Vehicles need a regular maintenance check every now and then, in which engine oils are changed, air conditioning filters, and much more. But users get skeptical when it comes to getting brake fluid changed.
Some vehicle owners believe that a flush isn’t necessary and is costly; some believe it is a necessity. In this article, we’ll find out if a brake fluid flush is a waste of money or actually essential as part of our vehicle’s routine checkup.
Understanding Brake Fluid
Understanding what brake fluid is, is important before we talk about its flushing charges. Brake fluid is a hydraulic fluid that plays a huge role in your vehicle’s hydraulic braking system. Liquids are incompressible, so when you hit your foot on the brake, the brake fluid transfers this force into pressure to the front and rear brakes and brings your vehicle to a stop.
Brake fluids are essential because they not only resist moisture that can cause vapor lock brake failure but also protect against corrosion and withstand high brake temperatures. This is why brake fluid is important; it helps your car to stop; without any fluid, your vehicle would not be able to stop.
Types Of Brake Fluid
Brake fluids in many vehicles are glycol-ether-based. Glycol-based brake fluid absorbs the moisture from the air to ensure a successful braking system. Brake fluids come in 3 types: DOT 3, 4, 5, and 5.1.
The difference among these brake fluids is their boiling points. Dot 3 has the lowest boiling point, while 5.1 has the highest. Dot 3 and Dot 4 fluids are very similar to each other and are often the ones used in vehicles. Dot 4 may just have a slightly higher boiling point and better resistance to corrosion than Dot 3.
Dot 5 is completely silicon-based, which means it does not absorb water. It is also not compatible with vehicles with anti-lock braking systems, and neither should it be mixed with other glycol fluids. Dot 5.1 is the same as Dot 5, but without silicon. The Dot 5.1 is also a glycol fluid and possesses the same qualities as the Dot 5.
What Is A Brake Fluid Flush?
A brake fluid flush is a process in which you flood out the old braking fluid and replace it with a fresh one. In order to ensure your braking fluid is working at its optimal level, it needs to stay clean and new. Old and dirty brake fluid will not be as effective.
With time, braking fluid can contain contaminants such as water, air, and rust that have entered the system. Brake fluids don’t usually need to be changed for a long time. Some car users tend to not change their fluid at all. But this can have some serious consequences, such as reduced stopping power.
Thus, it is essential to change your brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. However, you should always check the manual of your vehicle to see the manufacturer’s recommendation for fluid change and what type of braking fluid you should be using.
Signs Your Brake Fluid Needs Changing
Our vehicles are often giving us signals when something is wrong. If your vehicle hasn’t crossed 30,000 miles but it has been two years since the last fluid change, it is a clear indication that your braking system requires the fluid change.
Here are some signs that your vehicle may show if it is either running low or on bad braking fluid:
- Soft Pedal: Whenever you press the brake, you may feel it is soft or touching all the way down to the floor.
- ABS Warning Light: Your anti-lock braking system light will turn on, on your dashboard.
- Oil Puddles: If you witness puddles of oil under your car, this can indicate a potential leak in which your braking fluid is dripping out.
- Old Brake pads: Old brake pads that have not been changed can thin out over time, which requires extra braking fluid to reach the calipers.
- Dirty and smelly: A possible indication that your braking fluid needs changing is that it can look dirty to the naked eye. Braking fluid should always be clear. It can also give out a burning smell.
What Happens If You Don’t Flush Brake Fluid?
Just as every other fluid in your vehicle needs changing, the braking fluid requires a change too. Not doing so and running your ride on old braking fluid can result in less effective braking.
So, what happens if you don’t change or flush brake fluid? The main problem you will encounter with not flushing your braking fluid is that your vehicle will not stop or not come to a halt as soon as you hit the brakes. This could become a hazard and cause serious on-road issues as you can easily crash into other people or even be in a fatal accident.
Over time, water and moisture can get into your braking fluid, which reduces its boiling point and results in poor effectiveness. Maintaining the boiling point of fluids is also essential, as braking causes high heat temperatures and fluids help withstand it. If braking fluid is not enduring heat, it will lead to the degrading of the overall braking system.
Moisture buildup can also cause complete braking failure and lead to potential corrosion in the brake lines. Changing your braking fluid not only improves overall performance and braking power of your vehicle but also saves you from spending on the potential damages the bad fluid can cause to your braking system.
Costs Of Brake Fluid Flush
As some car owners have concerns regarding money, we’re here to clear that out. As we’ve already mentioned, it is crucial to have your brake fluid flushed or changed to maintain its optimal power.
The main question that pops into many car owners’ minds is, ‘What is the average cost of a brake fluid flush?’. The price factors can matter depending on labor costs or if you wish to do it yourself. Typically getting it done by a mechanic can cost around $100-$200 (we don’t think that’s much of a price to put over your safety).
You don’t need frequent flushes or changes, as your brake fluid can actually last up to two years. If, of course, you’re getting it changed regularly with your monthly car service, it will cost you a fortune.
If you choose to do it yourself, you’re looking at a cost of barely $50-$70. You’ll only need to pay for the braking fluid, which also depends on what type you’re getting and should cost around $20. Tools and brake bleeding kits can cost up to $30-$40.
How To Perform A Brake Fluid Flush?
A brake fluid flush is necessary after a while to ensure your car’s brakes are performing well. Not changing your brake fluid can lead to serious problems and a possible accident, risking the lives of people in your car along with the other people in your fellow cars or on the road.
Performing a fluid flush by yourself is probably a wise choice. However, before starting, go through your user’s manual to check how much and what type of brake fluid your vehicle needs.
Tools required
Before performing your brake fluid flushing task, we recommend you have all the necessary tools with you. Having the right or correct tools is a must. It is the only way you can ensure a good DIY job is done.
Here is a list of all the necessary tools you will be needing to flush the old brake fluid of your car and replace it with a new one. If you are a regular DIYer, they must be probably lying around in your garage. However, if not, either borrow or purchase to get started.
- Gloves
- Brake bleeding kit
- Jack and Jack stand
- Brake fluid (depending on what your car requires)
- Wrench or socket
- Bottle
- Funnel
- Safety glasses
Step-by-Step Process for Brake Fluid Flush And Change
Whether you are someone familiar with vehicles or an absolute novice, you should be able to perform the task as long as you follow the provided steps. We have ensured each step is easy to comprehend, so you do not face any difficulty.
Before we move ahead, we must tell you that it is a two-person job. You will need someone to assist you during the entire process. If you cannot arrange any help or think this is too much for you, you can always go for professional assistance.
- Lift your vehicle: Start by parking your car on leveled ground, lift your vehicle using the Jack, and place it on the Jack stands.
- Open the hood: Before you start, open the hood and clean off brake fluid from your master cylinder.
- Remove tires: Remove the wheels, attach a clear tube of the bleeder kit to the bleeder valve of the brake caliper, and place the other end in a bottle. Make sure your bottle contains a little bit of fluid to ensure air doesn’t get into the system.
- Open the bleeder valve: Open the bleeder valve with a wrench and have your friend press on the brake pedals continuously to bleed out the old fluid.
- Fill Fluid: While your friend is pumping out the old fluid, make sure you are refilling the master cylinder simultaneously to ensure the master cylinder is never empty. You can tell your friend to stop pumping once you start to see clear fluid coming out.
- Repeat: Repeat this process for every wheel. Make sure you close the valve before your helper releases the brake to ensure no air gets in. Once done, you can screw everything back on and lower your vehicle.
- Refill Fluid: After screwing everything back on and lowering your vehicle, you can proceed to fill your master cylinder with brake fluid to its optimum level.
Frequently Asked Questions On What Happens If You Don’t Change Brake Fluid
Q1. How can I check my brake fluid level?
Checking your brake fluid is a really simple task. Simply open your hood and locate your brake master cylinder, which should be a plastic container on the driver’s side. Open the cap and inspect how much fluid is in there. You can indicate the level by checking how below is the fluid from the fill line.
Q2. What happens if I mix different brake fluids?
Mixing different grade brake fluids can cause serious harm to your vehicle and the braking system. However, you can mix braking fluid with higher-grade fluid. For example, if you use DOT 3 in your system, you can top it off with DOT 4 or 5.1. But you cannot use DOT 3 on top of a DOT 4 or 5.1.
A DOT 5 should never be mixed with any other type of braking fluid, as this is the only fluid that is silicon-based while the rest are glycol-based.
Q3. Will changing brake fluid improve braking?
A timely change of the brake fluid can help improve your vehicle’s overall braking power. Old fluid can become contaminated with water, moisture, and rust that degrades the performance of brakes. It can also lower the boiling point of the fluid, which results in less heat resistance and poor braking.
A fresh braking fluid will ensure smooth and effective braking.
Q4. How often should you flush your brake fluid?
The recommended time is 2 years to change your brake fluid or every 30,000 miles. Brake fluids can last up to a long time. However, if you ever experience your brakes not functioning properly or maybe a possible leak, you should get it checked immediately.
Changing your brake fluid by its recommended time can help ensure the longevity of your vehicle’s brakes.
Q5. What happens if you don’t flush brake fluid?
Not changing or flushing your brake fluid when required can cause serious problems. This can lead to other potential damages to your braking system and your entire vehicle. Thus, it is vital to change your brake fluid to ensure well-working brakes.
Old fluid usually becomes dirty and less effective with time. This can reduce the boiling point of the fluid, resulting in bad brakes.
Conclusion
The simple answer to your question, of whether a brake fluid flush is a waste of money, is a no. To ensure the performance and longevity of your braking system, a fluid flush shouldn’t be seen as a needless expense and rather a necessity.
Performing a fluid flush whenever needed can help remove contaminations from your brake fluid and improve the lifespan of your vehicle’s brakes.
