Would it be a waste of time, money and fluids or not beneficial if I was to change my coolant, brake fluid (which includes re-bleeding all 4 brakes) and power steering fluid once a year? Im not talking a flush but just drain and fill. I drive about 14-15k KM a year. Thats KM, not miles, so 15k km is like 9800miles.
Change coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid
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gathermewool
Site Donor 2025
This is my every 2-3 year plan, though I do a full brake flush.
For the coolant, the above will be my plan AFTER the first interval IAW the OM.
For the coolant, the above will be my plan AFTER the first interval IAW the OM.
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Originally Posted By: gathermewool
This is my every 2-3 year plan, though I do a full brake flush.
For the coolant, the above will be my plan AFTER the first interval IAW the OM.
Does coolant change colour when it ages and becomes less effective?
When you say brake flush do you mean sticking the vacuum tubes up the brake lines and sucking out all the brake fluid?
Cant you just drain and refil the brake fluid from the master cylinder resouviour? I know you would have to do it a few times but i mean Im definitely not capable doing a brake flush but i know how to drain fluid from the res under the hood and refil with new. And over time itll mix with the rest.
Thats what I did with my power steering fluid. I had it flushed a year ago but just a few months ago I used a suction gun, sucked out the PS fluid from the PS res and refilled with new.
This is my every 2-3 year plan, though I do a full brake flush.
For the coolant, the above will be my plan AFTER the first interval IAW the OM.
Does coolant change colour when it ages and becomes less effective?
When you say brake flush do you mean sticking the vacuum tubes up the brake lines and sucking out all the brake fluid?
Cant you just drain and refil the brake fluid from the master cylinder resouviour? I know you would have to do it a few times but i mean Im definitely not capable doing a brake flush but i know how to drain fluid from the res under the hood and refil with new. And over time itll mix with the rest.
Thats what I did with my power steering fluid. I had it flushed a year ago but just a few months ago I used a suction gun, sucked out the PS fluid from the PS res and refilled with new.
I do the brake and power steering fluid about every 30 months. My Outlander uses long life coolant and I do that every 4 years.
I remove the PS fluid from my reservoir every oil change, then refill it. I do not flush the entire system. It takes 1/2 quart (~500ml).
I flush the brake system every 2 years. it takes more than a quart since I can't always tell when the old fluid is out and the new fluid is in.
I replace my coolant about every 3 years.
I flush the brake system every 2 years. it takes more than a quart since I can't always tell when the old fluid is out and the new fluid is in.
I replace my coolant about every 3 years.
Doing this every 3 years would be more then adequate. You're completely wasting time and money way over servicing your car. No, colour is no indication of wear, and changing all those fluids at 15,000km is absolutely unnecessary.
It would be smart to maintain your car properly when necessary, and find a new hobby then searching desperately for something to change when its fine. Its wasteful and unnecessary.
It would be smart to maintain your car properly when necessary, and find a new hobby then searching desperately for something to change when its fine. Its wasteful and unnecessary.
gathermewool
Site Donor 2025
Originally Posted By: Carnoobie
Originally Posted By: gathermewool
This is my every 2-3 year plan, though I do a full brake flush.
For the coolant, the above will be my plan AFTER the first interval IAW the OM.
Does coolant change colour when it ages and becomes less effective?
When you say brake flush do you mean sticking the vacuum tubes up the brake lines and sucking out all the brake fluid?
Cant you just drain and refil the brake fluid from the master cylinder resouviour? I know you would have to do it a few times but i mean Im definitely not capable doing a brake flush but i know how to drain fluid from the res under the hood and refil with new. And over time itll mix with the rest.
Thats what I did with my power steering fluid. I had it flushed a year ago but just a few months ago I used a suction gun, sucked out the PS fluid from the PS res and refilled with new.
For a well-maintained, no-leaks cooling system, the color will not change noticeably. There may be some color change due to a slight bit of corrosion and heat, but nothing I've ever noticed. A drain and fill of the radiator every 2-3 years, after my first drain at >100k miles, is what I meant, also.
There will be some communication (mixing) between the brake fluid in the reservoir and the rest of the system, but bleeding the brakes through the caliper zirk fittings is the only way to ensure fresh, "dry" fluid in your calipers to minimize corrosion and the chance of seizure.
Originally Posted By: gathermewool
This is my every 2-3 year plan, though I do a full brake flush.
For the coolant, the above will be my plan AFTER the first interval IAW the OM.
Does coolant change colour when it ages and becomes less effective?
When you say brake flush do you mean sticking the vacuum tubes up the brake lines and sucking out all the brake fluid?
Cant you just drain and refil the brake fluid from the master cylinder resouviour? I know you would have to do it a few times but i mean Im definitely not capable doing a brake flush but i know how to drain fluid from the res under the hood and refil with new. And over time itll mix with the rest.
Thats what I did with my power steering fluid. I had it flushed a year ago but just a few months ago I used a suction gun, sucked out the PS fluid from the PS res and refilled with new.
For a well-maintained, no-leaks cooling system, the color will not change noticeably. There may be some color change due to a slight bit of corrosion and heat, but nothing I've ever noticed. A drain and fill of the radiator every 2-3 years, after my first drain at >100k miles, is what I meant, also.
There will be some communication (mixing) between the brake fluid in the reservoir and the rest of the system, but bleeding the brakes through the caliper zirk fittings is the only way to ensure fresh, "dry" fluid in your calipers to minimize corrosion and the chance of seizure.
Gosh... new coolant every year is too much even or me [ an incurable too frequent fluid changer]!
With a new car, leave the coolant in for 4-5 years, unless there are known problems.
You can 'turkey baster' flush the PS and brake reservoir for yearly maintenance. A 'real' flush of the PS is messy and can introduce leaks.
A brake bleed is best, but a TB change does help in the meantime.
With a new car, leave the coolant in for 4-5 years, unless there are known problems.
You can 'turkey baster' flush the PS and brake reservoir for yearly maintenance. A 'real' flush of the PS is messy and can introduce leaks.
A brake bleed is best, but a TB change does help in the meantime.
3 years for all items makes sense to me.
Originally Posted By: Loobed
...I flush the brake system every 2 years. it takes more than a quart since I can't always tell when the old fluid is out and the new fluid is in....
If you like, you can buy colored Brake Fluid. I use blue one time and amber the next. I can't remember the name as I am at work but someone here will know.
...I flush the brake system every 2 years. it takes more than a quart since I can't always tell when the old fluid is out and the new fluid is in....
If you like, you can buy colored Brake Fluid. I use blue one time and amber the next. I can't remember the name as I am at work but someone here will know.
Originally Posted By: Gebo
Originally Posted By: Loobed
...I flush the brake system every 2 years. it takes more than a quart since I can't always tell when the old fluid is out and the new fluid is in....
If you like, you can buy colored Brake Fluid. I use blue one time and amber the next. I can't remember the name as I am at work but someone here will know.
ATE Blue
Originally Posted By: Loobed
...I flush the brake system every 2 years. it takes more than a quart since I can't always tell when the old fluid is out and the new fluid is in....
If you like, you can buy colored Brake Fluid. I use blue one time and amber the next. I can't remember the name as I am at work but someone here will know.
ATE Blue
I do a coolant flush every other year. Power steering fluid is once a year. Brake fluid I suck and fill once every oil change.
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