> Our '85 Westy has nasty looking brake fluid and I have heard two
> opinions about changing it.
>
> One:  Leave it alone, if you change it you may ruil the seals. because
> it's been in there so long...
>
> Two:  Change it at least every two years because it attracts moisture
> (what does this do?)
>
> We have owned the van for about 3 years now and don't know if the PO
> ever changed the fluid.
>

Change it NOW. The two year interval is there for good reason.
Brake fluid that has absorbed water will have a lower boiling point
(more fade coming down hills - I can attest to this...), and it will
corrode your wheel cylinders, etc.

My '85 Jetta had both rear wheel cylinders fail due to corrosion
around 1991. I replaced them, and have changed the fluid every two
years since. The replacement cylinders went another 200k before
the selas failed again, but they weren't corroded like the original
pair. The master cylinder is still in good shape at 430k km.

Shawn Wright, I.T. Manager
Shawnigan Lake School
swright@SLS.bc.ca
http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright
http://www.sls.bc.ca