Shop said I had high copper content in brake fluid
#1
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I went to wheel works over the weekend to get 2 tires installed.
After their "courtesy check", the desk man informed me that the "technician" discovered that my brake fluid has high copper content and that I should get a flush, pay $125 for whatever they wanted to do.
LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AGO I CHANGED THE BRAKE FLUID.
So how does this guy think he's going to scam me? Maybe since I have drilled rotors and powercoated calipers (installed at the same time as my brake fluid replacement), he thought I would be scared of my brakes being messed up or something.
I was nice. I just said "thanks, but no thanks."
I searched here and on google but couldn't find enough good information. What are the odds that I was bullshited? Is copper content really a problem, especially for brake fluid less than 3 months old?
I may order my own test kit to see what's really up. If the copper is fine, I might go back and speak to this guy, his manager, and call the president of the company.
After their "courtesy check", the desk man informed me that the "technician" discovered that my brake fluid has high copper content and that I should get a flush, pay $125 for whatever they wanted to do.
LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AGO I CHANGED THE BRAKE FLUID.
So how does this guy think he's going to scam me? Maybe since I have drilled rotors and powercoated calipers (installed at the same time as my brake fluid replacement), he thought I would be scared of my brakes being messed up or something.
I was nice. I just said "thanks, but no thanks."
I searched here and on google but couldn't find enough good information. What are the odds that I was bullshited? Is copper content really a problem, especially for brake fluid less than 3 months old?
I may order my own test kit to see what's really up. If the copper is fine, I might go back and speak to this guy, his manager, and call the president of the company.
#6
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If you changed it less than three months ago then it shouldn't exceed 200ppm. How it could do that I don't know. Maybe they ground up a few pre-1982 pennies into your fluid reservoir? That, or the guy is being a typical salesperson douchebag and trying to sell you something you don't need.
#7
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and btw, they are not supposed to lift the hood while doing tires. companies like that are very strict on what you can and cannot check while working on a car. the only think you are supposed to check while doing tires are shocks/struts, CV boots, brakes and tie rods, ball joints.
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that seems like some bullshit to me. after a quick google search i found they have test strips to quickly check. i would go to a different shop, and just ask nicely for a test strip (unless the zone sells them) and test it yourself. and then when it turns up negative, bring the strip to the shop that tried to bs you.
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they are little test strips that turn purple when you dip them in liquid. we have those at my shop. i never use them cause i dont like them. its funny because the tip is pinkish when its new and dry but just by wetting it even with water or whatever it turns dark purple. the procedure is to hand the customer the used test strip with a little card that has little colored squares that correspond to the color of the strip ranging from light pink(clean) all the way to dark purple (dirty). the used test strip is always purple. then tell little old ladies or young kids that they need a brake flush or else they are going to crash into a bus load of nuns. beware... there are ones for coolant and trans fluid as well