Air always contains some water - more in humid climates - so you want to limit the amount of time either the reservoir or the can of brake fluid used to fill it is open. The same applies for any can of opened brake fluid that might be used to “top off” the reservoir. The brake fluid reservoir under your car’s hood is typically only filled halfway with brake fluid, meaning the top half is filled with air. Now, how would water get into your brake fluid lines? Primarily from the surrounding air.īrake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning it attracts and holds water. Water in the brake fluid can also make the brake lines rust out prematurely, resulting in a leak. ![]() Under severe braking, a lot of heat is generated, which could vaporize some of the brake fluid, causing the brakes to fail. So if much water gets into your brake lines, it effectively lowers the boiling point of the brake fluid. While modern brake fluid doesn’t boil until around 440 degrees Fahrenheit, water boils at 212 degrees. So, how would a gas get into your brake fluid line? Water - or more precisely, water that has boiled to become a gas. This would be bad, particularly in downhill braking or a panic stop. ![]() By contrast, gasses - such as air - are compressible, and if any gets into your brake fluid lines, it can result in a “mushy” pedal feel and therefore lead to the failure to transfer some of the pedal force to the brakes. Liquids are noncompressible, which is what you need in your brake system to transfer the movement of the brake pedal through small-diameter lines (tubes) to the brakes at each wheel. Why Does the Brake Fluid Need to Be Changed? If you don’t have your vehicle’s owner’s manual, you can try searching online for “(year/make/model) owner’s manual” or “(year/make/model) maintenance schedule.” It’s best to reference either the manufacturer’s site or one that displays your owner’s manual rather than one that just tells you what your vehicle supposedly needs. Most cars fall somewhere within those two extremes. By contrast, the 2012 Toyota Camry’s maintenance schedule doesn’t call for it through 12 years or 120,000 miles - which is as far as the schedule extends - though it does call for it to be inspected periodically. How often you need to change your car’s brake fluid is covered in the maintenance section of your owner’s manual, and it can vary greatly.įor instance, the maintenance schedule for the 2012 Nissan Leaf recommends replacing the brake fluid every year or 15,000 miles under “Severe Service,” and every two years or 30,000 miles otherwise. Of course when you need it for emergencies, it will do the job nicely (regen + full brakes) has saved my Leaf from many of Deer + Leaf collisions.The brake system is one of the most critical components of your vehicle, and brake fluid is probably something that is overlooked or not thought of enough. The brake system on the Leaf is always used, just not as "hard" because of the regen-brake effect. Changing your brake fluid more than once in the life of the vehicle, seems excessive unless there is real issue with the brake system on your vehicle. The air cabin filter, you can change on your own once you know the trick to it and save a lot of money. That's the only thing to do on the Leaf that is similar to the gas vehicle maintenance. ![]() It's more Nissan throwing dealers a bone than anything else in my opinion. Would I change my brake fluid every 15k miles *after* the first change, no way! In the same light, a new brake system for a Leaf, changing out the brake fluid at 15k miles would be in the same "it's new, needs break-in" category for me. When you buy a brand new gas vehicle, you want to make an early "oil change" for the new engine break-in.
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