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Brake fluid change interval

AzDragonLord

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AzDragonLord Enthusiast

AzDragonLord

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I last flushed my brake fluid about 30,000 miles ago. It's been about a year and a half in a dry environment (desert southwest). Should I go by mileage or time before changing the fluid again? I was thinking 3 years between flushes.

AzDragonLord Enthusiast

AzDragonLord

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Just FYI...

 

According to a certain consumer magazine, brake fluid should be changed every two years regardless of vehicle mileage.

demech23 Enthusiast

demech23

Posted
Posted

Most will claim that it is a waste of time and money. However, brake fluid is hydroscopic, and water will naturally collect in the system without it never being opened. Water naturally forms from condnsation within the brake lines as the brake fluid gets rapidly hot then cools. Now last time I checked, water does not perform well under hydraulic pressure, and it also shortens the life of calipers and abs modules. Furthermore, most vendors (such as BG, Valvoline, and etc.) offer hard part component protection plans if an associated part has failed after having their flush performed on a vehicle. Flushing your brake system gives you improved stopping performance, and I beleive that it is the Department of Transportation that recommends it being changed every 2 years.

  • 3 weeks later...
00Silverado4x4 Senior Enthusiast

00Silverado4x4

Posted
Posted

In 2009 when I was doing a full brake job on my truck I noted my brake fluid looked pretty dark so I went ahead and changed it then. I've used that as my guideline, if fluid looks like crud I changed it. I just did my front brake again late 2012 and fluid still looked pretty good, and I live in a high humidity area. Personally if fluid looks good and no issues with brakes, leave it alone, if fluid looks dirty, cruddy, change it.

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