Car people: Is the dealership fscking with me?

[Fausto]

So the Exploder's in the shop for a faulty Idle Air Control valve. Service dude just called me and stated that the brake and PS fluid were both "saturated and needed to be flushed". Now, I know these fluids are extremely hygroscopic, but how often does this really need to be done and what should I be looking at cost-wise? I'll go ahead and give them the green light if this really needs to be done, but I want to make sure they're not just nickle-and-diming me.

FYI- these were both last done when the car had its 60k service (at 74k now).

Thanks.

 

[Fausto]

Anyone? I'd really like to give them a call back while the car's still up on the lift?

 

[Heisenberg]

If it was just done at 60k, there's probably no need at 74k. I had my brake system flushed for the first time at 30k on my car. If it were me, I'd wait.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
If it was just done at 60k, there's probably no need at 74k. I had my brake system flushed for the first time at 30k on my car. If it were me, I'd wait.

Well, I am in Atlanta (hot as hell and very hilly) and the Ford is treated to mostly intown driving, so I can see where the brake fluid would get nuked pretty quickly, but I'm dubious as to the necessity of the PS fluid flush after only 14k.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
If it was just done at 60k, there's probably no need at 74k. I had my brake system flushed for the first time at 30k on my car. If it were me, I'd wait.

Well, I am in Atlanta (hot as hell and very hilly) and the Ford is treated to mostly intown driving, so I can see where the brake fluid would get nuked pretty quickly, but I'm dubious as to the necessity of the PS fluid flush after only 14k.

Eh, unless it's been several years since you hit 60k and had it done, I don't think the fluid in either system is gonna need replaced. I'm pretty careful *cough*anal*cough* about taking care of my cars, and even I would draw the line at this.

 

[woowoo]

They are milking you......

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: woowoo
They are milking you......

Based on what? I don't have a service schedule in front of me, so I have no idea how frequently this sort of thing should be performed.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
If it was just done at 60k, there's probably no need at 74k. I had my brake system flushed for the first time at 30k on my car. If it were me, I'd wait.

Well, I am in Atlanta (hot as hell and very hilly) and the Ford is treated to mostly intown driving, so I can see where the brake fluid would get nuked pretty quickly, but I'm dubious as to the necessity of the PS fluid flush after only 14k.

ehh unless you have noticable trouble steering or braking, you dont need to flush anything. Id consider doing something like that on a car with 150K or somethign thats been sitting for years.... but if you cant feel it, its not a problem. Once your ps pump starts making noises or your brakes feel mushy, then i'd look into something like that, otherwise tell em no

 

[Ogg]

I thought it was every 30,000 at the most for AT fluid and maybe every 60,000 for brake fluid if you felt like it.......

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
If it was just done at 60k, there's probably no need at 74k. I had my brake system flushed for the first time at 30k on my car. If it were me, I'd wait.

Well, I am in Atlanta (hot as hell and very hilly) and the Ford is treated to mostly intown driving, so I can see where the brake fluid would get nuked pretty quickly, but I'm dubious as to the necessity of the PS fluid flush after only 14k.

ehh unless you have noticable trouble steering or braking, you dont need to flush anything. Id consider doing something like that on a car with 150K or somethign thats been sitting for years.... but if you cant feel it, its not a problem. Once your ps pump starts making noises or your brakes feel mushy, then i'd look into something like that, otherwise tell em no

That seems to be the consensus, so I'm going to give them the "N-O".

*sigh* I hate dealing with car service people. :roll:

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
If it was just done at 60k, there's probably no need at 74k. I had my brake system flushed for the first time at 30k on my car. If it were me, I'd wait.

Well, I am in Atlanta (hot as hell and very hilly) and the Ford is treated to mostly intown driving, so I can see where the brake fluid would get nuked pretty quickly, but I'm dubious as to the necessity of the PS fluid flush after only 14k.

ehh unless you have noticable trouble steering or braking, you dont need to flush anything. Id consider doing something like that on a car with 150K or somethign thats been sitting for years.... but if you cant feel it, its not a problem. Once your ps pump starts making noises or your brakes feel mushy, then i'd look into something like that, otherwise tell em no

That seems to be the consensus, so I'm going to give them the "N-O".

*sigh* I hate dealing with car service people. :roll:

ask em for some halogen fluid, just to see how they react
On the side note, im pretty sure theres no way to check how "saturated" those fluids are. Most of the tanks have some kind of filter over the opening to keep crap outta the circulation, so you cant really masure the saturdation/buyancy like you could with coolant

 

[woowoo]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: woowoo
They are milking you......

Based on what? I don't have a service schedule in front of me, so I have no idea how frequently this sort of thing should be performed.

Based on the fact that they are a dealer
It's what they do.

Those fluids should last a LONG time.....

 

[Zenmervolt]

Brake fluid should optimally be purged every two years, same as coolant. AT fluid is described in your manual. It's a 60,000 mile interval on my Mark VIII with the AOD-EW transmission.

And the guy who said the brake fluid never needs to be purged should not be allowed to ever attempt to repair a car.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: woowoo
Those fluids should last a LONG time.....

No, no they should _NOT_. Brake fluid should be changed every two years. Just because you can "get by" without changing it doesn't make it a good idea. You can "get by" with a 20,000 mile oil changer interval too, but it's a damn stupid thing to do if you're not using synthetic, changing the filter every 7,000 miles, and performing professional oil analysis.

ZV

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Brake fluid should optimally be purged every two years, same as coolant. AT fluid is described in your manual. It's a 60,000 mile interval on my Mark VIII with the AOD-EW transmission.

Okay, that's what I was looking for. I don't have the records/manual in front of me so I didn't know what all had been done at 60k.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: woowoo
Those fluids should last a LONG time.....

No, no they should _NOT_. Brake fluid should be changed every two years. Just because you can "get by" without changing it doesn't make it a good idea. You can "get by" with a 20,000 mile oil changer interval too, but it's a damn stupid thing to do if you're not using synthetic, changing the filter every 7,000 miles, and performing professional oil analysis.

ZV

It's been about a year since the brakes were done.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: woowoo
Those fluids should last a LONG time.....

No, no they should _NOT_. Brake fluid should be changed every two years. Just because you can "get by" without changing it doesn't make it a good idea. You can "get by" with a 20,000 mile oil changer interval too, but it's a damn stupid thing to do if you're not using synthetic, changing the filter every 7,000 miles, and performing professional oil analysis.

ZV

not necessarily, unlike oil in the crank case, the brake fluid has little exposure to debris and such so unless your pump is having problems with the fluid (you'd feel the force necessary to turn the wheel changes - the flud began to break down), chances are you're fine. It's sorta analogous to changing oil by months rather than actual miles... if i park my car in a garage for 2 years, the synthetic in my audi will still be fine.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Brake fluid should optimally be purged every two years, same as coolant. AT fluid is described in your manual. It's a 60,000 mile interval on my Mark VIII with the AOD-EW transmission.

Okay, that's what I was looking for. I don't have the records/manual in front of me so I didn't know what all had been done at 60k.

A typical Ford Dealer "60,000 mile service" will include a transmission fluid/filter replacement, coolant purge/re-fill, and a brake/clutch purge/re-fill.

Unless it has been 2 years since you had the 60,000 mile service, or the dealership neglected that part of the service the brake fluid _should_ be OK. Of course, if there are contaminants in the system it's possible to legitimately need it.

ZV

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: woowoo
Those fluids should last a LONG time.....

No, no they should _NOT_. Brake fluid should be changed every two years. Just because you can "get by" without changing it doesn't make it a good idea. You can "get by" with a 20,000 mile oil changer interval too, but it's a damn stupid thing to do if you're not using synthetic, changing the filter every 7,000 miles, and performing professional oil analysis.

ZV

It's been about a year since the brakes were done.

If it's only been a year and 14k miles, changing it again is just wasting money.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: woowoo
Those fluids should last a LONG time.....

No, no they should _NOT_. Brake fluid should be changed every two years. Just because you can "get by" without changing it doesn't make it a good idea. You can "get by" with a 20,000 mile oil changer interval too, but it's a damn stupid thing to do if you're not using synthetic, changing the filter every 7,000 miles, and performing professional oil analysis.

ZV

not necessarily, unlike oil in the crank case, the brake fluid has little exposure to debris and such so unless your pump is having problems with the flud, chances are you're fine. It's sorta analogous to changing oil by months rather than actual miles... if i park my car in a garage for 2 years, the synthetic in my audi will still be fine.

If there are any plastic parts (i.e. the reservoir) the fluid _will_ leech water through the plastic. Brake/clutch fluid should never be bought in plastic containers and it should only be used out of a freshly-opened container.

Your analogy doesn't hold either, oil breaks down with time and settles out. Anyone who stores cars for long periods knows that you change the oil when you put the car away into storage, and you change it again when the car comes out of storage.

ZV

 

[jjones]

When dealing with any car repair service center, I always apply the, "When in doubt, just say no", rule. I look at it this way: If it's not an imminent safety concern or vehicle operation concern, I can always get it done later after I've had a chance to research it. I like doing preventative maintenance but I'm not about to do it on the say-so of the guy writing up my work order.

 

[JulesMaximus]

They are fvcking with you. I hate taking my cars to the stealership for maintenance. They always charge too much and are trying to push services you don't need. Look in your owners manual. It should say in there how often to change fluids and what service schedule you should follow.

I remember the first time I took my Toyota Tundra in for an oil change. They tried to get me for an inspection/chassis service. Basically they charge you $40 to check the chassis bolts and tighten them as necessary. I told them that if bolts start falling off my truck they will be replacing them under warranty. Bastages.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: halik

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: woowoo
Those fluids should last a LONG time.....

No, no they should _NOT_. Brake fluid should be changed every two years. Just because you can "get by" without changing it doesn't make it a good idea. You can "get by" with a 20,000 mile oil changer interval too, but it's a damn stupid thing to do if you're not using synthetic, changing the filter every 7,000 miles, and performing professional oil analysis.

ZV

not necessarily, unlike oil in the crank case, the brake fluid has little exposure to debris and such so unless your pump is having problems with the flud, chances are you're fine. It's sorta analogous to changing oil by months rather than actual miles... if i park my car in a garage for 2 years, the synthetic in my audi will still be fine.

If there are any plastic parts (i.e. the reservoir) the fluid _will_ leech water through the plastic. Brake/clutch fluid should never be bought in plastic containers and it should only be used out of a freshly-opened container.

Your analogy doesn't hold either, oil breaks down with time and settles out. Anyone who stores cars for long periods knows that you change the oil when you put the car away into storage, and you change it again when the car comes out of storage.

ZV

sythetic oils have shelf life of at least 2 years... no reason why it should work any different when sitting in the crank case