Change Engine Fluids

[gjhunter01]

 Most people know about changing oil, trans fluid, antifreeze, and differential oil. Two common fluids forgotten are power steering and brake fluids. Now you can go to a service garage and do a proper flush and change, but plan to spend a couple hundred bucks. A easier and less costlier method is to use a turkey baster and remove these two fluids from the reservoir and refill with proper fluid as noted by the owners manual. This method will change out about a third of the fluid which if done yearly, effectively is the same as a 3 year recommended change for just the cost of the fluid.

Edit - Jeff, I disagree, the new brake fluid will disperse through the entire system given time, there is no such thing as a wall in a fluid system unless you have different specific gravities, (Fluid Dynamics). As far as water contamination, the new fluid will mix with the old fluid, true, but now the total water in the system is less than if no fluid were changed at all.

Greg

[beyerjf]

It won't be effective in a brake system. The fluid that is not in the reservoir doesn't "circulate" like the power steering. It stays pretty much in the brake line and or brake caliper and goes a short distance back and forth when the brakes are applied and released. And I mean a short distance depending on the fluid displacement of the movement of the caliper for instance. 

Besides, brake fluid is very different from the essentially light motor oil that is used in the power steering. Brake fluid can and does absorb moisture over time, any new clean brake fluid introduced to a system with old fluid with soon be contaminated, nullifying any benefit.

To properly flush a brake system is not difficult but does require the right equipment, a large supply at the master cylinder, and opening up the brake bleeders at the right locations and intervals so as not to disturb the check valves indicating a brake malfunction. And on lots of vehicles, especially those exposed to salt, the bleeders are "frozen", any attempt to open them usually results in shearing them off, which is why most brake technicians don't do so unless they intend to replace the parts. Manufacturers do recommend flushing the brake systems at certain intervals, it is probably the most ignored recommendation they make. 

[RBH]

On 4/25/2017 at 10:43 PM, beyerjf said:

It won't be effective in a brake system. The fluid that is not in the reservoir doesn't "circulate" like the power steering. It stays pretty much in the brake line and or brake caliper and goes a short distance back and forth when the brakes are applied and released. And I mean a short distance depending on the fluid displacement of the movement of the caliper for instance. 

Besides, brake fluid is very different from the essentially light motor oil that is used in the power steering. Brake fluid can and does absorb moisture over time, any new clean brake fluid introduced to a system with old fluid with soon be contaminated, nullifying any benefit.

To properly flush a brake system is not difficult but does require the right equipment, a large supply at the master cylinder, and opening up the brake bleeders at the right locations and intervals so as not to disturb the check valves indicating a brake malfunction. And on lots of vehicles, especially those exposed to salt, the bleeders are "frozen", any attempt to open them usually results in shearing them off, which is why most brake technicians don't do so unless they intend to replace the parts. Manufacturers do recommend flushing the brake systems at certain intervals, it is probably the most ignored recommendation they make. 

 

Frozen bleeders will not be a problem if the system is flushed every year or two as recommended. It is vitally important to change the brake fluid especially on vehicles that are towing heavy trailers. Brake fluid is hygroscopic which means it absorbs water from the air which greatly lowers the boiling point of the fluid. A hard brake application, say an emergency stop can produce enough heat to boil the fluid creating vapor in the system and brake failure. 

A turkey baster works well to remove fluid in the reservoir. Bleed each caliper starting with the one furthest from the M.C. You may need someone to watch that the fluid does not fall too low in the reservoir. You DO NOT want air to enter the system since it can be hell to get out sometimes. Bleed each caliper by gently pumping the brake pedal part way down until clean fluid exits. A rubber hose connected to the bleeder and placed in a partially filled clear collection bottle will both keep air from being sucked back in on the pedal upstroke and show when the exiting fluid is clear.

On some badly neglected systems I have even removed the reservoir and cleaned out the sediment that has accumulated on the bottom.

 Just do it or get it done regularly to be safe.

 

 

[Alie&Jim's Carrilite]

18 minutes ago, heberleinrb1 said:

 

Frozen bleeders will not be a problem if the system is flushed every year or two as recommended. It is vitally important to change the brake fluid especially on vehicles that are towing heavy trailers. Brake fluid is hygroscopic which means it absorbs water from the air which greatly lowers the boiling point of the fluid. A hard brake application, say an emergency stop can produce enough heat to boil the fluid creating vapor in the system and brake failure. 

A turkey baster works well to remove fluid in the reservoir. Bleed each caliper starting with the one furthest from the M.C. You may need someone to watch that the fluid does not fall too low in the reservoir. You DO NOT want air to enter the system since it can be hell to get out sometimes. Bleed each caliper by gently pumping the brake pedal part way down until clean fluid exits. A rubber hose connected to the bleeder and placed in a partially filled clear collection bottle will both keep air from being sucked back in on the pedal upstroke and show when the exiting fluid is clear.

On some badly neglected systems I have even removed the reservoir and cleaned out the sediment that has accumulated on the bottom.

 Just do it or get it done regularly to be safe.

 

 

 

got to be the smartazz here...

When was the last time you saw a dealer do a brake fluid change?  Or any of the quick lube places....

It is an overlooked item in today's world of disposable items including cars.  I have never seen Meinke replace or flush a brake system unless they have replaced a caliper, which they will do instead of trying to repair the now frozen wrung off bleeder valve.

On a Meinke or Midas brake service, they do the correct measurements on the rotors and drums, replace the pads/shoes, grease the slides, and out the door you go.  If they don't open the system, they don't replace or flush the system.