The only things i need to change is oil and coolant? No other fluids?

[Samus]

Most cars/trucks:

Oil: Synthetic at least once a year/every 7.5-10k, Standard twice a year/every 5k
Coolant every 5 years
Power steering every 60k-100k
Manual transmission every 60k-100k
Automatic transmission every 30k-60k (this depends on a lot)
Brake fluid every 10 years

Motorcycle:

Oil: if wet clutch, engine oil every 3k (synthetic can stretch it to 5k) and at least once/year.
Brake Fluid: 2-3 years, some say every year. Depends on capacity and heat breakdown. Use DOT4 for more life.
Rest: same as cars.

 

[bryanl]

same here..never changed the brake fluid. its a closed system so contaminants cannot get into the system.

That may be true for brake systems that use oil, as a few German luxury cars do (fluid is shared with power steering system), but for the vast majority of cars the system is not 100% sealed since the fluid reservoir is vented to the atmosphere, and brake fluid is alcohol based and therefore easily absorbs moisture from the atmosphere, even through the rubber brake lines.

 

[Samus]

bryanl, you must be confusing with power steering fluid/trans fluid or something, because no production car since the invention of hydraulic brakes has used any formula different than hydraulic fluid, or DOT 3 in the USA. Some vehicles now come with DOT 4, and some are even synthetic. Motorcycles often come with DOT 5 now which further isolates water.

No system is completely closed. Water enters the brakes through the caliper seals and vent cap. If you have a 10 year old car that has never had a bleed, and pull some new fluid through, the pedal will definitely become more stiff; over time, old fluid brakes down from heat and can't isolate water, which vaporizes under heat (turns into gas) producing a somewhat spongy pedal.

The fluid now is so good that I don't think people have to worry about corrosion (except motorcycle applications where this is pretty common because of the tiny capacity of the system) but you will always gain pedal feel and performance from new brake fluid after some time (a decade)

 

[Samus]

same here..never changed the brake fluid. its a closed system so contaminants cannot get into the system.

Braking system on cars isn't necessary until at LEAST 10 years. He's coming up on considering it, but it isn't necessary yet.

Coolant every 5 years, oil every 6 months.

If the trans is an automatic I'd probably not change it. If it hasn't ever been changed in all 145K, I wouldn't start now, it's really too late for that thing. You'll just loosen up crud that'll jam in the throttle body. Ideally you want to change an automatic every 30k-60k.

Manual trans and differentials every 100k. Don't forget friction modifier in differentials with clutches.

Power steering is a visual thing. If it doesn't look at all red (like its black or barely brownish) you could consider flushing it, but really, if the system doesn't make any noise and there are no leaks, leave it alone.

 

[ummduh]

Braking system on cars isn't necessary until at LEAST 10 years. He's coming up on considering it, but it isn't necessary yet.

Coolant every 5 years, oil every 6 months.

If the trans is an automatic I'd probably not change it. If it hasn't ever been changed in all 145K, I wouldn't start now, it's really too late for that thing. You'll just loosen up crud that'll jam in the throttle body. Ideally you want to change an automatic every 30k-60k.

Manual trans and differentials every 100k. Don't forget friction modifier in differentials with clutches.

Power steering is a visual thing. If it doesn't look at all red (like its black or barely brownish) you could consider flushing it, but really, if the system doesn't make any noise and there are no leaks, leave it alone.

No. Brake fluid can go bad pretty quickly. You can buy test strips that will show how bad it is. At least 10 years is bad advice. On a new car the initial factory fill is probably good for 5 to 6 years, and then I'd up it to 2/3 years thereafter.

Same deal with coolant, the factory fill is the ONLY fill that can go 5 year/100,000 miles (most domestic vehicles..). After the initial factory fill, domestics at least, they all shorten their flush cycles considerably.

I would agree on the rest, however. Except that the throttle body isn't inside a transmission, and has nothing to do with transmission fluid.

 

[rommelrommel]

Some diffs should probably be done well before 100k too, but it really depends on the car. Brand/model specific forums are a great place to get that type of info.

I's also disagree with the previous post about PS fluid only being a visual thing... some models are known for eating up seals and pumps as the fluid gets contaminated and changing the fluid every few years can fend off those issues.

 

[KentState]

Silly question, but what is the maintenance on electric power steering? Just grease or is there anything else necessary?

 

[ummduh]

Silly question, but what is the maintenance on electric power steering? Just grease or is there anything else necessary?

I'm sure there is more than one type out there, but the only one I am familiar with still uses fluid, there is just an electric motor powering the pump. It only makes sense that fluid should be changed periodically in such a system.

 

[Howard]

This thread is probably the nicest way to learn that the brake fluid needs changing.

 

[Zargon]

Some diffs should probably be done well before 100k too, but it really depends on the car. Brand/model specific forums are a great place to get that type of info.

I's also disagree with the previous post about PS fluid only being a visual thing... some models are known for eating up seals and pumps as the fluid gets contaminated and changing the fluid every few years can fend off those issues.

yeah the factory interval on the diffs on my truck is 75k.......same with tranny fluid. did it at 60k...

 

[NutBucket]

Silly question, but what is the maintenance on electric power steering? Just grease or is there anything else necessary?

Most systems now days have an electric/motor actuator on the steering column...no fluid involved. Now if only they could improve the feel.....