Brake Fluid Change?
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Tuned
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 294
Likes: 24
From: Double Oak, TX
Brake Fluid Change?
What's the current thinking on flushing the brake fluid? I haven't seen anything in my Ford manual but our Subaru requires a flush every three years. We have 75K on the truck. I would use Valvoline Synpower. Thanks!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,127
Likes: 6
Average water absorption rate is 1% by volume per year.
@ 3% water in system, the boiling point drops accordingly:
Understanding Brake Fluid - RPMnet.com tech articles - by AFCO racing
Note that even silicon fluid systems can absorb water, just the water is not dissolved in the glycol, but pools into drops / puddles in the system at the lowest point (usually the bottom caliper piston).
If you are towing heavily, changing every 2 years is the cheapest thing you can do to improve brake performance.
For $20 of brake fluid (or less), you can do more for brake performance than most premium pads, or top-of-the line cyro treated rotors.
Never cease to amaze me people who spend $$$ on top of the line brake hardware stuff, then never change the fluid until the next brake job.
SDs generally self drain - so all that is required is to crack open the 4 bleed valves and keep pouring in fresh fluid in the reservoir until it runs clear from the bleed valves.
Then close the valves... top it up again... and you are done.
30 minutes on a bad day.
@ 3% water in system, the boiling point drops accordingly:
Understanding Brake Fluid - RPMnet.com tech articles - by AFCO racing
<table border="0" cellpadding="3" width="75%"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#ffffca"><td align="none">DOT 3</td> <td>401ºF</td> <td>284º F</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffca"> <td align="none">
DOT 4</td> <td>446º F</td> <td>311º F</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffca"> <td align="none">DOT 5</td> <td>500º F</td> <td>356º F</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffca"> <td align="none">DOT 5.1</td> <td>518º F</td> <td>375º F</td></tr></tbody></table>
DOT 4</td> <td>446º F</td> <td>311º F</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffca"> <td align="none">DOT 5</td> <td>500º F</td> <td>356º F</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#ffffca"> <td align="none">DOT 5.1</td> <td>518º F</td> <td>375º F</td></tr></tbody></table>
Note that even silicon fluid systems can absorb water, just the water is not dissolved in the glycol, but pools into drops / puddles in the system at the lowest point (usually the bottom caliper piston).
If you are towing heavily, changing every 2 years is the cheapest thing you can do to improve brake performance.
For $20 of brake fluid (or less), you can do more for brake performance than most premium pads, or top-of-the line cyro treated rotors.
Never cease to amaze me people who spend $$$ on top of the line brake hardware stuff, then never change the fluid until the next brake job.
SDs generally self drain - so all that is required is to crack open the 4 bleed valves and keep pouring in fresh fluid in the reservoir until it runs clear from the bleed valves.
Then close the valves... top it up again... and you are done.
30 minutes on a bad day.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 2
From: CA Sacramento
It is a good Idea. I did mine last year and it was dark. When I change my pads I will be putting in DOT 4.
Got Diesel?
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,345
Likes: 21
I do my brake fluid every year.... that is what Mercedes and Lexus advises and I have owned both over the years... and they have all lasted me for many of hundreds of thousands of miles... so I do the same with my Excursion 6.0L PSD.
As well, It's fun and cheap to do.
I use synthetic DOT 3 fluid which is the OEM spec for brake fluid.
I just buy my fluid at Walmart (Prestone Synthetic DOT 3) and have a friend pump the brake peddle while I open up the bleeder valve with a closed-end wrench, small plastic hose and soda bottle (empty soda bottle into larger recycle jug as I refill the master-cylinder resovoir with fresh fluid).
As well, It's fun and cheap to do.
I use synthetic DOT 3 fluid which is the OEM spec for brake fluid.
I just buy my fluid at Walmart (Prestone Synthetic DOT 3) and have a friend pump the brake peddle while I open up the bleeder valve with a closed-end wrench, small plastic hose and soda bottle (empty soda bottle into larger recycle jug as I refill the master-cylinder resovoir with fresh fluid).
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,708
Likes: 7
From: Circle City
so does that mean the OEM fluid that Ford originally put in was synthetic DOT 3?
I want to do a flush but don't want to mix.
I want to do a flush but don't want to mix.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
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DOT3 or DOT4 only. I change mine whenever I do the brakes. About every 1-2 years. The DOT5 fluids use to not be recomended for use in ABS systems due to foaming. New synthetics? I know nothing of these. Performance vehicles like Ferrari recomend fluid changes every 3 months!
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Got Diesel?
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,345
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Read the lables and your owner's manual.
Synthetic or dino fluids are fine and mix just fine... just use whatever DOT spec your vehicle calls for.
I am not looking at the bottles I have in the garage... but if you look at Walmart or your local auto parts store, it will tell you on the lable what will work and mix together and what will not.
I personally change/flush/bleed mine each year... so for me I just buy mine at Walmart and they just happen to have the Prestone brand, synthetic DOT 3 (I think it is DOT3)... but it is made for ABS systems and is allowed in our trucks. I think DOT 4 is too, but check your manual or ask at the auto parts store or read the lables for compatibility (I just can't remember).
Synthetic or dino fluids are fine and mix just fine... just use whatever DOT spec your vehicle calls for.
I am not looking at the bottles I have in the garage... but if you look at Walmart or your local auto parts store, it will tell you on the lable what will work and mix together and what will not.
I personally change/flush/bleed mine each year... so for me I just buy mine at Walmart and they just happen to have the Prestone brand, synthetic DOT 3 (I think it is DOT3)... but it is made for ABS systems and is allowed in our trucks. I think DOT 4 is too, but check your manual or ask at the auto parts store or read the lables for compatibility (I just can't remember).
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 919
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From: Smiths Grove, KY
You change your brakes every 1 - 2 years, never heard of anybody that changed brakes that often. Do you do alot of in town start and stop driving? Just curious what causes the brakes to wear out so soon.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
Yes about every 1-2 years. when I think about tire rotation or looking at the brakes. If I remove the wheels and pads are at or thinner than the pad backing I replace. Is it wasteful? Yes, but in my line of work I get my samples for FREE. Just cost me a few minutes of work.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,127
Likes: 6
We can have a very interesting discussion about the plus and minuses of just replacing pads without resurfacing / new rotors.
But since your routine works for you at your cost.... why not.
It beats the alternative of dealing with people who wore the pad down to metal.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 27,901
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I like conservatism though .............