Brake fluid change interval?

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Everywhere i read it says depending on fluid change every 2 or 3 years. But iv seen cars that go well over 10years on the same fluid and have no braking issues.
So it gets me thinking does brake fluid really need changing that often?
 
I personally think its a way to keep vehicle manufactures [censored]es safe. Either way, you come into the shop you pay for the change or your brakes fail you cant come back to haunt them. Win Win for them. Ive seen 15-20 year old vehicles with the original stuff.
 
Brake fluid absorbs water and if it's not changed will corrode the calipers (Slave cylinders). Most books say 2 years, but the main thing is to change it every time the pads are changed. Some good garages can test the fluid for water content.
 
I live (and have worked in a mountainous area)I have seen cars lose their brakes do to the brake fluid boiling. Brake fluid absorbed up tp 6% water which reduces the boiling point of the fluid. It's a safety issue.
 
My father got spongy feeling on his brakes... Breaking pedal was diving in if it was pressed for more than couple of seconds at the time...

We tought that master cylinder was shot... But in reallity it was 8years old braking fluid...

After we have changed it on a service brakes are new again...
 
I strive to change it every two years. I recently changed it in my Liberty and it was close to 3 years. ABS systems are not cheap, brake fluid is. I try and coincide it with a tire rotation around the 2-3 year mark for the brake fluid.
 
The brakes may be fine, but you get a little water in your brake lines, then things start rusting out from within.
 
This brake fluid is from an elderly member of my synagogue that owns an 09' Elantra. I installed front brake pads and changed the brake fluid yesterday @34K miles.

 
I drove dozens of cars over 38 years before I did my first brake flushes ever in 2015....figured I needed to get with the BITOG philosophy. Never had an issue though. And all of my cars were bought used. The fluids I changed last year were from 13-16 yrs old and weren't anywhere near as ugly looking as that 2009 Elantra photo. I probably won't change the current brake fluids to at least the 5 year point.
 
New 2016 RAM ProMaster City (FIAT Doblo with RAM badges), fleet vehicle. Maintenance schedule required by fleet is a brake fluid change every 20,000 miles.
crazy2.gif

That will be twice a year at my current driving habits, and about 8 times over the expected life of the vehicle.
Brake inspections, tire rotation, and oil change every 10,000.
 
Originally Posted By: skyactiv
This brake fluid is from an elderly member of my synagogue that owns an 09' Elantra. I installed front brake pads and changed the brake fluid yesterday @34K miles.







It's a little darker in color than the light straw it's supposed to be !!!
 
When my 2002 Ford Ranger was 10 years old, the Brake Fluid in the Reservoir was BLACK.
I thought; Hey, that can't be good.

Now it is changed every 2 years.
Brake Fluid is cheap, I do the labor myself.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: barryh
skyactiv said:
This brake fluid is from an elderly member of my synagogue that owns an 09' Elantra. I installed front brake pads and changed the brake fluid yesterday @34K miles.





Ha! You imply THAT is a scary brake fluid picture?



(I spilled the worst of it)

 
Originally Posted By: beanoil
New 2016 RAM ProMaster City (FIAT Doblo with RAM badges), fleet vehicle. Maintenance schedule required by fleet is a brake fluid change every 20,000 miles.
crazy2.gif

That will be twice a year at my current driving habits, and about 8 times over the expected life of the vehicle.
Brake inspections, tire rotation, and oil change every 10,000.


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Probably due to Murican market... And the reason that you can sue anybody for "unmention" things

Like in every McShit...on coffe cup... Be cautious the coffe might be hot...
smile.gif
No [censored] Scherlock
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