THE RESEARCH ON AGEING OF GLYCOL-BASED BRAKE FLUIDS OF VEHICLES IN OPERATION

Caban, Jacek; Dróździel, Paweł; Vrábel, Ján; Šarkan, Branislav; Marczuk, Andrzej; Krzywonos, Leszek · 2016 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.12913/22998624/65113

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

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Summary

This study investigates the degradation of glycol-based brake fluids in vehicles during operation, addressing a critical gap in road safety research. While braking system reliability is essential for preventing accidents, existing literature focuses heavily on friction components rather than the hydraulic fluid itself. The authors argue that brake fluid quality, often overlooked, significantly impacts braking performance and safety. The research aims to quantify how operational factors, such as time and mileage, affect the physical and chemical properties of brake fluid, specifically its boiling point and water content. The methodology involved a longitudinal study of 38 passenger vehicles manufactured between 2000 and 2011. The study was conducted in three annual stages (November–December) to track changes over time. Researchers measured the brake fluid’s boiling point using an ATE 320 BFT tester and determined water content using an electronic four-diode tester, with probes immersed directly in the vehicles' coolant expansion tanks. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica® software, employing Shapiro-Wilk and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests for distribution assessment, and Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests for comparing means across trials, as the data did not always meet normality requirements for classical analysis of variance. The results demonstrated a significant deterioration in brake fluid quality over the three-year period. The mean boiling point decreased significantly from 225.89°C in the first trial to 188.47°C in the third trial (p = 0.00001). Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences in boiling points between all consecutive trials. Water content also showed statistically significant increases between measurements, with a strong correlation (C = 0.53) between the trial number and water percentage. However, the study found no statistically significant correlation between vehicle mileage and the change in boiling point (r = 0.09566, p = 0.411). Interestingly, while water content increased with mileage in later trials, the boiling point remained the more sensitive indicator of fluid degradation compared to water content measurements alone. The authors conclude that brake fluid ageing occurs relatively quickly, with parameters deteriorating significantly within three years. They emphasize that monitoring the boiling point is a more accurate method for assessing fluid quality than measuring water content, as it is more sensitive to chemical composition changes. The findings suggest that replacement intervals should be adjusted based on the intensity of vehicle use; low-mileage vehicles may extend fluid life, while high-use vehicles require more frequent checks. Regular monitoring and timely replacement of brake fluid are crucial for maintaining braking system efficiency and enhancing overall road safety.

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• braking response