Brake Fluid?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,058
Likes: 424
From: Too close to Houston
Brake Fluid?
For the first time in my life I think I’ll change the brake fluid in my truck for no other reason than it’s more than four years old. My owners manual doesn’t call for routine brake fluid changes but I see the 2020 and later models call for changing it every four years.
So, what’s your favorite flavor of DOT4 LV or DOT4+ brake fluid? The Prestone DOT4 I see on the shelves around here would be my first choice but it doesn’t appear to meet the low viscosity spec. I did get a Speedy-Bleed system that has worked great for my other vehicles after brake servicing and my Autel scan tool will activate the ABS system for proper purging.
So, what’s your favorite flavor of DOT4 LV or DOT4+ brake fluid? The Prestone DOT4 I see on the shelves around here would be my first choice but it doesn’t appear to meet the low viscosity spec. I did get a Speedy-Bleed system that has worked great for my other vehicles after brake servicing and my Autel scan tool will activate the ABS system for proper purging.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,058
Likes: 424
From: Too close to Houston
The owners manual calls for DOT 4 Low Viscosity (LV) fluid PM-20. Spec is WSS-M6C65-A2
I haven’t checked the price at the local Ford dealer. Pentosin 4LV seems like it’s not too outrageously priced on Amazon
I haven’t checked the price at the local Ford dealer. Pentosin 4LV seems like it’s not too outrageously priced on Amazon
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,653
Likes: 4,736
From: Itinerant
I've never changed my brake fluid in any of my trucks either. Going to do it in my trucks next oil change.
Just going to buy a 32oz container of the DOT 4 LV and use a turkey baster. Suck out whats in the reservoir replace same amount. Wait for the next oil change (8k miles, roughly 6 weeks) then do it one more time and call it good enough.
Just going to buy a 32oz container of the DOT 4 LV and use a turkey baster. Suck out whats in the reservoir replace same amount. Wait for the next oil change (8k miles, roughly 6 weeks) then do it one more time and call it good enough.
Thread Starter
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,058
Likes: 424
From: Too close to Houston
I've never changed my brake fluid in any of my trucks either. Going to do it in my trucks next oil change.
Just going to buy a 32oz container of the DOT 4 LV and use a turkey baster. Suck out whats in the reservoir replace same amount. Wait for the next oil change (8k miles, roughly 6 weeks) then do it one more time and call it good enough.
Just going to buy a 32oz container of the DOT 4 LV and use a turkey baster. Suck out whats in the reservoir replace same amount. Wait for the next oil change (8k miles, roughly 6 weeks) then do it one more time and call it good enough.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,308
Likes: 250
From: Hartford, WI
I suck out all the fluid from the reservoir and put fresh fluid in to about a quarter and suck it all out again to get the crud out. Fill to full and put the flusher on and pressurize the system. Bleed furthest till you are satisfied, go nearer and nearer to the reservoir or whatever the manual tells you and clean up. Repeat in 2 years if following MB standard or in the C7 corvette manual, 5 years. I do it every 2 and make a day out of all the vehicles. That should take care of heat degradation and any moisture absorption
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 779
Likes: 427
I use a sacrificial Shop vac, the cheapest $30 Walmart version, as a dedicated messy fluid sucker. I store it in a big trash bag to minimize mess.
Stick a tube in the end, wrap some duct tape around the tube and the vacuum hose end as a crude reducer, and slurp out the fluid like Aklim describes. It takes a few seconds.
Then, top off the reservoir, and put a tube on each bleeder nipple and have someone pump the brakes while you have the bleeder open. Every vehicle has a built in pressure bleeder, the brake pedal. The fluid will go from coffee color to light clear yellow in a few pumps. Close that bleeder and move on. It's not as vital do bleed in a certain order if the system wasn't open and you had air bubbles to chase. This is a 20 minute job if you take lots of breaks.
Stick a tube in the end, wrap some duct tape around the tube and the vacuum hose end as a crude reducer, and slurp out the fluid like Aklim describes. It takes a few seconds.
Then, top off the reservoir, and put a tube on each bleeder nipple and have someone pump the brakes while you have the bleeder open. Every vehicle has a built in pressure bleeder, the brake pedal. The fluid will go from coffee color to light clear yellow in a few pumps. Close that bleeder and move on. It's not as vital do bleed in a certain order if the system wasn't open and you had air bubbles to chase. This is a 20 minute job if you take lots of breaks.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Itinerant
I guess I'll just have the wife help and pump the brakes and be done with the project when the time comes.
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Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Stephensville WI
Does anyone use speed bleeders?
Speed Bleeder Main Page
I use these on my classic cars, just screw one in as replacement for the bleeder screw, then put a hose on it so the fluid pumps into a clear container like a water bottle. Pump the brakes a few times, top off MC fluid, repeat until clean fluid is seen, put bleeder screw back on.
Speed Bleeder Main Page
I use these on my classic cars, just screw one in as replacement for the bleeder screw, then put a hose on it so the fluid pumps into a clear container like a water bottle. Pump the brakes a few times, top off MC fluid, repeat until clean fluid is seen, put bleeder screw back on.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 2,969
Likes: 2,407
From: Ridgway, CO
When I ran track cars it was a requirement, and when you run them hard and boil the fluid, you get to do it at the track again, or go home. I have never changed the brake fluid in any of the over 100 street cars I have owned over the years but I generally do not keep my vehicles more than a few years and I live in an extremely dry climate so brake fluid has never been an issue on my street vehicles. Good maintenance idea nonetheless if you intend to keep it for a long time. It will definitely save on caliper replacements later.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,816
Likes: 541
From: Florida
I like to change the brake fluid in my vehicles every two or three years. My German car calls for the fluid change in the maintenance schedule, and my mechanic dad always taught me to do it every few years.
It's cheap, it's easy, and I've never had any issues by doing the maintenance. So why not? As for fluid, I buy the highest quality fluid I can find in the spec called for by that specific vehicle's maintenance specs.
It's cheap, it's easy, and I've never had any issues by doing the maintenance. So why not? As for fluid, I buy the highest quality fluid I can find in the spec called for by that specific vehicle's maintenance specs.