innerware Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 Hey there. Is there a safe way to dispose of used brake fluid? I flushed my system out and have the old stuff in snapple bottles now. Is there somewhere to recycle it? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denny411 Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 I dump it in with my used motor oil and recycle it at advance auto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z Driver Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 I put all my car's fluids in my oil recycle container with the exception of coolant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockjaw Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 It is good for killing noxious woody plants too. Like Mimosa's. I put it on the stumps when I cut them down. Yeah it is not enviro friendly, but hey, you got to do what you got to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop N Wood Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 I seal it in an empty antifreeze container and put it in the trash. Unfortunately our dump's recycle center doesn't take brake fluid or tranmission fluid. They take everything else though. I don't think you are suppose to mix brake fluid with motor oil. Just like antifreeze, I think brake fluid makes the motor oil un-recycleble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David K Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 I don't think you are suppose to mix brake fluid with motor oil. Just like antifreeze, I think brake fluid makes the motor oil un-recycleble. Well we cant let it build up in containers in our garages Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop N Wood Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 I don't think you are suppose to mix brake fluid with motor oil. Just like antifreeze' date=' I think brake fluid makes the motor oil un-recycleble.[/quote'] Well we cant let it build up in containers in our garages I hear you. But I don't know what to do about it. I did a quick web search and confirmed what I thought, Mixing anything like antifreeze, degreasers or paint solvents makes motor oil un-recyclable. (One teaspoon of antifreeze will contaminate up to 50 gallons of oil) Anything with chlorine (like using empty bleach containers) will make it un recyclable also. Brake fluid is a little less clear. I found one site that said it could be mixed with used oil for recycling (a recycle center in Hawaii). Every other site said to NOT mix brake fluid with oil. Several sites flat out stated that brake fluid and transmission fluid cannot be recycled and must be disposed of as toxic waste. What to do. Funny, one site listed windsheild washer fluid as a toxic waste. They said to wear gloves when adding it. Their recommendation was to use 3 parts vinegar to 1 part water instead of buying methonol based windsheild washer fulid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 Call the local city or county office and ask. Most agencies have programs to dispose of these types of wastes. Do the right thing guys! Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David K Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 Id do the right thing if i could actually collect my brake fluid. I often bump the can over and it spills all over the place. Seriously, i still have old brake fluid in a huge can from years ago and the can is under halfway, long way to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CU Zcar Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 I also think you're right on not mixing brake fluid with oil, antifreeze contains (or is, or is made from...something like that ) glycol, and brake fluid is/has/comes from polyglycol. I think I've usually just let mine sit around in the bottles I collect it in...some day I'll have to find some place to take it. If someplace would take antifreeze, maybe you could mix the brake fluid with that? [edit] BTW don't mix antifreeze and brake fluid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CU Zcar Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 http://www.household-hazwaste.org/ Those people might be able to help you, they list an Oakland drop-off location. BTW I found some one page (St. Louis based) that said you can mix oil and brake fluid, several others that said don't, and one so far (Maine) that says don't mix antifreeze and brake fluid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Al 260Z Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 I vote with Tim : DO THE RIGHT THING ! Don't mix hazardous waste with waste oil or dump in the woods. In Placer Co. CA, the local oil recycle places won't take anti-freeze, brake fluid, old gas or solvent. I store these up until I have enough to warrant a trip to the county "transfer" facility with the haz material disposal. They have a 5 gallon limit. I recommend keeping all byproducts labelled. Some, like antifreeze, might have a chance to be recycled. Otherwise labels will help the unlucky bastards who have to sort out and deal with the crap. Later, Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spotfitz Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 I use it as paint stripper. Been using the same pan for acouple years now. It slowly works down as you wipe the parts off that have been dunked. God knows if you drip some on the inside of the engine bay when filling up you will have a bare metal spot in acouple of days. I do recycle my oil, although I was told it does wonders on ant mounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockjaw Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 Brake fluid makes pretty colored flames too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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