Most folks who do numerous track days a year will bleed brakes after or before each weekend just so this doesn't happen.....
I'm sure Scott meant pushing the old fluid out. It has been my experience that high performance brake fluids suffer from moisture absorption more that some of the garden variety types. That being said use fresh high performance fluid when you head to the track.
I wouldn't replace ALL of the fluid as only the fluid close to the calipers actually gets hot enough to boil. My local race prep/service shop suggests a half bleed of the system for my car.
Scott if the fluid in the calipers is contaminated enough to boil so is ALL the other fluid in the brake system. Only replacing half may help raise the boiling point, but it will not perform the same as a fill with fresh fluid. If you have ever experienced boiled fluid :eek6: you would never do as that shop suggests.
I'm afraid I'm with Crashton on this, for no more than 1/2 pint of fluid costs.... Like I said before, cheaping out on brakes seems a bad idea to me, especially if you're gonna run on a track event! My NASA Corvette buddy replaces his after every race, at first I thought that was a little excessive, but once I thought about the consequences I decided he was right and now I follow his example. With a pressure bleeder it's so easy to do, too....
Sorry, guess I wasn't being clear enough. I was only referring to preventative measures, not replacing boiled fluid. Of course if the fluid has boiled go with a full flush.
I wish I raced, but rather pointless with an automatic. I generally prefer synthetic fluids. I thought the point of Super Blue and other synthetics was that they have a higher boiling point and aren't hydroscopic. Is this not sound thinking? My car is never raced and 95% highway driven. What is the "best" fluid for my application if I want long component life with regular fluid changes, say every 2 years? To get an idea of where I am coming from- you know the Irv dude with the 1966 Volvo 1800 that has run from Pluto and back? That's what I want to be with my Clubman.
I look at it the same as the long life oil, if you're going to change it regularly and twice a year, why do you need long life oil? Point being, if you change it regularly good ol Dot 4 will see you thru - that's what ole Irv used in the Volvo. As to running an automatic on the track, what the heck is wrong with your head? I run mine on the local road course several times a year, it's not the automatic that makes the driver.....I routinely outrun manual shift cars. Don't fall for the "you're not a man if you don't have three pedals in your car", it's nonsense. FYI, Chaparals used 2 speed powerglide automatics. Most drag racers use powerglides. F1 cars are practically automatics - they do have a clutch, but not a clutch pedal. Your car is not pointless, it's about the fun of driving your car, not how many pedals it has.
After you open a bottle of Motul, you technically aren't supposed to reuse it. So I flush and use pretty much the whole bottle before each track event (although I'll leave just a little in the bottle with me to take to the track for insurance, but I usually bleed the brakes the week I'm going to an HPDE). Since doing this, I've never had a problem. I used Super Blue prior. I'll never go back. Although if Brakeman has fluid, I may give that a shot--I have Brakeman brakes and absolutely love the brakes and pads; I didn't know they had their own fluid.
...what cct1 said. ^^ I use Tilton TSR-1, which comes in 1/4 L bottles. I'll bleed most of one bottle through the system, and take the rest to the track in a ziploc. I try to replace all the fluid every 6 months, whether through one big flush or a bunch of little bleeds, depending on how often I'm going to the track. And I'm never going back to Super Blue. That stuff just doesn't perform as well. It's good for high performance street cars because it absorbs water slower than other high temp fluids, but otherwise it's pretty useless.
I'm not trying to be the new guy here that no one likes, but here it goes: Seeing as this my only car and I can't currently afford something like $6500 for a remanufactured tranny, the automatic scares the daylights out of me longevity wise. I'm planning to have the fluid drained every 30K and hope that does the trick. I certainly won't be racing it. I'm 45 and the have only bought 2 cars since 19 with an auto. I really don't like them. I used to say I bought a used car by condition, not color. If a car was mechanically well cared for, full service records, etc, I wouldn't care if someone put pink polka dots over factory puke green paint. I'm not kidding. Apparently, on my last car and the Mini, I can ignore the fact that they lack a clutch. My last car had 1600 miles on it when I bought it, and the price was right. The Mini was bought new my my in laws- low miles and known history. Paddles or not, automatic trans cars aren't for racing, IMHO. If you race an auto Mini, I send you a thumbs up! Me, dont have the nerve or funds to risk it.
HiFi Guy, like Dave said auto's can do well at track days. It is more driver skill than what trans your MINI has. It is obvious Dave has that skill set. Racing is another matter, yes Jim Hall used an auto & drag racers do too. I think we are talking about MINI's not drag racer's or Chaparals. No one races an auto MINI. Not sure it would even be allowed by the sanctioning body. HPDEs are not racing, but a hell of a lot of fun. I too think it is great that Dave puts his auto equipped MINI on track. I can understand your unwillingness to put your MINI on the track. It is not for everyone & as you said if you put a car on a track it is possible to lose ones car there or a big piece of it. Back on topic I think? For street use a brake fluid like Castrol LMA will work well. You will still need to change the fluid out on a 2 year timeline. Welcome to M/A HiFiGuy
Per Mike Miller of BMWCCA's "Old School Maintenance Schedule," prior to the advent of Scheduled Maintenance, BMW recommended annual brake fluid changes. Granted, brake fluid and anti-corrosion technologies have progressed since the E30 of the late '80's, but it's worth noting. They also called for "automatic transmission fluid (ATF) and filter changes every 15,000 miles, manual gearbox and differential oil changes every 30,000 miles, annual brake fluid changes, and coolant changes every two years. Spark plugs, air filter, and fuel filters were typically replaced every 30,000 miles on most BMWs."