BRAKE FLUID CHANGE & FLUSH

A brake fluid flush is considered to be a maintenance item by many car manufacturers, but does it have any real benefits?

It can't hurt your car so long as you do it properly and carries many benefits.

If the hydraulic brake system is left in an unclean condition for too long, several things will happen.

This includes water contamination of the fluid, corrosion build up of various elements on the brake parts, and rust build up in the master cylinder reservoir.

All of those things lead to a weaker braking system which can be not only more difficult to engage, but also unsafe as you could have poor performance at the exact time when you need it most.

In addition, changing your brake fluid can help separate yourself from being just another person who will need brake work in the near future.

The process of flushing your brake fluid at our garage is fairly quick replacing the old fluid with a bottle of the fresh stuff.

Brake Fluid Change vs Fluid Flush?

Do you need a brake fluid flush or fluid change? Will flushing or replacing your brake oil help your vehicle brake better? Let's see if flushing or changing brake fluid for drivers is worth it.

Is a Brake Fluid Change Necessary? 

The brake fluid flowing throughout your braking system is absolutely crucial to the stopping power of your vehicle. To flush or change the fluid is secondary to making sure you check the brake fluid reservoir and ensure your brake fluid is clean and topped up (usually marked by a minimum and maximum line on the reservoir tank). After decades of experience working on cars, we firmly believe the longer you own your vehicle the more inclined to have a brake fluid change. Keeping track of your brake fluid level is without question. However, whether or not you should change the fluid or flush the brakes has room for debate. The brake fluid change interval varies depending on vehicle type, vehicle use and the car manufacturers recommendations.

When To Change Brake Fluid?

Depending on the car manufacturer, a brake fluid change is generally every 50,000 km. Or none at all - depending on what you drive. This varies across all automakers. For example, Chevrolet recommends a brake fluid change on most models every 60,000 km, while the Honda automaker suggests every three years regardless of distance travelled. Three years is also the recommended brake fluid change for most German models in their Volkswagen line. Mercedes-Benz, however recommends a fresh brake fluid change every two years or 30,000 km. In stark comparison, the Ford Escape, Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Camry and other models from the same car manufacturers have no recommendations for changing the brake fluid, only instructions to inspect it regularly.

This then comes down to referring in your owners manual.

When you visit our shop for a brake fluid service, we inspect the complete braking system for wear and proper function. Generally speaking for our customers, brake fluid should be flushed every 2 - 3 years to ensure proper braking function and help prevent failure of brake components such as brake calipers, seals and cylinders.

Brake Fluid Change vs Fluid Flush

Essentially A brake fluid change and brake fluid flush is no real difference. The main reason for this is when we change the brake fluid it is required to bleed the braking system to remove all air inside the lines, hoses and components. Prior to bleeding the brakes the old fluid is sucked out of the reservoir while perhaps 20% or so remains in the brake lines. To bleed the system means pumping the brake pedal to build up air and pressure in the lines and loosen the bleeder to release. This eliminates air and the remaining old fluid in the system. While bleeding the brakes, old fluid is automatically flushed out during the bleeding process. As old fluid is removed and new fluid is added, bleeding the brakes takes away the remaining old fluid in the brake lines.

Our full brake fluid flush effectively sucks, bleeds and pumps out all old fluid from the braking system. Once flushed and new fluid is added, the result in an efficient and smooth braking function back to spec.

Keeping your brake oil in fresh condition whether you call it a brake fluid change or brake fluid flush or anywhere else will ensure your brake system delivers optimal braking power and helps avoid costly brake repairs down the road.

Get The Best Price For Brake Fluid Change For Your Make & Model

Finding competitively priced brake fluid change services for your vehicle requires a bit of research and comparison shopping. Look for a reputable repair shop with experience working with your type of vehicle, fair pricing policies, and a solid reputation for quality work and customer service.

By taking the time to find the right repair shop, you can ensure that your brakes are in top working condition and that you're getting a good value for your money. Contact us today for a quote!