Brake Fluid Flush

[artbuc]

Are GM cars better than other cars, especially foreign cars like Toyota, Honda, BMW, etc, when it comes to protecting brake fluid from moisture contamination? Thanks.

"General Motors and Chrysler do not mention brake fluid in their scheduled maintenance recommendations. A General Motors spokesman said Delco Supreme 11 DOT 3 brake fluid contains additives than many other brake fluids do not, so it is essentially a lifetime fluid. Starting in 1993, GM began using a new type of rubber brake hose with an EPM lining and outer jacketing that reduces moisture penetration by 50%. So GM does not consider fluid contamination to be a significant problem."

 

[filterdist]

I would imagine they are accurate on the brake hoses, but that's not the only place moisture could enter the system.

I feel brake fluid is the most overlooked fluid on a vehicle.

When you have your brakes done make sure whoever performs the brake job opens the bleeder screws to compress the calipers. This way you will have to bleed the brakes. Getting a nice supply of new fluid.

Many just push the pistons back without opening the bleeders. This could potentially cause problems (won't get into it - not this thread), but more importantly you will not have to add new fluid if the procedure is performed this way.

Done correctly you will never have to perform a specific "brake flush" 'cause it is essentially done while performing routine brake jobs.

My .02

 

[sciphi]

Yeah, right! My GM was no better than any other make at preventing brake fluid contamination. The fluid was black when I got the car. It's clear now thanks to quite a few brake fluid flushes, and what's essentially a new brake system.

You don't want to know how rusty the lines were before they got replaced...

 

[artbuc]

sciphi, please tell me model, year and mileage. Also, was the FF brake fluid Delco Supreme? Thanks.

 

[hounddog]

Once every couple of years I suck the fliud out of my Dodge 3500 dually,refill and bleed starting with right rear.Fixing to do my 06 Corvette.On vehicles I have owned for years and years I do this every 24 months or less.Same deal with powersteering fliud.

 

[cchase]

I changed the brake fluid out on my 2006 GM vehicle at the 2 yr mark with less than 15k miles and it was black as night.

 

[artbuc]

Originally Posted By: cchase
I changed the brake fluid out on my 2006 GM vehicle at the 2 yr mark with less than 15k miles and it was black as night.


I've seen several references to "black" brake fluid in GM cars. I wonder if the special anti-corrosion additives in the Delco Supreme fluid are causing this discoloration?

 

[hisilver]

I just recently did my brakes on a 06 chevy truck. This fluid was the factory fill and it came out a very light amber. This was after 50K miles. A 99 chevy truck I use has the original fluid (has had 2 brake jobs) and it is very dark (135k).

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: artbuc
sciphi, please tell me model, year and mileage. Also, was the FF brake fluid Delco Supreme? Thanks.


The Buick in my signature. It should have been the Delco Supreme, as that was referenced in the owner's manual.

It was black with 30k miles on the odometer.

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: artbuc
Originally Posted By: cchase
I changed the brake fluid out on my 2006 GM vehicle at the 2 yr mark with less than 15k miles and it was black as night.


I've seen several references to "black" brake fluid in GM cars. I wonder if the special anti-corrosion additives in the Delco Supreme fluid are causing this discoloration?


Perhaps. But I'm inclined to think the fluid was trashed.

The clutch in that car was noticeably better after replacing the fluid in there.

 

[unDummy]

Brake fluid should be bled every year or two. I haven't seen ANY brake fluid that is superior to what is available in the local stores.

The term lifetime hasn't been defined by ANY automaker or engineering group. If ANY automaker or SAE wants to define it, then feel free to use the term. Until then, lifetime fluid does NOT exist.

 

[sciphi]

I can say with certainty that with essentially a brand-new brake system on the Buick, including new clear brake fluid, the brakes feel the same as they did when the car was first acquired by me. The fluid was black as tar then.

My sleep is better knowing there's new fluid in there.

 

[JustinH]

I started to pay my mechanic to do it every couple years with another small service. Better he does it on a lift with a pressure bleeder than I do it in the gravel driveway.

 

[wiswind]

My '96 Ford Windstar did not mention anything in the maintenance information about changing brake fluid.
The instructions for doing a brake job was to remove the cap from the master cylinder, removing some fluid, and pushing the caliper piston in......no mention of bleeding brake fluid at the wheels during brake service.

My 2003 Toyota Sienna is the same in its maintenance information.

However, even though the brake fluid in the master cylinder looked just fine on both vehicles, doing a bleed at each wheel got me a couple small bottles of dark, dirty, fluid.

For this reason, I do a bleed of brake fluid at each wheel at least every other year.

I used a Mityvac but have found that a cheap "One man" bleeder works the easiest for me.
It is CHEAP and EASY routine maintenance.

 

[bigmike]

I own a GM truck and I change my brake fluid every 1.5 years. It's cheap and easy, taking roughly 20-30 minutes to do it and flushing a quart or so through the system. I first changed my brake fluid in my truck, the FF, at around 2 years, roughly 30k miles. It was black. At the 12k-13k mile mark, I replaced my OEM rotors with an aftermarket slotted rotor as well. The difference is night and day.

My parent's 03 Venture, however, never saw a brake bleed until 110k miles, when their ABS malfunctioned and needed to be replaced at the tune of over $1000. Would a brake flush every few years prevented any of this is unknown.

Braking system, as a whole, is one of the most important systems on your vehicle (if not THE most). I don't think many people believe that to be true and it is evidenced by the choices they make when servicing (or lack of) the system, as well as the parts they purchase, tending to go with what is cheap instead of what is decent.

It disturbs me that people drive vehicles in poor conditions with poor braking systems, and usually with poor tires and suspension, while I'm driving on the road. Apparently, safety means very little with mandatory insurance.

 

[A_Harman]

There are 3 certainties in the universe:

Death
Taxes
Brake fluids absorbing moisture

I think that brake systems should be bled every year. Enough should be bled out of every caliper/wheel cylinder to get good, amber-colored fluid coming out of the bleed screw. I use a manual vacuum pump at the caliper to pull the stuff out. My bleed hose is clear so I can monitor for bubbles and fluid color.

 

[stenerson]

You're probably right. But most people neglect it and have no problems.

 

[cronk]

Calipers and wheel cylinders will last much longer with regular fluid flush's. I have seen many calipers with stuck pistons due to internal corrosion due to old fluid with too much moisture in it.
I prefer annual flush, but at least every 2 years.

 

[tig1]

I do the turkey baster method every engine oil change with the brake fluid and the PS pump. This has worked well for me for many years.

 

[scott37300]

I just did a 04 impala with 45,000 miles driven by a grandma and the fluid was very dark. I will be flushing the brakes and all vehicles in my family every year from now on. I bought a mityvac brake bleeder that you hook up to your compressor and it makes bleeding the brakes so easy. Plus if you stay on top of it the bleeder screws won't freeze up on you.