Clutch fluid (brake fluid) turned brown...without driving.

[tsi1991awd]

So I changed my master and slave along with the clutch job not even 500 miles ago. Bled the system 10 times, no joke. The car's been sitting 2 or 3 months because I have been working on it and the clutch fluid (brake fluid) turned a light brown color. It WAS clear. It changed without me driving it.

What would cause this? It wasn't driven much so it didn't heat up and the fluid isn't years and years old. Could it be because I used cheap brake fluid or is there something else that would cause this?

 

[derrickeclipse]

brake fluid reacts to the oxygen in the air, once you open the bottle the air contaminates it. did you have the cap off of it or didn't put it on all the way. if you left the cap off then way it will turn different color. if you don't believe me then pour some in a plastic cup and leave it out and it will change color. thats just what it does. Ive been to auto mechanic school. they drilled that in my head as many times as Ive heard it and seen it.

 

[Jeff99GS]

The brake fluid is hygroscopic. Which means it absorbs the moisture in the air (humidity) NOT oxygen.
That is why you should flush the complete brake system every once in a while. Otherwise the moisture in the fluid can cause the caliper pistons and/or brake lines to rust internally. Most fluid turns yellow after a few months...but if its turning Black or gray, you may want to flush it again.

I bought 1 way speed bleeder valves for my brakes. You just open them a 1/4 turn and pump the brakes. The valve lets the fluid OUT but no air back IN. Have someone filling the reservoir while you pump the brakes. Continue pumping till Clear fluid comes out of the bleeder screw. Then do the same on the other 3 calipers.

 

[derrickeclipse]

The brake fluid is hygroscopic. Which means it absorbs the moisture in the air (humidity) NOT oxygen.
That is why you should flush the complete brake system every once in a while. Otherwise the moisture in the fluid can cause the caliper pistons and/or brake lines to rust internally. Most fluid turns yellow after a few months...but if its turning Black or gray, you may want to flush it again.

I bought 1 way speed bleeder valves for my brakes. You just open them a 1/4 turn and pump the brakes. The valve lets the fluid OUT but no air back IN. Have someone filling the reservoir while you pump the brakes. Continue pumping till Clear fluid comes out of the bleeder screw. Then do the same on the other 3 calipers.

meant humidity thanks for the correction

 

[tsi1991awd]

I had a speed bleeder installed but it ended up leaking when it was tightened down all the way. After wiping it off, there would be the tiniest bit of fluid seeping from the hole still. I didn't want to drive like that so I put the stock bleeder back in. I may use the other bleeder I still have and see how that works.