Before being vehicle owners, we are firstly humans who must prioritize keeping our homeland safe and sound.
Speaking of which, such a pernicious substance like brake fluid that several cars release unceasingly is not healthy for the environment.
The question here comes: How to dispose of brake fluid without leaving any harm to Mother nature, or, even better, recycle it for the future use of your automobile?
Address this point at issues with merely a few minutes of your break going through our article! Scroll down for more.
Why Do You Need To Dispose Of Brake Fluid?
Little do you know, brake fluid is one of the most considered chemicals put on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) list of destructive wastes.
So far, there has been an urgent need for everyone to judiciously dispose of such alcohol-based, thus highly incendiary products.
Depending on each type of brake fluid, its detrimental effect shall follow distinctive courses. There are two major categories under the spectrum that you may be aware of, which are DOT 3 and DOT 4.
They both share that these two types contain glycol ethers, harmful chemical compounds that are fatal to humans and animals.
Once they go down to your stomach, severe consequences such as kidney damage or even loss of life may happen inevitably.
What about the differences? You may wonder. DOT 3 and DOT 4 do differ to quite a decent extent when it comes to their compositions.
While the former is made with glycols derived from petroleum, DOT 4 features synthetic glycols as its main components.
Regardless of which type of glycols the two automotive fluids comprise, they both leave dire repercussions, which could be either eye damage or skin irritation.
How To Dispose Of Brake Fluid
How to dispose brake fluid? There are a few options available if you are in the process of finding a way to get rid of extra wasted brake fluid.
The first to mention is a friendly DIY approach to getting the work done even with no help from experts, followed respectively by taking it to the waste disposal facility and not to be forgotten, brake fluid recycling for the later appliance.
Disposal At Home
Yes, you don’t mishear it: You can totally discard brake fluid even if there is only yourself to complete the task. Adapt these steps below for the most feasible successful results coming on the way!
Step 1: Put your surplus cat litter in a container or pan. Pick whichever container you wish as long as it goes with a 9 by 12-inch size.
Provided that it is a pan you employ, you can look no further but the metal one used to contain mechanical green fluid leaked during your previous mechanical processes.
What if you don’t already have unused kitty litter at home? Browse around the Internet or head to a pet supply store; we’re sure it’s not that hard to purchase some.
Step 2: Pour the brake pedal fluid over the clean kitty litter.
Be cautious and do not place the combine anywhere near children’s or pets’ reach. Remember that inadvertent ingestion or exposure to the liquid can lead to disastrous consequences.
Step 3: When you have the mixture, let it sit with no seal or cover for at least 3 to 4 days.
By doing so, you are allowing it to have room for evaporation. Flame or anything that can catch fire should also be kept from the mixture due to its highly flammable features.
Step 4: All left to do is merely put the mixture in a firmly sealed garbage bag and get rid of it like regular trash after it has completed the dried-out process.
Waste Management Center Disposal
Disposing of brake fluid at home sounds like a splendid assignment to delve into.
Yet, such an approach will not appear practical when coping with huge amounts of brake fluid, especially as you flush your dirty and discolored old one for the new one.
What choices do you have left? We say go for the waste centers as your best bet on where to dispose of brake fluid!
- Step 1: Find a facility near your settlement and ensure they take in this perilous detritus. Rest assured that it will not cost you much for a call or a hit on their website to have a valid confirmation.
- Step 2: Deliver your power steering fluid to the center. This is generally the case with waste management facilities since they do not usually have a pickup service for transportation.
- Step 3: Pay the fee as they ask you to. This kind of expense normally ranges around $15 or so.
However, costs differ from one facility to the next. The facility may occasionally dispose of the waste for nothing in exchange for donations.
Recycle Brake Fluid
Another method to cast aside this waste is to make use of it in a new and environment-friendly way.
Although taking it to the waste management center can also be seen as an idea to reprocess the liquid, there are particular communities and waste recycling centers specialized for this task.
Your duty is to simply check for the collection day or collection events that the recycling facility holds and transport the brake fluid to where it is meant to be.
How To Store Brake Fluid
Understanding how to store these toxic fluids never goes redundant regarding your family’s and your safety.
Our most suggested storage means is the product’s primeval container placed in a dry, clean space where the cooling is below room temperature.
Keeping the transmission fluid away from other petroleum products is also another consideration.
Can You Mix Old Brake Fluid with New One?
No. The main issue here is that the used brake fluid disposal never returns and remains in the pipes will hydrate over time. The steel brake lines will then corrode from the water absorbed.
When it comes to cars, particularly how to dispose of old brake fluid, it’s always a good idea to save money whenever you can, but this is when safety should come first.
FAQs
Is It Possible To Flush The Old Brake Fluid Down The Drain Or The Toilet?
No. Never flush auto fluids down a toilet or pour it on the ground, into a storm drain, septic tank, or sink.
Otherwise, this hazardous waste could leave more impact on the environment and even your well-being, which is far beyond your imagination.
Will Automobile Stores Accept Brake Fluid Waste?
Yes. Your brake fluid disposal drop-off can frequently be acceptable to take in at businesses that sell brake fluid, such as gas stations, vehicle repair facilities, and supply stores.
Just make sure the place accepts this kind of hazardous material by doing some research in advance.
How To Transport Brake Fluid?
As aforementioned, the first thing to do when you wish to drop your hazardous fluid anywhere is to store it properly in an acceptable container.
Once it is under decent seal and kept away from pernicious taboos such as petroleum products or children’s reaches, there you go, good on your transportation!
Conclusion
How to dispose of brake fluid is definitely not one of those daunting tasks that would cause you headaches.
Just be sure you follow all local, state, and federal regulations when getting the process done, and there you go to have nothing to wonder no more!
Hopefully, our guide on getting rid of brake fluid properly can somehow be of great help in your mechanical conquest.
Do not hesitate to leave a comment if there are any concerns not yet resolved. See then!