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Brake fluid - to change or not ?
Topic Started: Mar 16 2015, 08:39 AM (830 Views)
Plasma1010
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Okay this is one topic I am getting mixed messages on from all across the board. I read extensively about it online and still got a 50 - 50 response. My brake fluid is dirty and I asked a young friend (car mechanic) about it and he said change it, its important, brake fluid is hygroscopic. He is a car mechanic and went to automotive school so I took his word. Overhearing a conversation today is an elderly man, 89, who I take care of. He was a mechanic, the best of the best in his day, and a prominent naval shipyard here on the east coast. I mentioned tohim Inwas going to change my brake fluid and he said no way. He said he never did it because theres more risk of getting air in the system, and besides since its not lubricating anything and just working as hydraulics it doesnt matter and the risk outweighs the benefit. He said since I have disks dont bother, even if Indo change it will prob get dirty quickly anyhow. As far as I understand the old timers neer changed brake fluid and old car maintenance manuals never mentioned it. And when I hit the web I really got nothing conclusive. So hopefully you guys can sway me a bit in some directions.

Heres what Id like. Tell me if you habe or have not chaned your brake fluid in current or former vehicles, how often or not, what the mileage was, and if you had any major brake repairs.
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Old Man


You get condensation in the brake lines. Condensation results in water in the brake fluid. Water in the fluid results in spongy brake pedal. Water in the fluid also results in corrosion inside the brake components. Corrosion in the brake system results in bad brakes. Changing fluid yourself costs around $10 and takes very little time.

Clean fluid or bad brakes--------your choice.

EDIT: I am a 75 year old who probably worked for that 89 year old 60+ years ago--I thought he was not a good mechanic then and it seems nothing has changed in 60 years..............

You get drastic weather changes in your area. Makes for more condensation. If I lived there I would change brake fluid every two years.
Edited by Old Man, Mar 16 2015, 10:18 AM.
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idmetro
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"Older" vehicles seem to not be quite as sensitive to the condition of brake fluid as "new" ones, some new ones can have system issues with brake fluid that is only a few years old. That being said, changing the fluid is just plain good preventive maintenance - why not spend a couple of $$ and make things last much longer? As the commercial says "You can pay me now, or you can pay me later..."

While I haven't looked, I'm thinking there just might be a service interval for brake fluid changes in the FSM and it probably isn't never...

I've changed the fluid in a number of vehicles and as along as you carefully bleed the system, I've had no issues with air in the lines. Brake fluid is one of those things I change when I acquire a new to me vehicle. Changes have occurred at anywhere from 30k to 200k miles. Can't say that I have seen a failure that could absolutely positively be tied to old fluid, but have seen some pretty nasty wheel cylinders that probably should have failed.
Edited by idmetro, Mar 16 2015, 10:34 AM.
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Coche Blanco
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Yes, change it. Just because he's old doesn't make him smart. 18 to 24 months is the usual interval, I believe.
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Stiffchezze
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Sir Metrologist

:gp
Plasma1010, I'm sorry to tell you, but your old friend is wrong. Absolutely you should change your brake fluid. ^o)

You will notice a HUGE difference in your breaking ability with new fluid. A brake system is a closed system, so in normal usage you should not get ANY dirt in it. There are a couple of reasons why it turns dark, one of which is contamination with water due to condensation. This causes rust inside the lines. The only way to get it out is to flush the lines.

Also brake fluid gets hot during use. VERY hot; like 500F hot. So the fluid constantly cycles in temp and breaks down over time.

You should change your fluid about every two years or so. The Metro FSM says every 60,000 miles. :rtfm

As for air in the system you can't get out, forget about it! Air is very simple to flush out. Remember, there was air in it at the factory before they filled it! :lol

Using a turkey baster, 2 feet of 3/16" clear tubing, and an empty 2-liter bottle, you can completely change the brake fluid, by yourself, in most cars in about 15min. and not get any air in the system. ^o)

At his age, you won't change your friends mind. I wouldn't even try. But do what you need to do to keep yourself, your passengers, and the people around you safe. :cheers
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Plasma1010
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^^^

Ah okay, am I putting the tube inside the top of the brake fluid resevoir with turkey baster fitting inside the tube for longer reach ?
Edited by Plasma1010, Mar 16 2015, 10:54 AM.
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Stiffchezze
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Sir Metrologist

That gets the fluid in the reservoir changed, but you still need to flush the fluid in the lines as well.
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Plasma1010
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Stiffchezze
Mar 16 2015, 10:53 AM
That gets the fluid in the reservoir changed, but you still need to flush the fluid in the lines as well.
Now is this easy to do, or do I need quite the set up ? Meaning Ive got the means to do oil changes and minor things, but no power tools and nothing fancy
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Stiffchezze
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Sir Metrologist

The turkey baster is to change to fluid in the reservoir only. The tubing and the 2-liter bottle is to attach to the bleed screws at each wheel to flush the lines going to that wheel.

Find a empty 2-liter bottle and pour a little bit of new brake fluid in it. Find a piece of clear vinyl hose (5/16" OD X 3/16" ID) and connect it to the bleeder screw and place the other end in the bottle, making sure the end stays under the fluid. Open the bleeder screw, top off the master cylinder, and pump away. Keep an eye on the master cylinder and don't let it run dry. When the fluid comes out clear in the tube, close the bleed screw, and move to the next tire. As long as you don't let air enter anywhere, your good to go!

A good video:

Link--->How to bleed brakes using the " One person " method
Edited by Stiffchezze, Mar 16 2015, 11:09 AM.
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Plasma1010
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Stiffchezze
Mar 16 2015, 11:00 AM
The turkey baster is to change to fluid in the reservoir only. The tubing and the 2-liter bottle is to attach to the bleed screws at each wheel to flush the lines going to that wheel.

Find a empty 2-liter bottle and pour a little bit of new brake fluid in it. Find a piece of clear vinyl hose (5/16" OD X 3/16" ID) and connect it to the bleeder screw and place the other end in the bottle, making sure the end stays under the fluid. Open the bleeder screw, top off the master cylinder, and pump away. Keep an eye on the master cylinder and don't let it run dry. When the fluid comes out clear in the tube, close the bleed screw, and move to the next tire. As long as you don't let air enter anywhere, your good to go!

A good video:

Link--->How to bleed brakes using the " One person " method
Okay great thanks a lot
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