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Changing break fluid

pete6032

pete6032

Diamond Member
I have a 2001 Civic and the service manual says to replace the brake fluid every 3 years or 36,000 miles. I took my car into a local mechanic and asked him to change the brake fluid and he told me that there is no reason to change the brake fluid on a Honda Civic. I told him the service manual says 3 years 36k miles and he just said "huh." am I being obsessive and spending money on something trivial to change the brake fluid? I don't understand the mechanic's comment.
 
Brake fluid (DOT 3, 4 and 5) absorbs water and eventually breaks down reducing its performance, this is why it needs to be changed.

The truth is though, most cars will go their life without getting this changed - the mechanic knows this and since most people don't do this, probably doesn't get a lot of requests for it.

Most cars, if they have this done, is when major break work occurs where the brake system is "opened" (caliper replacement, prop-valve replacement, master cylinder, etc, etc).

If that mechanic doesn't want to do it, go find one who will do it.

Cars require maintenance, it's not being obsessive in my opinion.
 
brake fluid (dot 3) can absorb water which can cause it to boil at extreme temperatures.

it also can get dirty.

do you need to change it?

no.

i am willing to bet that most cars die with the same brake fluid they are born with.

edit: dot 4 and dot 5.1 can absorb water too.
 
It wears out, but it can also last a lot longer than 36k miles. (I have had mine done once in 120k.)

A mechanic will usually bleed a little fluid and tell you if the fluid needs changing, when you have other brake service (adjustments, pad replacement, etc.) done.
 
Had mine done at around 80k on my old Sentra just going by feel on the brakes the fluid seemed sketch. It was 11 years old. Age is probably more of a factor than miles.

40k seems reasonable...

I know someone who probably never had this done and their master cylinder failed at 220k on a 1998 Subaru.

Just go by feel IMO.
 
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I replaced the fluid in my 2000 Insight's brake lines at about 200k, at the same time as I replaced the clutch master. It was pretty dark, but the brakes didn't feel any different afterward.
 
I have to bleed the rear brake on my Ducati about once a year or the pedal starts to get spongy and the rear brake won't be as effective. Plus, the fluid turns absolutely black.
 
Well I just got a call from the mechanic and he said "honestly I've been in this business my whole life and I have never changed the brake fluid on my own car." He said that he checked the fluid and there was no discoloration. I decided to forego it.
 
I usually do a change when I replace brakes. Most systems are sealed well enough they can last for decades or longer. So changing when the brakes are done will be fine for the majority of cars out there.
 
Can't say for sure about on Honda, but most cars with ABS suggest doing it. They claim your abs controller and valves will last longer. And while it is true brake fluid will absorb moisture, you probably won't notice it, except maybe on high performance cars in extremely hot weather. On my own a 1999 Grand Prix (owned since new with 243K on it) I never had the brake fluid done until a couple of weeks ago. And it was done since my rear brake hard line developed a small hole which sent the pedal to the floor (thanks to it being a NJ car with all their winter road salt) So the shop had to fix leak and of course fill and bleed the brakes.
It was $274 total of which $75 was the tow (covered by insurance)
 
I've never done this before....but why wouldn't you just pop the lid on the master cylinder and siphon out what you can with a syringe pump....then top it back off to the line with fresh fluid....This wouldn't clear the fluid in the lines, but I would think replacing 70% or so from the reservoir would be far quicker, easier, and almost as effective.
 
bruceb said:
Can't say for sure about on Honda, but most cars with ABS suggest doing it. They claim your abs controller and valves will last longer. And while it is true brake fluid will absorb moisture, you probably won't notice it, except maybe on high performance cars in extremely hot weather. On my own a 1999 Grand Prix (owned since new with 243K on it) I never had the brake fluid done until a couple of weeks ago. And it was done since my rear brake hard line developed a small hole which sent the pedal to the floor (thanks to it being a NJ car with all their winter road salt) So the shop had to fix leak and of course fill and bleed the brakes.
It was $274 total of which $75 was the tow (covered by insurance)
Click to expand...

typically the electrical parts in an abs module will fail more often than any of the valves.
 
Flushing the brake fluid is a good PM measure IMO. The absorbed water will not only raise the boiling point, but also allow corrosion in the interior of the brake system (ever wonder why old brake systems pump rust particles out?)

It's cheap, it's quick, it prevents bleeder valves from sticking, and prolongs the life of your master cylinder, and calipers/drums. :thumbsup:
 
Personally, I think it is good preventative maintenance. That said, 36k miles seems quite early to do it but I suppose this is assuming the most extreme conditions, like the car being kept outside, driven irregularly, with extreme climate changes, snow in the winter, road salt, hot summers, rain, etc.

Honestly, it isn't going to hurt anything to follow the manufacturers recommendation.

If you don't do it and you have a seized caliper a couple years from now is the mechanic who told you not to do it going to repair your caliper for free?

You could always take it to the dealer. I'm sure they would be happy to do it for you.
 
JulesMaximus said:
Personally, I think it is good preventative maintenance. That said, 36k miles seems quite early to do it but I suppose this is assuming the most extreme conditions, like the car being kept outside, driven irregularly, with extreme climate changes, snow in the winter, road salt, hot summers, rain, etc.

Honestly, it isn't going to hurt anything to follow the manufacturers recommendation.

If you don't do it and you have a seized caliper a couple years from now is the mechanic who told you not to do it going to repair your caliper for free?

You could always take it to the dealer. I'm sure they would be happy to do it for you.
Click to expand...

no...

typically the square cut seal on the caliper is responsible for contamination staying out of the caliper.

that and the dust boot.

if the dust boot rips then the weather can attack the piston and when the brake are replaced they piston complete with rust dirt salt etc is shoved back in to the bore and that square cut seal is helpless to stop it.

so is it the mechanics fault your dust boot is ripped?

and in the event of an aluminum caliper its just a matter of time before they fail anyway.
 
Scarpozzi said:
I've never done this before....but why wouldn't you just pop the lid on the master cylinder and siphon out what you can with a syringe pump....then top it back off to the line with fresh fluid....This wouldn't clear the fluid in the lines, but I would think replacing 70% or so from the reservoir would be far quicker, easier, and almost as effective.
Click to expand...

Brakes are a dead-end system, so fresh fluid in the master does less than nothing for the fluid at the actual brake calipers. It is different than say power steering, where the fluid cycles through through the system.
 
JulesMaximus said:
You could always take it to the dealer. I'm sure they would be happy to do it for you.
Click to expand...

spittake.jpg

maxresdefault.jpg
 
I know on my 2014 Altima the dealer wants to do the brake fluid @ 30k! It's even in the owner's manual as scheduled maintenance! Seems extreme to me. Easy $69.99 grab for Nissan I'm thinking of skipping...Only had the car 2 years...
 
Scarpozzi said:
I've never done this before....but why wouldn't you just pop the lid on the master cylinder and siphon out what you can with a syringe pump....then top it back off to the line with fresh fluid....This wouldn't clear the fluid in the lines, but I would think replacing 70% or so from the reservoir would be far quicker, easier, and almost as effective.
Click to expand...

The part that is most important to change is the last bit of fluid in the calipers.
 
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