[T3] Battery Install, Oil Change & Brake Fluid Reservoir
Gary Forsmo
gbforsmo at gmail.com
Sat May 11 11:54:17 PDT 2024
Three maintenance operations, yesterday.
1.) Battery Installation (with neighborly help) went as expected.
After a few "resting days" off the Schumacher Battery Maintainer the DC
meter read 12.76 volts.
Used my Battery Lug Spreader to open up the + & - cable lugs; wire brushed
the interior of the lugs & exterior of the Battery Posts. Installed the
battery hold-down clamp, tightened the cable lug bolts.
Used Jim A's 3-postion, Primer Switch to run the electric Fuel Pump for ~15
seconds to pressurize the Fuel Ring, turned to Ignition Switch to start &
the engine came to life. 👍
2.) Checked the 4 tires for 20# psi front; 30# psi rear. All were a bit
low.
3.) Drove the Square ~6 miles to warm the engine & oil up to operating
temperature.
Jacked up the front & rear of the car to position the Jack Stands & get
some "working room" to gain access to the engine Sump Pump Plate & drained
the oil.
Removed the 6, 8mm Acorn Nuts & Lock Washers to remove the Drain Plate, 2
gaskets & aluminum Oil Filter Screen. Everything looked surprisingly good
and free of sludge &/or minor debris.
Reinstalled the old gaskets, filter screen lock washers & acorn nuts.
Filled the sump with 5.3 pints of Valoline 10W-40 engine oil with ZDDP.
The oil is what I had on hand.
Started the engine to check for leaks. Everthing was leak-free & good to
go.
But here's the concern.
4.) We checked the dual-chamber, Brake Fluid Tank in the front trunk.
The DOT 5 Brake Fluid (Jim & I agreed to install several years ago) was *well
below* the front/rear circuit separating wall in the reservoir.
We checked all of the connections, Brake Fluid lines & front & rear wheel
cylinders. They all appeared to be dry.
The car had been sitting in our garage, undriven, since October 2023.
The Brake Pedal felt "soft" and had, what I felt was, too much travel to
safely stop the car.
A.) Where did the Brake Fluid go?
B.) What other areas should be checked?
C.) Master Cylinder leak?
D.) A leak somewhere that is hidden from view?
Comments and/or suggestions?
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