Handheld Refractometers

Leave the science to Reichert.

With the simple push of a button, the Reichert Digital Brake-Chek®, the world’s smallest handheld tester, will quickly and accurately provide you and your customer with critical brake fluid boiling point data.

When water content in brake fluid increases...
1. The boiling point decreases
Fluid with a reduced boiling point can create a vapor by boiling in the wheel cylinder.  Normally this could happen under adverse conditions such as braking down a long steep grade or with stuck brake pads.  Under these conditions rotor temperatures can climb high enough to boil brake fluid with high water content.  Stepping on the brake pedal will now only compress the vapor instead of applying force to the pad.  The result is sudden brake failure. DOT3 Fluid with no moisture content boils at greater than 401°F (205°C) as specified by DOT Standard 116.  The fluid in a 3 to 4 year old car with 3 to 4% moisture content could boil at less than 300°F (149°C).

The dry boiling points for the brake fluid classes are:
                    Fluid Type                 Dry Boil Point
                    DOT3                        401 °F/205°C
                    DOT4                        446°F/230°C

2. The viscosity increases
Brake Fluid must flow freely to be effective. In extremely cold weather brake fluid with high water content is very viscous, causing slow pedal response and requiring more effort.

3. Corrosion problems can occur
Water in brake fluid can contribute to the corrosion of parts such as the steel pistons and ABS modulators.

• The Reichert Digital Brake-Check® Brochure 2,168k

• The Reichert Digital Brake-Chek® User Guide 734k

• The Reichert Refractometer Reference Guide 152k

• Calibration Verification 131k