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Brake fluid question

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ioni

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I think I need to add some brake fluid to my car and the manual says to use Nissan super heavy duty dot 3. I haven't found anything in any auto parts store that has a brake fluid with "super heavy duty" in the name. I've just found synthetic dot 3 stuff. Does super heavy duty mean anything? Or is synthetic the same thing?
 
I found that on Amazon as well. It also doesn't have super heavy duty in the name. I also don't want to wait and want to pick something up on my way home.
 
You probably do not need any brake fluid; its a sealed system.

The reason the fluid level goes down is when the brake pad wears out the brake piston in the caliper must stick out further to take the place of he worn brake pads.
As long as the fluid is at or above the low mark then you are fine. If its close to the low mark or a little below it then get your brakes inspected.
 
ioni said:
I found that on Amazon as well. It also doesn't have super heavy duty in the name. I also don't want to wait and want to pick something up on my way home.
Click to expand...

Did you not look at the picture on amazon?
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The only time you should ever need brake fluid is if you just bled the brakes - i.e., you're doing brake work. As Jimzz pointed out, there's no need to "top off" the brake fluid reservoir. *IF* the brake fluid gets low enough that the brake light comes on, then you either have passed the point where you need new brakes, else you have a problem causing you to lose fluid.

In other words, if your brake light is on, it's on for a problem. If you top off the brake fluid, you can make the brake light go off. But, you will not have fixed the problem - you either have little to no pad left, else you have a leak.
 
Just as long as it is NOT DOT-5 it's fine for general use.

DOT5 is completely different and not compatible with anything else.
 
My brake light didn't come on, it was my loss of traction light. Googling seems to tell me it's caused by low brake fluid. I'll be able to check the fluid level after work.
 
DrPizza said:
The only time you should ever need brake fluid is if you just bled the brakes - i.e., you're doing brake work. As Jimzz pointed out, there's no need to "top off" the brake fluid reservoir. *IF* the brake fluid gets low enough that the brake light comes on, then you either have passed the point where you need new brakes, else you have a problem causing you to lose fluid.

In other words, if your brake light is on, it's on for a problem. If you top off the brake fluid, you can make the brake light go off. But, you will not have fixed the problem - you either have little to no pad left, else you have a leak.
Click to expand...

If he drives an 2007-20012 Altima there is a TSB/Warranty extension on the Brake booster leaking internally. He didn't advice what kind of car he has, but if it's an Alitma within that year range I'd take it to your local dealer to have them inspect it.
 
ioni said:
My brake light didn't come on, it was my loss of traction light. Googling seems to tell me it's caused by low brake fluid. I'll be able to check the fluid level after work.
Click to expand...

Correct, when low on fluid the TCS, ABS, and Brake light all will "flicker" on, sometimes stay on as the system does not recognize the problem so it disables them to prevent harm. See my above comment if you own an Altima, otherwise chances are you need to change your brake pads. As when the pads get thinner it has to draw more fluid to push the pads further inward to drive the piston further in to the rotor from the caliper.
 
It's a 2012 g37. Hoping I don't need new brakes. It was inspected less than 2 months ago and they didn't say it needed anything.
 
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