Brake Fluid can last much longer than experts tell you

[MisterAsianLover]

It is commonly advised to change your brake fluid every 2 years. This is excessive. Although the master cylinder is a vented one and therefore moisture and dirt can find its way into your braking system, it is not common to have escessive moisture or excessive dirt in your brake fluid within your car.

I have a electronic brake fluid tester that measures the moisture content of my brake fluid. My car is relatively new (2012) bought at end of 2012 and my moisture content of my brake fluid is still less than 1%. When brake fluid moisture levels go to 3% or more, then I would change it.

Anyways, I am going on 3+ years and my fluid doesn't hold too much moisture currently and it is not dirty. I am projecting I can go 5 years between brake fluid changes.

And with my oil, I change it over 15,000 km and usually near the 20,000 km mark. I have my oil tested for durability and it always comes back well reported. Remember, you oil filter filters out over 99% of dirt and contaminents after the first pass. After the second and third pass and more through the oil filter, the oil is very clean.

You don't have to change your brake fluid every 40,000 and your oil every 5,000 on new cars. That is overkill.

I am not a mechanic, but I do test my fluids and have them tested at labs. So, I know what I am talking about.

 

[Willy]

Same with changing your oil. They say every 5000 k but that is bull my mechanic tells me. Every 10 k is more than sufficient.

 

[Virus]

They can make nuts/bolts, tires, breaks etc.... to last longer but their excuse is that it will give more jobs if they last a lifetime. Also will cost more money.

 

[Analme]

I never have changed my brake fluid in any car I've owned. Only the only every 10000 km, that's it.

 

[MisterAsianLover]

I never have changed my brake fluid in any car I've owned. Only the only every 10000 km, that's it.

You can go longer than 5 years if the brake fluid doesn't absorb water more than 2% and if you don't drive that much and hence the brake system doesn't draw much dirt and become contaminated.

The problem with water is that it lowers the boiling point of the fluid and it can then evaporate when you apply your brakes and the fluid gets very hot (under pressure in the brake system). If you had brake fluid evaporate and you had less fluid than needed, you would have less hydraulic pressure and wouldn't be able to apply your brakes as needed, hence you wouldn't be able to stop as well.

I had a brake line leak from age/rust in a Toyota. When I lost fluid, I had a very, very hard time stoping. I pulled the E brake which is a cable that will cause your back brakes to be applied manually. So, I did stop, but not for a long distance. Very dangerous.

 

[Analme]

My last car was a LandRover and I had it for 11 years and smacked 350000 KM on it. The only oil I ever changed was the motor oil and no problems at all. I did have to do brakes every 70000 km but never the oil.

 

[MisterAsianLover]

My last car was a LandRover and I had it for 11 years and smacked 350000 KM on it. The only oil I ever changed was the motor oil and no problems at all. I did have to do brakes every 70000 km but never the oil.

Suprising because Land Rovers are not reliable cars.

You got lucky. You should play the lottery and see how you do.

 

[peace]

Suprising because Land Rovers are not reliable cars.

You got lucky. You should play the lottery and see how you do.

Yes Analme...go for it. Let me contribute so we can split the winning lotterry. EACE:

 

[Swede]

I have an addiction to Break Fluid. But i think I can stop any time.

 

[MisterAsianLover]

Dollar Tree has SMB DOT 3 brake fluid on for $1.25 for 177 ml.

Walmart has DOT 3 FIX IT (House Brand) on for $8.97 for 1 Litre. I will do a brake flush as well, so I bought the 1 Litre bottle. Will probably use about half of it, so I just went with the 1 Litre to not run out.

 

[MisterAsianLover]

I just found brake fluid - Valvoline brand DOT 3 - that I used in the summer of 2012. So, it is 4 years old now. It was sitting in my garage, cap closed tightly, but it went through 4 winters and summer, on the shelf in my garage. I took it inside and tested it for moisture content and it came back under 1%, just the same as brand new brake fluid.

Amazing that everyone in the car industry tells you to change it AT LEAST every 2 years, at $80 - $100 per service fee. Fucking scam. 99% of 'car guys' will even tell you to throw out bottles of perfectly fine brake fluid that hasn't been used within 6 months of opening.

 

[Al Bumin]

I just found brake fluid - Valvoline brand DOT 3 - that I used in the summer of 2012. So, it is 4 years old now. It was sitting in my garage, cap closed tightly, but it went through 4 winters and summer, on the shelf in my garage. I took it inside and tested it for moisture content and it came back under 1%, just the same as brand new brake fluid.

Amazing that everyone in the car industry tells you to change it AT LEAST every 2 years, at $80 - $100 per service fee. Fucking scam. 99% of 'car guys' will even tell you to throw out bottles of perfectly fine brake fluid that hasn't been used within 6 months of opening.

Thanks for the verifying that it is a scam.

 

[MisterAsianLover]

I replaced my rotor and pads on the drivers side and then moved onto doing the same on the passenger side. But, the passenger side rotor was stuck too much and I couldn't get it off. I tried to two 8x1.25 bolts, tried the 17 mm bolts pushing back against the back of the rotor, I tried hammering it from all angles and I couldn't get it off. I think I flatened the hub ledge where the rotor rests and that was preventing me from pulling off the rotor. I thought of grinding the hub ledge down, but I didn't have a grinder.

So, I took it to a shop and had them do the passenger side for me. They called me and asked me if I wanted my brake fluid changed. I told them 'No'. My brake fluid was a greenish colour and was very clean. The moisture content was less than 1%, so I knew it was in good condition. Well, I got the car back after the shop did my passenger side work and I noticed a huge grease/dirt smudge on the master cylinder resevoir. I opened the top of the resevoir and noticed that in one day, my brake fluid had changed from almost a clear colour - light green - to a dirty brown colour that looked as if it had to be changed.

FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The shop poured dirty brake fluid in my resevoir to spite me for not agreeing to have it changed. Terrible

I will change my fluid now, myself, earlier than I planned. Not a huge deal, but it is terrible what that shop did to me.

Brake fluid doesn't contaminate that quickly and it doesn't get very dirty all of a sudden because one piston is pushed back in on a caliper. I won't complain to the shop because it is impossible to prove and I really don't want them or anyone else touching my car anyways.

Many mechanics are good, but many are bastards.

I have a brake bleeder kit from OEM, but the hose is 1/8" wide and my car fits a 1/4" hose. No problem, go to Canadian Tire, get a 1/4" hose (10 feet long) for $6.99, take a water bottle and put the hose in the water bottle filled with a little bit of brake fluid. Cover the opening betwen the rim of the water bottle and the hose with Duct Tape, and attach the 1/4" hose to my bleeders with a zip tie. I can make my own kit. But, shit, I wanted to go another few years on that brake fluid.

 

[papasmerf]

I replaced my rotor and pads on the drivers side and then moved onto doing the same on the passenger side. But, the passenger side rotor was stuck too much and I couldn't get it off. I tried to two 8x1.25 bolts, tried the 17 mm bolts pushing back against the back of the rotor, I tried hammering it from all angles and I couldn't get it off. I think I flatened the hub ledge where the rotor rests and that was preventing me from pulling off the rotor. I thought of grinding the hub ledge down, but I didn't have a grinder.

So, I took it to a shop and had them do the passenger side for me. They called me and asked me if I wanted my brake fluid changed. I told them 'No'. My brake fluid was a greenish colour and was very clean. The moisture content was less than 1%, so I knew it was in good condition. Well, I got the car back after the shop did my passenger side work and I noticed a huge grease/dirt smudge on the master cylinder resevoir. I opened the top of the resevoir and noticed that in one day, my brake fluid had changed from almost a clear colour - light green - to a dirty brown colour that looked as if it had to be changed.

FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The shop poured dirty brake fluid in my resevoir to spite me for not agreeing to have it changed. Terrible

I will change my fluid now, myself, earlier than I planned. Not a huge deal, but it is terrible what that shop did to me.

Brake fluid doesn't contaminate that quickly and it doesn't get very dirty all of a sudden because one piston is pushed back in on a caliper. I won't complain to the shop because it is impossible to prove and I really don't want them or anyone else touching my car anyways.

Many mechanics are good, but many are bastards.

I have a brake bleeder kit from OEM, but the hose is 1/8" wide and my car fits a 1/4" hose. No problem, go to Canadian Tire, get a 1/4" hose (10 feet long) for $6.99, take a water bottle and put the hose in the water bottle filled with a little bit of brake fluid. Cover the opening betwen the rim of the water bottle and the hose with Duct Tape, and attach the 1/4" hose to my bleeders with a zip tie. I can make my own kit. But, shit, I wanted to go another few years on that brake fluid.

Don't forget to drain and bleed all 4 lines.

 

[MisterAsianLover]

Don't forget to drain and bleed all 4 lines.

Yes. I will.

Back passenger side. Back drivers side. Passenger side. Drivers side last.

 

[papasmerf]

Yes. I will.

Back passenger side. Back drivers side. Passenger side. Drivers side last.

you can do 2 at a time with 3 people

you might also want to get yourself a gear puller to remove the rotors the next time.

 

[peace]

I should definitely call you guys to repair my car.

 

[MisterAsianLover]

FYI,

Continental tires are the best tires - performance and price - in the market.

They make amazing tires that anyone can afford.