluid. My wife won't let me pour a
> bottle of it on her hood to test my theory about the power of Smurf Blue
> paint so I'll have to default to the "does not eat it" theory.
>
>
> Robert McElwee and Red Beast
> 1991 10PSI Hotside JRSC
> Link ECU, BSP A/W IC, 9:1 pistons
> Over 300 lbs of "added lightness"
> miata.cardomain.com/id/rmcelwee
>
> Lightweight Miata Group:
> autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/lightweightmiata/
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <(email redacted)>
> To: "Chad J Douglas" <(email redacted)>
> Cc: <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>;
> <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
> Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 1:09 PM
> Subject: RE: Brakes, Bleeding and ABS
>
>
> >
> > ...and repaint your car after you spray brake fluid all over it which
will
> > remove the paint.... at least that's what I'd end up doing. ;)
> >
> > Wallyman
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: rmcelwee <(email redacted)>

I think that just adds to the conspiracy! Maybe brake fluid elves scraped
away the paint? It could be that a drop eats away paint because of some
reaction to the air but soaking won't eat it up. My Triumph Spitfire went
from paint, to rust, to hole under the brake master cylinder in less than
two years due to a drip. Maybe I should just put the gas lid under the brake
master cylinder (could be some kind of Bermuda Triangle effect). Either way,
I'll let you know in 3 or 4 days if there is still paint on the part (I hope
not - less sanding to do).

----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Alster" <(email redacted)>
To: "rmcelwee" <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 6:57 PM
Subject: Re: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)


> Well look on the shelf under the brake master cylinder and tell me if you
> think that
> brake fluid doesn't remove paint.
>
> Larry
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Levi Pearson <(email redacted)>


On Apr 26, 2004, at 6:35 PM, rmcelwee wrote:

> I think that just adds to the conspiracy! Maybe brake fluid elves
> scraped
> away the paint? It could be that a drop eats away paint because of some
> reaction to the air but soaking won't eat it up. My Triumph Spitfire
> went
> from paint, to rust, to hole under the brake master cylinder in less
> than
> two years due to a drip. Maybe I should just put the gas lid under the
> brake
> master cylinder (could be some kind of Bermuda Triangle effect).
> Either way,
> I'll let you know in 3 or 4 days if there is still paint on the part
> (I hope
> not - less sanding to do).
>

From my experience, the brake fluid doesn't dissolve the paint
completely, it makes it loosen and bubble up a bit. I had a bottle of
brake fluid in my trunk when I had slave cylinder problems, and it
leaked a bit onto my amp. I discovered this when I touched it and came
back with a big flake of rubbery paint. I imagine the paint under the
carpet is ruined in a few spots now, too. Good thing there's carpet
there! I think the paint under my master cylinder has got soft from
brake fluid exposure as well, so I'm careful not to scrape things
across it.

--Levi

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: (email redacted)

I have to disagree.

i blew the rear bore seal on my rear calipaer this past weekend and the fluid took the clearcoat off the SSR wheel at that corner plus the anthracite paint on the inner portion of the rim (looks ok, though).

but...my car is mariner blue also. i didn't see any fluid on the car, but if there is, i'm glad to hear it wouldn't come off! :D

steve

----- Original Message -----
From: rmcelwee <(email redacted)>
Date: Monday, April 26, 2004 6:39 pm
Subject: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)

> My whole life (well, at least as long as I've been working on
> cars) I've
> taken great pains to keep brake fluid away from paint. I knew
> somethingcatastrophic would happen if the two ever met. A few days
> ago I changed out
> my brake/clutch fluid and had the old stuff sitting in a 2-liter soda
> bottle. I saw a post about it being one of the best paint
> strippers known to
> man so I decided to run a test. I grabbed an old Smurf Blue Miata
> gas lid I
> was saving for a DIY polishing (faux chrome) project, threw it in a
> Tupperware container, and poured brake fluid all over it.
> Wallyman's comment
> reminded me it was out there so I went to check up on it a few
> minutes ago.
> After 48 straight hours of soaking in the fluid there is ZERO
> paint missing!
> I'm kind of disappointed (I really need the paint off this part)
> but it has
> shown me the truth. Either brake fluid DOES NOT eat paint or Smurf
> BlueMiata paint is somehow immune to the fluid. My wife won't let
> me pour a
> bottle of it on her hood to test my theory about the power of
> Smurf Blue
> paint so I'll have to default to the "does not eat it" theory.
>
>
> Robert McElwee and Red Beast
> 1991 10PSI Hotside JRSC
> Link ECU, BSP A/W IC, 9:1 pistons
> Over 300 lbs of "added lightness"
> miata.cardomain.com/id/rmcelwee
>
> Lightweight Miata Group:
> autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/lightweightmiata/
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <(email redacted)>
> To: "Chad J Douglas" <(email redacted)>
> Cc: <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>;
> <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
> Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 1:09 PM
> Subject: RE: Brakes, Bleeding and ABS
>
>
> >
> > ...and repaint your car after you spray brake fluid all over it
> which will
> > remove the paint.... at least that's what I'd end up doing. ;)
> >
> > Wallyman
>
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: "Ralph Alder" <(email redacted)>

My Spitfire had many places that went from paint to rust to hole...but not
under the master cylinder. There, it just leaked fluid...ruining several
shoes (foot-type not brake) before I figured it out. Even took to driving
with plastic bags on the right foot. Don't ask...I was much younger and
dumber...well, a little dumber. ;-)

On a Miata note, I just replaced the brake master due to a leak. Don't know
how long it leaked...probably a month or so...and there is some lifted
paint. Didn't lift everywhere it was brake fluid/wet, so it must be
somewhat time dependent...I'd not recommend using it as paint remover, but
yes, brake fluid will lift the paint.

Ralph Alder
Tustin, CA
'90 Classic Red
Team Orphan Aerodyne

> -----Original Message-----
> From: rmcelwee [mailto:(email redacted)]
> Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 5:35 PM
> To: (email redacted)
> Subject: Re: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)
>
>
> I think that just adds to the conspiracy! Maybe brake fluid elves scraped
> away the paint? It could be that a drop eats away paint because of some
> reaction to the air but soaking won't eat it up. My Triumph Spitfire went
> from paint, to rust, to hole under the brake master cylinder in less than
> two years due to a drip. Maybe I should just put the gas lid
> under the brake
> master cylinder (could be some kind of Bermuda Triangle effect).
> Either way,
> I'll let you know in 3 or 4 days if there is still paint on the
> part (I hope
> not - less sanding to do).
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Larry Alster" <(email redacted)>
> To: "rmcelwee" <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
> Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 6:57 PM
> Subject: Re: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)
>
>
> > Well look on the shelf under the brake master cylinder and tell
> me if you
> > think that
> > brake fluid doesn't remove paint.
> >
> > Larry
> >
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: "Will Erickson" <(email redacted)>

With the gas lid being plastic, is it painted? Or is it "made" in that
color (like saturns), I can't recall what the process is called, sheet
molded, resin injected, something like that. Right?

-Will (going back to my corner)


> [Original Message]
> From: rmcelwee <(email redacted)>
> To: <(email redacted)>
> Date: 4/26/2004 4:39:44 PM
> Subject: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)
>
> My whole life (well, at least as long as I've been working on cars) I've
> taken great pains to keep brake fluid away from paint. I knew something
> catastrophic would happen if the two ever met. A few days ago I changed
out
> my brake/clutch fluid and had the old stuff sitting in a 2-liter soda
> bottle. I saw a post about it being one of the best paint strippers known
to
> man so I decided to run a test. I grabbed an old Smurf Blue Miata gas lid
I
> was saving for a DIY polishing (faux chrome) project, threw it in a
> Tupperware container, and poured brake fluid all over it. Wallyman's
comment
> reminded me it was out there so I went to check up on it a few minutes
ago.
> After 48 straight hours of soaking in the fluid there is ZERO paint
missing!
> I'm kind of disappointed (I really need the paint off this part) but it
has
> shown me the truth. Either brake fluid DOES NOT eat paint or Smurf Blue
> Miata paint is somehow immune to the fluid. My wife won't let me pour a
> bottle of it on her hood to test my theory about the power of Smurf Blue
> paint so I'll have to default to the "does not eat it" theory.
>
>
> Robert McElwee and Red Beast
> 1991 10PSI Hotside JRSC
> Link ECU, BSP A/W IC, 9:1 pistons
> Over 300 lbs of "added lightness"
> miata.cardomain.com/id/rmcelwee
>
> Lightweight Miata Group:
> autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/lightweightmiata/
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <(email redacted)>
> To: "Chad J Douglas" <(email redacted)>
> Cc: <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>;
> <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
> Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 1:09 PM
> Subject: RE: Brakes, Bleeding and ABS
>
>
> >
> > ...and repaint your car after you spray brake fluid all over it which
will
> > remove the paint.... at least that's what I'd end up doing. ;)
> >
> > Wallyman



- Will Erickson

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: "Larry Alster" <(email redacted)>

It's painted metal

Larry

White Knight 1991 Crystal White #99 CSP
Silver Bullet 1992 Silverstone #17 EM BEGI System IV Turbo +
Honey B 1992 Sunburst Yellow
Whoosh 2004 Titanium MazdaSpeed MX5

LowCountry Miata lowcountrymiataclub.net
Masters Miata
RAGS 074

----- Original Message -----
From: "Will Erickson" <(email redacted)>
To: <(email redacted)>; "rmcelwee" <(email redacted)>
Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2004 3:00 PM
Subject: RE: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)


> With the gas lid being plastic, is it painted? Or is it "made" in
that
> color (like saturns), I can't recall what the process is called, sheet
> molded, resin injected, something like that. Right?
>
> -Will (going back to my corner)
>
>
> > [Original Message]
> > From: rmcelwee <(email redacted)>
> > To: <(email redacted)>
> > Date: 4/26/2004 4:39:44 PM
> > Subject: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)
> >
> > My whole life (well, at least as long as I've been working on cars) I've
> > taken great pains to keep brake fluid away from paint. I knew something
> > catastrophic would happen if the two ever met. A few days ago I changed
> out
> > my brake/clutch fluid and had the old stuff sitting in a 2-liter soda
> > bottle. I saw a post about it being one of the best paint strippers
known
> to
> > man so I decided to run a test. I grabbed an old Smurf Blue Miata gas
lid
> I
> > was saving for a DIY polishing (faux chrome) project, threw it in a
> > Tupperware container, and poured brake fluid all over it. Wallyman's
> comment
> > reminded me it was out there so I went to check up on it a few minutes
> ago.
> > After 48 straight hours of soaking in the fluid there is ZERO paint
> missing!
> > I'm kind of disappointed (I really need the paint off this part) but it
> has
> > shown me the truth. Either brake fluid DOES NOT eat paint or Smurf Blue
> > Miata paint is somehow immune to the fluid. My wife won't let me pour a
> > bottle of it on her hood to test my theory about the power of Smurf Blue
> > paint so I'll have to default to the "does not eat it" theory.
> >
> >
> > Robert McElwee and Red Beast
> > 1991 10PSI Hotside JRSC
> > Link ECU, BSP A/W IC, 9:1 pistons
> > Over 300 lbs of "added lightness"
> > miata.cardomain.com/id/rmcelwee
> >
> > Lightweight Miata Group:
> > autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/lightweightmiata/
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <(email redacted)>
> > To: "Chad J Douglas" <(email redacted)>
> > Cc: <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>;
> > <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
> > Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 1:09 PM
> > Subject: RE: Brakes, Bleeding and ABS
> >
> >
> > >
> > > ...and repaint your car after you spray brake fluid all over it which
> will
> > > remove the paint.... at least that's what I'd end up doing. ;)
> > >
> > > Wallyman
>
>
>
> - Will Erickson
>
>
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: rmcelwee <(email redacted)>

An update to my brake fluid experiment:

I pulled my blue gas lid out of the bowl of used brake fluid a few days ago.
There is a small loosening of paint on the very edge (probably where some
scratches and chipping had originally removed the paint) but other than that
the gas lid looks fine. So, after two months of soaking in brake fluid no
paint has been eaten away. My conclusion has to be that brake fluid does not
remove paint. I don't know why the paint was loose around the edges but I'm
thinking that soaking in motor oil may have done the same thing. You guys
can run and hide from it if you wish but I am no longer scared of brake
fluid. I feel confident that I could pour a can of it on my car, wait a few
weeks before washing it off, and there would be no harm at all.

On a side note, my wife went ahead and spent the $7,000 (or whatever a
chrome lid costs - waste of money in my opinion) on a chrome lid before I
could get the paint stripped off this one and polish the metal up. If I had
soaked it in something that REALLY removed paint I could have saved some
bucks and I think it would have looked much better.


----- Original Message -----
From: "rmcelwee" <(email redacted)>
To: <(email redacted)>
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 6:39 PM
Subject: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)


> My whole life (well, at least as long as I've been working on cars) I've
> taken great pains to keep brake fluid away from paint. I knew something
> catastrophic would happen if the two ever met. A few days ago I changed
out
> my brake/clutch fluid and had the old stuff sitting in a 2-liter soda
> bottle. I saw a post about it being one of the best paint strippers known
to
> man so I decided to run a test. I grabbed an old Smurf Blue Miata gas lid
I
> was saving for a DIY polishing (faux chrome) project, threw it in a
> Tupperware container, and poured brake fluid all over it. Wallyman's
comment
> reminded me it was out there so I went to check up on it a few minutes
ago.
> After 48 straight hours of soaking in the fluid there is ZERO paint
missing!
> I'm kind of disappointed (I really need the paint off this part) but it
has
> shown me the truth. Either brake fluid DOES NOT eat paint or Smurf Blue
> Miata paint is somehow immune to the fluid. My wife won't let me pour a
> bottle of it on her hood to test my theory about the power of Smurf Blue
> paint so I'll have to default to the "does not eat it" theory.
>
>
> Robert McElwee and Red Beast
> 1991 10PSI Hotside JRSC
> Link ECU, BSP A/W IC, 9:1 pistons
> Over 300 lbs of "added lightness"
> miata.cardomain.com/id/rmcelwee
>
> Lightweight Miata Group:
> autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/lightweightmiata/
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <(email redacted)>
> To: "Chad J Douglas" <(email redacted)>
> Cc: <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>;
> <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
> Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 1:09 PM
> Subject: RE: Brakes, Bleeding and ABS
>
>
> >
> > ...and repaint your car after you spray brake fluid all over it which
will
> > remove the paint.... at least that's what I'd end up doing. ;)
> >
> > Wallyman
>
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: "Lee Bohon" <(email redacted)>

I'm really surprised to hear of your experience. I had a bit of brake
fluid leak from my master cylinder on the "shelf" underneathe. I'm not
sure how long it soaked there, but the paint came right off. I've seen
this in other miatas as well. Perhaps heat from the engine has
something to do with it?

Lee

-----Original Message-----
From: rmcelwee [mailto:(email redacted)]
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 6:21 AM
To: (email redacted)
Subject: Re: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)


An update to my brake fluid experiment:

I pulled my blue gas lid out of the bowl of used brake fluid a few days
ago. There is a small loosening of paint on the very edge (probably
where some scratches and chipping had originally removed the paint) but
other than that the gas lid looks fine. So, after two months of soaking
in brake fluid no paint has been eaten away. My conclusion has to be
that brake fluid does not remove paint. I don't know why the paint was
loose around the edges but I'm thinking that soaking in motor oil may
have done the same thing. You guys can run and hide from it if you wish
but I am no longer scared of brake fluid. I feel confident that I could
pour a can of it on my car, wait a few weeks before washing it off, and
there would be no harm at all.

On a side note, my wife went ahead and spent the $7,000 (or whatever a
chrome lid costs - waste of money in my opinion) on a chrome lid before
I could get the paint stripped off this one and polish the metal up. If
I had soaked it in something that REALLY removed paint I could have
saved some bucks and I think it would have looked much better.


----- Original Message -----
From: "rmcelwee" <(email redacted)>
To: <(email redacted)>
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 6:39 PM
Subject: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)


> My whole life (well, at least as long as I've been working on cars)
> I've taken great pains to keep brake fluid away from paint. I knew
> something catastrophic would happen if the two ever met. A few days
> ago I changed
out
> my brake/clutch fluid and had the old stuff sitting in a 2-liter soda
> bottle. I saw a post about it being one of the best paint strippers
> known
to
> man so I decided to run a test. I grabbed an old Smurf Blue Miata gas
> lid
I
> was saving for a DIY polishing (faux chrome) project, threw it in a
> Tupperware container, and poured brake fluid all over it. Wallyman's
comment
> reminded me it was out there so I went to check up on it a few minutes
ago.
> After 48 straight hours of soaking in the fluid there is ZERO paint
missing!
> I'm kind of disappointed (I really need the paint off this part) but
> it
has
> shown me the truth. Either brake fluid DOES NOT eat paint or Smurf
> Blue Miata paint is somehow immune to the fluid. My wife won't let me
> pour a bottle of it on her hood to test my theory about the power of
> Smurf Blue paint so I'll have to default to the "does not eat it"
> theory.
>
>
> Robert McElwee and Red Beast
> 1991 10PSI Hotside JRSC
> Link ECU, BSP A/W IC, 9:1 pistons
> Over 300 lbs of "added lightness"
> miata.cardomain.com/id/rmcelwee
>
> Lightweight Miata Group:
> autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/lightweightmiata/
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <(email redacted)>
> To: "Chad J Douglas" <(email redacted)>
> Cc: <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>;
> <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
> Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 1:09 PM
> Subject: RE: Brakes, Bleeding and ABS
>
>
> >
> > ...and repaint your car after you spray brake fluid all over it
> > which
will
> > remove the paint.... at least that's what I'd end up doing. ;)
> >
> > Wallyman
>
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: "Larry Alster" <(email redacted)>

No because I have seen paint come off fenders from brake fluid. I think
it's got to do with air also. Robert put the part in a pail of fluid
totally immersed, no air contact.

I think most of us either have a Miata or have seen one that has blistered
paint under the master cylinder. So we know what brake fluid can do.

Larry

White Knight 1991 Crystal White #99 CSP
Silver Bullet 1992 Silverstone #17 EM FM I+ Turbo
Honey B 1992 Sunburst Yellow
Whooosh 2004 Titanium MazdaSpeed MX5

LowCountry Miata lowcountrymiataclub.net
Masters Miata
RAGS 074

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lee Bohon" <(email redacted)>
To: "'rmcelwee'" <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 8:15 AM
Subject: RE: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)


> I'm really surprised to hear of your experience. I had a bit of brake
> fluid leak from my master cylinder on the "shelf" underneathe. I'm not
> sure how long it soaked there, but the paint came right off. I've seen
> this in other miatas as well. Perhaps heat from the engine has
> something to do with it?
>
> Lee
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rmcelwee [mailto:(email redacted)]
> Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 6:21 AM
> To: (email redacted)
> Subject: Re: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)
>
>
> An update to my brake fluid experiment:
>
> I pulled my blue gas lid out of the bowl of used brake fluid a few days
> ago. There is a small loosening of paint on the very edge (probably
> where some scratches and chipping had originally removed the paint) but
> other than that the gas lid looks fine. So, after two months of soaking
> in brake fluid no paint has been eaten away. My conclusion has to be
> that brake fluid does not remove paint. I don't know why the paint was
> loose around the edges but I'm thinking that soaking in motor oil may
> have done the same thing. You guys can run and hide from it if you wish
> but I am no longer scared of brake fluid. I feel confident that I could
> pour a can of it on my car, wait a few weeks before washing it off, and
> there would be no harm at all.
>
> On a side note, my wife went ahead and spent the $7,000 (or whatever a
> chrome lid costs - waste of money in my opinion) on a chrome lid before
> I could get the paint stripped off this one and polish the metal up. If
> I had soaked it in something that REALLY removed paint I could have
> saved some bucks and I think it would have looked much better.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "rmcelwee" <(email redacted)>
> To: <(email redacted)>
> Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 6:39 PM
> Subject: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)
>
>
> > My whole life (well, at least as long as I've been working on cars)
> > I've taken great pains to keep brake fluid away from paint. I knew
> > something catastrophic would happen if the two ever met. A few days
> > ago I changed
> out
> > my brake/clutch fluid and had the old stuff sitting in a 2-liter soda
> > bottle. I saw a post about it being one of the best paint strippers
> > known
> to
> > man so I decided to run a test. I grabbed an old Smurf Blue Miata gas
> > lid
> I
> > was saving for a DIY polishing (faux chrome) project, threw it in a
> > Tupperware container, and poured brake fluid all over it. Wallyman's
> comment
> > reminded me it was out there so I went to check up on it a few minutes
> ago.
> > After 48 straight hours of soaking in the fluid there is ZERO paint
> missing!
> > I'm kind of disappointed (I really need the paint off this part) but
> > it
> has
> > shown me the truth. Either brake fluid DOES NOT eat paint or Smurf
> > Blue Miata paint is somehow immune to the fluid. My wife won't let me
> > pour a bottle of it on her hood to test my theory about the power of
> > Smurf Blue paint so I'll have to default to the "does not eat it"
> > theory.
> >
> >
> > Robert McElwee and Red Beast
> > 1991 10PSI Hotside JRSC
> > Link ECU, BSP A/W IC, 9:1 pistons
> > Over 300 lbs of "added lightness"
> > miata.cardomain.com/id/rmcelwee
> >
> > Lightweight Miata Group:
> > autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/lightweightmiata/
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <(email redacted)>
> > To: "Chad J Douglas" <(email redacted)>
> > Cc: <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>;
> > <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
> > Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 1:09 PM
> > Subject: RE: Brakes, Bleeding and ABS
> >
> >
> > >
> > > ...and repaint your car after you spray brake fluid all over it
> > > which
> will
> > > remove the paint.... at least that's what I'd end up doing. ;)
> > >
> > > Wallyman
> >
> >
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Chris Robertson <(email redacted)>

Your experiment was flawed. If you put some brake fluid on paint, wait
about 60 minutes, the paint will rub off. If you leave it alone and
allow the brake fluid to evaporate, no harm done.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: rmcelwee [mailto:(email redacted)]
> Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 6:21 AM
> To: (email redacted)
> Subject: Re: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)
>
>
> An update to my brake fluid experiment:
>
> I pulled my blue gas lid out of the bowl of used brake fluid a few
> days
> ago. There is a small loosening of paint on the very edge (probably
> where some scratches and chipping had originally removed the paint)
> but
> other than that the gas lid looks fine. So, after two months of
> soaking
> in brake fluid no paint has been eaten away. My conclusion has to be
> that brake fluid does not remove paint. I don't know why the paint
> was
> loose around the edges but I'm thinking that soaking in motor oil may
> have done the same thing. You guys can run and hide from it if you
> wish
> but I am no longer scared of brake fluid. I feel confident that I
> could
> pour a can of it on my car, wait a few weeks before washing it off,
> and
> there would be no harm at all.
>
> On a side note, my wife went ahead and spent the $7,000 (or whatever
> a
> chrome lid costs - waste of money in my opinion) on a chrome lid
> before
> I could get the paint stripped off this one and polish the metal up.
> If
> I had soaked it in something that REALLY removed paint I could have
> saved some bucks and I think it would have looked much better.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "rmcelwee" <(email redacted)>
> To: <(email redacted)>
> Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 6:39 PM
> Subject: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)
>
>
> > My whole life (well, at least as long as I've been working on cars)
>
> > I've taken great pains to keep brake fluid away from paint. I knew
> > something catastrophic would happen if the two ever met. A few days
>
> > ago I changed
> out
> > my brake/clutch fluid and had the old stuff sitting in a 2-liter
> soda
> > bottle. I saw a post about it being one of the best paint strippers
>
> > known
> to
> > man so I decided to run a test. I grabbed an old Smurf Blue Miata
> gas
> > lid
> I
> > was saving for a DIY polishing (faux chrome) project, threw it in a
>
> > Tupperware container, and poured brake fluid all over it.
> Wallyman's
> comment
> > reminded me it was out there so I went to check up on it a few
> minutes
> ago.
> > After 48 straight hours of soaking in the fluid there is ZERO paint
> missing!
> > I'm kind of disappointed (I really need the paint off this part)
> but
> > it
> has
> > shown me the truth. Either brake fluid DOES NOT eat paint or Smurf
> > Blue Miata paint is somehow immune to the fluid. My wife won't let
> me
> > pour a bottle of it on her hood to test my theory about the power
> of
> > Smurf Blue paint so I'll have to default to the "does not eat it"
> > theory.
> >
> >
> > Robert McElwee and Red Beast
> > 1991 10PSI Hotside JRSC
> > Link ECU, BSP A/W IC, 9:1 pistons
> > Over 300 lbs of "added lightness"
> > miata.cardomain.com/id/rmcelwee
> >
> > Lightweight Miata Group:
> > autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/lightweightmiata/
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <(email redacted)>
> > To: "Chad J Douglas" <(email redacted)>
> > Cc: <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>;
> > <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
> > Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 1:09 PM
> > Subject: RE: Brakes, Bleeding and ABS
> >
> >
> > >
> > > ...and repaint your car after you spray brake fluid all over it
> > > which
> will
> > > remove the paint.... at least that's what I'd end up doing. ;)
> > >
> > > Wallyman
> >
> >
>
>




__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - Send 10MB messages!
promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: "Bob Hotaling" <(email redacted)>

Hard to agree with that Chris based on experience on the shelf under that
master previously mentioned. The way I even knew I had spilled fluid there
was that the paint peeled. It evaportated and took the paint with it.
Did I misunderstand your point?

Bob


----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Robertson" <(email redacted)>
To: <(email redacted)>
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 10:22 AM
Subject: RE: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)


> Your experiment was flawed. If you put some brake fluid on paint, wait
> about 60 minutes, the paint will rub off. If you leave it alone and
> allow the brake fluid to evaporate, no harm done.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: rmcelwee [mailto:(email redacted)]
> > Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 6:21 AM
> > To: (email redacted)
> > Subject: Re: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)
> >
> >
> > An update to my brake fluid experiment:
> >
> > I pulled my blue gas lid out of the bowl of used brake fluid a few
> > days
> > ago. There is a small loosening of paint on the very edge (probably
> > where some scratches and chipping had originally removed the paint)
> > but
> > other than that the gas lid looks fine. So, after two months of
> > soaking
> > in brake fluid no paint has been eaten away. My conclusion has to be
> > that brake fluid does not remove paint. I don't know why the paint
> > was
> > loose around the edges but I'm thinking that soaking in motor oil may
> > have done the same thing. You guys can run and hide from it if you
> > wish
> > but I am no longer scared of brake fluid. I feel confident that I
> > could
> > pour a can of it on my car, wait a few weeks before washing it off,
> > and
> > there would be no harm at all.
> >
> > On a side note, my wife went ahead and spent the $7,000 (or whatever
> > a
> > chrome lid costs - waste of money in my opinion) on a chrome lid
> > before
> > I could get the paint stripped off this one and polish the metal up.
> > If
> > I had soaked it in something that REALLY removed paint I could have
> > saved some bucks and I think it would have looked much better.
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "rmcelwee" <(email redacted)>
> > To: <(email redacted)>
> > Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 6:39 PM
> > Subject: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)
> >
> >
> > > My whole life (well, at least as long as I've been working on cars)
> >
> > > I've taken great pains to keep brake fluid away from paint. I knew
> > > something catastrophic would happen if the two ever met. A few days
> >
> > > ago I changed
> > out
> > > my brake/clutch fluid and had the old stuff sitting in a 2-liter
> > soda
> > > bottle. I saw a post about it being one of the best paint strippers
> >
> > > known
> > to
> > > man so I decided to run a test. I grabbed an old Smurf Blue Miata
> > gas
> > > lid
> > I
> > > was saving for a DIY polishing (faux chrome) project, threw it in a
> >
> > > Tupperware container, and poured brake fluid all over it.
> > Wallyman's
> > comment
> > > reminded me it was out there so I went to check up on it a few
> > minutes
> > ago.
> > > After 48 straight hours of soaking in the fluid there is ZERO paint
> > missing!
> > > I'm kind of disappointed (I really need the paint off this part)
> > but
> > > it
> > has
> > > shown me the truth. Either brake fluid DOES NOT eat paint or Smurf
> > > Blue Miata paint is somehow immune to the fluid. My wife won't let
> > me
> > > pour a bottle of it on her hood to test my theory about the power
> > of
> > > Smurf Blue paint so I'll have to default to the "does not eat it"
> > > theory.
> > >
> > >
> > > Robert McElwee and Red Beast
> > > 1991 10PSI Hotside JRSC
> > > Link ECU, BSP A/W IC, 9:1 pistons
> > > Over 300 lbs of "added lightness"
> > > miata.cardomain.com/id/rmcelwee
> > >
> > > Lightweight Miata Group:
> > > autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/lightweightmiata/
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: <(email redacted)>
> > > To: "Chad J Douglas" <(email redacted)>
> > > Cc: <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>;
> > > <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
> > > Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 1:09 PM
> > > Subject: RE: Brakes, Bleeding and ABS
> > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > ...and repaint your car after you spray brake fluid all over it
> > > > which
> > will
> > > > remove the paint.... at least that's what I'd end up doing. ;)
> > > >
> > > > Wallyman
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - Send 10MB messages!
> promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: "Larry Alster" <(email redacted)>

Actually he had it submerged in a bowl full. No air involved which is what
I think the problem was.

Larry

White Knight 1991 Crystal White #99 CSP
Silver Bullet 1992 Silverstone #17 EM FM I+ Turbo
Honey B 1992 Sunburst Yellow
Whooosh 2004 Titanium MazdaSpeed MX5

LowCountry Miata lowcountrymiataclub.net
Masters Miata
RAGS 074

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Robertson" <(email redacted)>
To: <(email redacted)>
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 10:22 AM
Subject: RE: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)


> Your experiment was flawed. If you put some brake fluid on paint, wait
> about 60 minutes, the paint will rub off. If you leave it alone and
> allow the brake fluid to evaporate, no harm done.
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: rmcelwee [mailto:(email redacted)]
> > Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 6:21 AM
> > To: (email redacted)
> > Subject: Re: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)
> >
> >
> > An update to my brake fluid experiment:
> >
> > I pulled my blue gas lid out of the bowl of used brake fluid a few
> > days
> > ago. There is a small loosening of paint on the very edge (probably
> > where some scratches and chipping had originally removed the paint)
> > but
> > other than that the gas lid looks fine. So, after two months of
> > soaking
> > in brake fluid no paint has been eaten away. My conclusion has to be
> > that brake fluid does not remove paint. I don't know why the paint
> > was
> > loose around the edges but I'm thinking that soaking in motor oil may
> > have done the same thing. You guys can run and hide from it if you
> > wish
> > but I am no longer scared of brake fluid. I feel confident that I
> > could
> > pour a can of it on my car, wait a few weeks before washing it off,
> > and
> > there would be no harm at all.
> >
> > On a side note, my wife went ahead and spent the $7,000 (or whatever
> > a
> > chrome lid costs - waste of money in my opinion) on a chrome lid
> > before
> > I could get the paint stripped off this one and polish the metal up.
> > If
> > I had soaked it in something that REALLY removed paint I could have
> > saved some bucks and I think it would have looked much better.
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "rmcelwee" <(email redacted)>
> > To: <(email redacted)>
> > Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 6:39 PM
> > Subject: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)
> >
> >
> > > My whole life (well, at least as long as I've been working on cars)
> >
> > > I've taken great pains to keep brake fluid away from paint. I knew
> > > something catastrophic would happen if the two ever met. A few days
> >
> > > ago I changed
> > out
> > > my brake/clutch fluid and had the old stuff sitting in a 2-liter
> > soda
> > > bottle. I saw a post about it being one of the best paint strippers
> >
> > > known
> > to
> > > man so I decided to run a test. I grabbed an old Smurf Blue Miata
> > gas
> > > lid
> > I
> > > was saving for a DIY polishing (faux chrome) project, threw it in a
> >
> > > Tupperware container, and poured brake fluid all over it.
> > Wallyman's
> > comment
> > > reminded me it was out there so I went to check up on it a few
> > minutes
> > ago.
> > > After 48 straight hours of soaking in the fluid there is ZERO paint
> > missing!
> > > I'm kind of disappointed (I really need the paint off this part)
> > but
> > > it
> > has
> > > shown me the truth. Either brake fluid DOES NOT eat paint or Smurf
> > > Blue Miata paint is somehow immune to the fluid. My wife won't let
> > me
> > > pour a bottle of it on her hood to test my theory about the power
> > of
> > > Smurf Blue paint so I'll have to default to the "does not eat it"
> > > theory.
> > >
> > >
> > > Robert McElwee and Red Beast
> > > 1991 10PSI Hotside JRSC
> > > Link ECU, BSP A/W IC, 9:1 pistons
> > > Over 300 lbs of "added lightness"
> > > miata.cardomain.com/id/rmcelwee
> > >
> > > Lightweight Miata Group:
> > > autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/lightweightmiata/
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: <(email redacted)>
> > > To: "Chad J Douglas" <(email redacted)>
> > > Cc: <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>;
> > > <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
> > > Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 1:09 PM
> > > Subject: RE: Brakes, Bleeding and ABS
> > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > ...and repaint your car after you spray brake fluid all over it
> > > > which
> > will
> > > > remove the paint.... at least that's what I'd end up doing. ;)
> > > >
> > > > Wallyman
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - Send 10MB messages!
> promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Chris Robertson <(email redacted)>

I wasn't trying to slam your experiment. I've just seen brake fluid
ruin paint. This has been my experience with many cars over the past
20 years bleeding brakes. I have learned to either wipe up spilled
brake fuid immediately or to flush it with water. If you miss some and
the paint bubbles up, just leave it alone. The paint has a better
chance of returning to normal if undisturbed. :)

--- Bob Hotaling <(email redacted)> wrote:
> Hard to agree with that Chris based on experience on the shelf under
> that
> master previously mentioned. The way I even knew I had spilled
> fluid there
> was that the paint peeled. It evaportated and took the paint with
> it.
> Did I misunderstand your point?
>
> Bob
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chris Robertson" <(email redacted)>
> To: <(email redacted)>
> Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 10:22 AM
> Subject: RE: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)
>
>
> > Your experiment was flawed. If you put some brake fluid on paint,
> wait
> > about 60 minutes, the paint will rub off. If you leave it alone
> and
> > allow the brake fluid to evaporate, no harm done.
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: rmcelwee [mailto:(email redacted)]
> > > Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 6:21 AM
> > > To: (email redacted)
> > > Subject: Re: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)
> > >
> > >
> > > An update to my brake fluid experiment:
> > >
> > > I pulled my blue gas lid out of the bowl of used brake fluid a
> few
> > > days
> > > ago. There is a small loosening of paint on the very edge
> (probably
> > > where some scratches and chipping had originally removed the
> paint)
> > > but
> > > other than that the gas lid looks fine. So, after two months of
> > > soaking
> > > in brake fluid no paint has been eaten away. My conclusion has to
> be
> > > that brake fluid does not remove paint. I don't know why the
> paint
> > > was
> > > loose around the edges but I'm thinking that soaking in motor oil
> may
> > > have done the same thing. You guys can run and hide from it if
> you
> > > wish
> > > but I am no longer scared of brake fluid. I feel confident that I
> > > could
> > > pour a can of it on my car, wait a few weeks before washing it
> off,
> > > and
> > > there would be no harm at all.
> > >
> > > On a side note, my wife went ahead and spent the $7,000 (or
> whatever
> > > a
> > > chrome lid costs - waste of money in my opinion) on a chrome lid
> > > before
> > > I could get the paint stripped off this one and polish the metal
> up.
> > > If
> > > I had soaked it in something that REALLY removed paint I could
> have
> > > saved some bucks and I think it would have looked much better.
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "rmcelwee" <(email redacted)>
> > > To: <(email redacted)>
> > > Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 6:39 PM
> > > Subject: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)
> > >
> > >
> > > > My whole life (well, at least as long as I've been working on
> cars)
> > >
> > > > I've taken great pains to keep brake fluid away from paint. I
> knew
> > > > something catastrophic would happen if the two ever met. A few
> days
> > >
> > > > ago I changed
> > > out
> > > > my brake/clutch fluid and had the old stuff sitting in a
> 2-liter
> > > soda
> > > > bottle. I saw a post about it being one of the best paint
> strippers
> > >
> > > > known
> > > to
> > > > man so I decided to run a test. I grabbed an old Smurf Blue
> Miata
> > > gas
> > > > lid
> > > I
> > > > was saving for a DIY polishing (faux chrome) project, threw it
> in a
> > >
> > > > Tupperware container, and poured brake fluid all over it.
> > > Wallyman's
> > > comment
> > > > reminded me it was out there so I went to check up on it a few
> > > minutes
> > > ago.
> > > > After 48 straight hours of soaking in the fluid there is ZERO
> paint
> > > missing!
> > > > I'm kind of disappointed (I really need the paint off this
> part)
> > > but
> > > > it
> > > has
> > > > shown me the truth. Either brake fluid DOES NOT eat paint or
> Smurf
> > > > Blue Miata paint is somehow immune to the fluid. My wife won't
> let
> > > me
> > > > pour a bottle of it on her hood to test my theory about the
> power
> > > of
> > > > Smurf Blue paint so I'll have to default to the "does not eat
> it"
> > > > theory.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Robert McElwee and Red Beast
> > > > 1991 10PSI Hotside JRSC
> > > > Link ECU, BSP A/W IC, 9:1 pistons
> > > > Over 300 lbs of "added lightness"
> > > > miata.cardomain.com/id/rmcelwee
> > > >
> > > > Lightweight Miata Group:
> > > > autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/lightweightmiata/
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: <(email redacted)>
> > > > To: "Chad J Douglas" <(email redacted)>
> > > > Cc: <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>;
> > > > <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
> > > > Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 1:09 PM
> > > > Subject: RE: Brakes, Bleeding and ABS
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > ...and repaint your car after you spray brake fluid all over
> it
> > > > > which
> > > will
> > > > > remove the paint.... at least that's what I'd end up doing.
> ;)
> > > > >
> > > > > Wallyman
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > __________________________________
> > Do you Yahoo!?
> > New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - Send 10MB messages!
> > promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail
>
>
>




__________________________________
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This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: "Sam Sharp" <(email redacted)>

I have two Miatas that had slow leaks from the master cylinder reservoir
grommets. The paint on the shelf below the MC is totally ruined on both
cars. It is all shriveled up and can be wiped off with a rag. Maybe brake
fluid needs air to ruin paint, or it does it in the evaporation process or
something. I don't know, but I sure wouldn't let any get on my paint.

Sam

----- Original Message -----
From: "rmcelwee" <(email redacted)>
To: <(email redacted)>
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 4:20 AM
Subject: Re: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)


> An update to my brake fluid experiment:
>
> I pulled my blue gas lid out of the bowl of used brake fluid a few days
ago.
> There is a small loosening of paint on the very edge (probably where some
> scratches and chipping had originally removed the paint) but other than
that
> the gas lid looks fine. So, after two months of soaking in brake fluid no
> paint has been eaten away. My conclusion has to be that brake fluid does
not
> remove paint. I don't know why the paint was loose around the edges but
I'm
> thinking that soaking in motor oil may have done the same thing. You guys
> can run and hide from it if you wish but I am no longer scared of brake
> fluid. I feel confident that I could pour a can of it on my car, wait a
few
> weeks before washing it off, and there would be no harm at all.
>
> On a side note, my wife went ahead and spent the $7,000 (or whatever a
> chrome lid costs - waste of money in my opinion) on a chrome lid before I
> could get the paint stripped off this one and polish the metal up. If I
had
> soaked it in something that REALLY removed paint I could have saved some
> bucks and I think it would have looked much better.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "rmcelwee" <(email redacted)>
> To: <(email redacted)>
> Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 6:39 PM
> Subject: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)
>
>
> > My whole life (well, at least as long as I've been working on cars) I've
> > taken great pains to keep brake fluid away from paint. I knew something
> > catastrophic would happen if the two ever met. A few days ago I changed
> out
> > my brake/clutch fluid and had the old stuff sitting in a 2-liter soda
> > bottle. I saw a post about it being one of the best paint strippers
known
> to
> > man so I decided to run a test. I grabbed an old Smurf Blue Miata gas
lid
> I
> > was saving for a DIY polishing (faux chrome) project, threw it in a
> > Tupperware container, and poured brake fluid all over it. Wallyman's
> comment
> > reminded me it was out there so I went to check up on it a few minutes
> ago.
> > After 48 straight hours of soaking in the fluid there is ZERO paint
> missing!
> > I'm kind of disappointed (I really need the paint off this part) but it
> has
> > shown me the truth. Either brake fluid DOES NOT eat paint or Smurf Blue
> > Miata paint is somehow immune to the fluid. My wife won't let me pour a
> > bottle of it on her hood to test my theory about the power of Smurf Blue
> > paint so I'll have to default to the "does not eat it" theory.
> >
> >
> > Robert McElwee and Red Beast
> > 1991 10PSI Hotside JRSC
> > Link ECU, BSP A/W IC, 9:1 pistons
> > Over 300 lbs of "added lightness"
> > miata.cardomain.com/id/rmcelwee
> >
> > Lightweight Miata Group:
> > autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/lightweightmiata/
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <(email redacted)>
> > To: "Chad J Douglas" <(email redacted)>
> > Cc: <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>;
> > <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
> > Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 1:09 PM
> > Subject: RE: Brakes, Bleeding and ABS
> >
> >
> > >
> > > ...and repaint your car after you spray brake fluid all over it which
> will
> > > remove the paint.... at least that's what I'd end up doing. ;)
> > >
> > > Wallyman
> >
> >
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: "Jeff Abrams" <(email redacted)>

Well, go do it. See what happens.
Only, do it like this:

Take a small amount of brake fluid - like an eye dropper full - and drip it
down your fender. Allow it to run down and sit until the next day.

The next day, wipe it off with a paper towel. You will know where to wipe
because it will be a dull, moist bump line down your fender.

Enjoy.

---

Jeff Abrams
(email redacted)

TURBOCHARGED & INTERCOOLED 2.5 liter 1993 Mazda MX-3 GS <=SOLD
TURBOCHARGED & INTERCOOLED 1.8 liter 1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata
ROTARY POWER!! 1.3 liter 2004 Mazda RX-8 GT
mazdamaniac.com



Unwillingly good, but good nonetheless.
Calvin & Hobbes




-----Original Message-----
From: rmcelwee [mailto:(email redacted)]
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 6:21 AM
To: (email redacted)
Subject: Re: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)


An update to my brake fluid experiment:

I pulled my blue gas lid out of the bowl of used brake fluid a few days ago.
There is a small loosening of paint on the very edge (probably where some
scratches and chipping had originally removed the paint) but other than that
the gas lid looks fine. So, after two months of soaking in brake fluid no
paint has been eaten away. My conclusion has to be that brake fluid does not
remove paint. I don't know why the paint was loose around the edges but I'm
thinking that soaking in motor oil may have done the same thing. You guys
can run and hide from it if you wish but I am no longer scared of brake
fluid. I feel confident that I could pour a can of it on my car, wait a few
weeks before washing it off, and there would be no harm at all.

On a side note, my wife went ahead and spent the $7,000 (or whatever a
chrome lid costs - waste of money in my opinion) on a chrome lid before I
could get the paint stripped off this one and polish the metal up. If I had
soaked it in something that REALLY removed paint I could have saved some
bucks and I think it would have looked much better.

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Keith Tanner <(email redacted)>

It'll take off POR-15 too. That stuff is tough but it succumbs to a single
drop of fluid.

Keith Tanner
Flyin' Miata
(email redacted)
flyinmiata.com
1-800-FLY-MX5s (orders)
1-970-242-3800 (tech)


-----Original Message-----
From: Sam Sharp [mailto:(email redacted)]
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 8:02 AM
To: rmcelwee; (email redacted)
Subject: Re: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)

I have two Miatas that had slow leaks from the master cylinder reservoir
grommets. The paint on the shelf below the MC is totally ruined on both
cars. It is all shriveled up and can be wiped off with a rag. Maybe brake
fluid needs air to ruin paint, or it does it in the evaporation process or
something. I don't know, but I sure wouldn't let any get on my paint.

Sam

----- Original Message -----
From: "rmcelwee" <(email redacted)>
To: <(email redacted)>
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2004 4:20 AM
Subject: Re: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)


> An update to my brake fluid experiment:
>
> I pulled my blue gas lid out of the bowl of used brake fluid a few
> days
ago.
> There is a small loosening of paint on the very edge (probably where
> some scratches and chipping had originally removed the paint) but
> other than
that
> the gas lid looks fine. So, after two months of soaking in brake fluid
> no paint has been eaten away. My conclusion has to be that brake fluid
> does
not
> remove paint. I don't know why the paint was loose around the edges
> but
I'm
> thinking that soaking in motor oil may have done the same thing. You
> guys can run and hide from it if you wish but I am no longer scared of
> brake fluid. I feel confident that I could pour a can of it on my car,
> wait a
few
> weeks before washing it off, and there would be no harm at all.
>
> On a side note, my wife went ahead and spent the $7,000 (or whatever a
> chrome lid costs - waste of money in my opinion) on a chrome lid
> before I could get the paint stripped off this one and polish the
> metal up. If I
had
> soaked it in something that REALLY removed paint I could have saved
> some bucks and I think it would have looked much better.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "rmcelwee" <(email redacted)>
> To: <(email redacted)>
> Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 6:39 PM
> Subject: Lies Lies Lies (was Brakes, Bleeding and ABS)
>
>
> > My whole life (well, at least as long as I've been working on cars)
> > I've taken great pains to keep brake fluid away from paint. I knew
> > something catastrophic would happen if the two ever met. A few days
> > ago I changed
> out
> > my brake/clutch fluid and had the old stuff sitting in a 2-liter
> > soda bottle. I saw a post about it being one of the best paint
> > strippers
known
> to
> > man so I decided to run a test. I grabbed an old Smurf Blue Miata
> > gas
lid
> I
> > was saving for a DIY polishing (faux chrome) project, threw it in a
> > Tupperware container, and poured brake fluid all over it. Wallyman's
> comment
> > reminded me it was out there so I went to check up on it a few
> > minutes
> ago.
> > After 48 straight hours of soaking in the fluid there is ZERO paint
> missing!
> > I'm kind of disappointed (I really need the paint off this part) but
> > it
> has
> > shown me the truth. Either brake fluid DOES NOT eat paint or Smurf
> > Blue Miata paint is somehow immune to the fluid. My wife won't let
> > me pour a bottle of it on her hood to test my theory about the power
> > of Smurf Blue paint so I'll have to default to the "does not eat it"
theory.
> >
> >
> > Robert McElwee and Red Beast
> > 1991 10PSI Hotside JRSC
> > Link ECU, BSP A/W IC, 9:1 pistons
> > Over 300 lbs of "added lightness"
> > miata.cardomain.com/id/rmcelwee
> >
> > Lightweight Miata Group:
> > autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/lightweightmiata/
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <(email redacted)>
> > To: "Chad J Douglas" <(email redacted)>
> > Cc: <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>;
> > <(email redacted)>; <(email redacted)>
> > Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 1:09 PM
> > Subject: RE: Brakes, Bleeding and ABS
> >
> >
> > >
> > > ...and repaint your car after you spray brake fluid all over it
> > > which
> will
> > > remove the paint.... at least that's what I'd end up doing. ;)
> > >
> > > Wallyman
> >
> >
>