Fluid leak help

[Cobradavid]

I have a slight leak that I'm trying to diagnose. I get a drip of fluid running down the brake pedal every few days. I can't tell if it's brake fluid or power steering fluid (master cylinder and hydroboost from a 2001 GT). Is it possible to leak brake fluid past the seals, through the hydroboost unit and onto the pedal?

David

[CraigS]

This may seem weird but you can tell by the taste. Just get a little fluid on your finger and taste it. Brake fluid will have a noticeable bite to it where PS fluid will have very little taste like olive oil.

[Cobradavid]

Thanks for the tip.

Ford uses ATF for power steering (and hydroboost fluid). Before I do the "Pepsi Challenge" taste tests on all the fluids in my garage, can you tell me what automatic transmission fluid tastes like?

David

[skullandbones]

I'm enjoying this thread as it is making me very hungry but seriously (da dum). If you have enough to rub between your fingers and take a whiff the ATF is much more pungent than the brake fluid. I would expect it to be ATF. This could avert a call to poison control as well. Good luck, WEK.

[Cobradavid]

It doesn't seem to have the pungent smell of ATF.

This seems to indicate that the rear-most seal on my master cylinder is leaking and the fluid is traveling along the push rod and dripping down the brake pedal. Does that sound right?

[stevem]

Atf should have a red tint. I wouldn't taste just smell. I assume you have atf and brake fluid on the shelf, sniff and compare! Brake fluid has a different feel to it than atf also when rubbed between your fingers.

[CraigS]

I just googled 'ford hydroboost' and found a cross section drawing. It 'seems to me' that your fluid is most likely the atf. It doesn't 'seem' that the brake fluid could get through the unit but I have never had one apart so I can't be absolutely sure of that. You could remove the MC and look for a leak. Usually your brake lines will allow the MC to be moved forward enough to see the end w/o disconnecting them.