Is it necessary to flush brake fluid?
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I have a car.The brake fluid should be replaced every 3 years according to the owners manual.
The dealer said it would cost $190 to replace the brake fluid.The last time they did it, I told them it was only $27.They said it was expensive because they were going to use a machine to flush it out.The manual doesn't say anything about this.I can see that it could be helpful, but is it really necessary?How often should it be done?
The system is flushed when you replace brake fluid.The way you do it is to remove old break fluid and replace it with new fluid.
You should follow the instructions in your owner's manual.The manual says normal intervals are two or three years.Start there because some manufacturers may have something else.Over time, brake fluid absorbs water.The fluid is in a dry state when it is fresh.It is in a "wet" state when it gets old.As brake fluid becomes wet, it will boil at a lower temperature.This is important because as you use the brakes, the fluid gets hotter.The fluid will cause bubbles in your brake lines if it gets older.The bubbles will reduce the effectiveness of your braking system.
Bleeding the brakes at the furthest point away from the master cylinder is how you change the brake fluid.In the US, start at the bake right.I think your master cylinder is on the right side of the car, so start with the back left.To do the other rear brake, go to the opposite side.Go to the front on the side you started with.Four wheel vehicles only have one wheel left.All old brake fluid will be changed when you are done with all four wheels.You can either use a power bleeder or have a friend pump the brakes.
The brake fluid is one of the most overlooked maintenance items.Unless there is a leak, people don't think about it.
The general rule of thumb for replacement is two years.You can tell how your own brake fluid is doing by shining a flashlight through the liquid, which is easy to do on a white plastic type master cylinder.The brake fluid has a light amber color.It becomes a darker amber color as it gets closer to needing changed.It might get to the point where it is dark brown or black.
Unless you get free scheduled maintenance from the dealership, stay away from them for regular maintenance items.My experience tells me that dealerships overcharge on these types of items.If you go to a chain store for an oil change, they will tell you you need to have x, y, and Z done as well.You can usually find a smaller shop through word of mouth.Most of the time, your cost will be the best at these locations.Keep an eye out for the deals from your dealerships, there are always going to be them.There are usually no problems using a dealership other than cost.There is no requirement to have maintenance done at a dealership in the US.I'm not sure if this is legal in other countries.
You said that the dealership was going to hook it up to a machine to flush it out.This is a normal procedure for a single mechanic to perform this service.They want to charge more for it because it makes it easier, quicker, and cheaper.It appears by a bit.You are probably going to find a better price if you shop around a little bit.
No one has ever documented or substantiated this malarkey about brake fluid boiling and how much time in that 'time' relates to specific unit(s) of measurement.There have been skewed mentions of the last 5 years.Power steering fluid is boiling.
Where is the water coming from?Line leaks?The braking system is a closed system.If any amount of water was absorbed, it would indicate a break or split in the system.A power flush would be done prior to fluid replacement if the faults were reparable.
The majority of the flush and fill scam are pulled off by women alone.I challenged a service supervisor at a dealership when he handed a lady a print out that said "Needs"The brake and power steering flushes were cited.New brakes were installed 6 months prior to the lady's car.
It's not necessary except to enhance the oil industry revenue income flow.