Dot 5 discoloring in open air

[Robo McDuff]

Just curious. I bought several small canisters with DOT 5 for my truck. Opened one to lubricate stuff while overhauling the MC and Air Pack two or more years ago. Closed the canister, opened it yesterday and the color is much more yellowish, not like the blue hue from the freshly opened canisters. IS that normal?

I tried to find information on that here, but both dot and 5 are too short to show up in searches.

 

[fuzzytoaster]

The dye in DOT 5 breaks down with age from purple to golden yellow. This helps tell you the age of the fluid but not the condition. If the bottle has been stored in a cool dry place I'm sure it's fine. If it was sealed air tight then you're "golden" pun intended. It doesn't absorb water like DOT 3/4 so if you want to be sure pour it in a clear bottle and look for any water forming at the bottom.

 

[Robo McDuff]

I was always in the unheated workshop, so cold int he winter and not very warm in summer, in closed canisters.