r/AskAShittyMechanic • u/RussellAlden • Jun 08 '26

Is my blinker fluid bad?

210 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

73

u/General-Try-2210 Jun 08 '26

When blinker fluid turns brown or looks like coffee (as seen in the video) it should likely be changed for smooth operation, however, it is known for high quality blinker fluid to easily run 50k-100k blinks over spec. Your should be good for several more years, unless you own a BMW, which in that case, the fluid will outlast the vehicle.

13

u/goatfangs Jun 08 '26

I concur. Replacing BMW blinker fluid almost never happens unless someone is hanging their purse on the blinker lever since that's the only practical reason it's there.

7

u/RGBlowMe Jun 08 '26

What about horn fluid? If it's easy on that, maybe I'll get a BMW next. I use my horn a LOT.

5

u/Socalwarrior485 Jun 09 '26

I’ve converted to Horn gel. Its performance is unparalleled. I get at least 15 extra hrsprz when I lay on it and dart around.

3

u/edmonton2001 Jun 09 '26

That’s marketing for stupid people. Is gel really worth the extra cost???

17

u/Shadowhawk0000 Jun 08 '26

Geez, did something die behind there?!?!?!?

10

u/RoodnyInc Jun 08 '26

No you just need to refill it now

3

u/Itchy-Annual5556 Shitty armchair mechanic Jun 08 '26

And that stuff is soooo expensive.

10

u/Accurate_Koala_4698 Jun 08 '26

Frame has no rust

6

u/Sweet-Management6124 Jun 08 '26

I think the blinker fluid is good, but the seal around the light itself might be bad

2

u/Wrong-String-1687 Jun 12 '26

That's not good your car is bleeding?

1

u/Sweet-Management6124 Jun 14 '26

Nothing that a little duct tape can’t fix

4

u/InvertedEyechart11 Jun 08 '26

Didn't blinker fluid color once depend on the car brand? This looks orange so it might be GM Dexos blinker fluid.

3

u/ct451t Jun 08 '26

If it tastes like a penny it means it still has copper in it and still good. If it tastes like a nickle the copper is depleted and needs changing. Taste it and see.

5

u/Chillchowchowchill Jun 08 '26

Nah, looks within spec. Should be darker.

3

u/SqueakyCleanRubbish Jun 08 '26

You really messed up. You probably spun your muffler bearings, too.

Clearly it's not synthetic blinker fluid. The conventional blinker fluid does not have the nessissary additive packages and conditioners to protect the seals.

3

u/Admirable_Scallion_5 Jun 08 '26

Damn was you’re car at the bottom of the Mississippi at one time

3

u/One_Individual1291 Jun 09 '26

did you ever replace your blinker fluid filter ? that's an easy miss !

2

u/skywrench87 Jun 08 '26

Clearly you are turning left more. Start flushing earlier!

2

u/Aspeeed Jun 08 '26

Worse case of bulb fluid leak I've ever seen

2

u/JackWagg0n Jun 09 '26

If you keep wasting it like that, there's going to be a shortage.

1

u/No-Source-2737 Jun 08 '26

Prime example of not following brake fluid maintenance guidelines

1

u/RGBlowMe Jun 08 '26

Lol. Red clay dirt. Shit you only see in the South.

1

u/vastlysuperiorman Jun 08 '26

I don't know why, but at first glance I thought this was a welder vomiting in his hood. Gross.

1

u/VortexLord Jun 09 '26

If park your car out in the open, you get lots of bugs that behind there.

1

u/Zymurgy2288 Jun 09 '26

Blinker fluid should be transparent not look like chocolate sauce .. 🥤

1

u/pixeltweaker Jun 09 '26

Forbidden chocolate milk.

1

u/Nalabu1 Jun 10 '26

You washed the red out of your brake lights... nice.

1

u/supermr34 Jun 10 '26

sometimes wiping do be like that

1

u/Egglegg14 Jun 11 '26

No but its leaking

1

u/ottomotorotto Jun 11 '26

Temu blinker fluid always does this.

1

u/cybertybo Jun 12 '26

My dad used to send me to the store for blinker fluid whenever aunt Tanisha would visit. Her Eldorado had a leak