Maintaining the well-being of your braking system can save your life. Let’s start with the most important component of the braking system. The brake fluid.
What Is Brake Fluid?
When is the right time to replace my brake fluid? Some might even ask what exactly is brake fluid?Just as engine oil keeps a car running, brake fluid is vital in helping the car come to a stop. Brake fluid is an essential hydraulic liquid used by the automotive braking system. When you apply pressure on the brake pedal, fluid is forced out of the master cylinder against the brakes. Brake fluid moves through the system in lines.
By KDS444 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24878290
How Do You Check Brake Fluid?
If you’re driving with bad brake fluid, you might find that it takes more pressure on the pedal to come to a stop. You might even smell smoke after repeated hard braking. This may also indicate other issues, but it may be a sign of overheated brake fluid or even potential brake failure.
However, it is best not to wait for something bad to happen before checking for low brake fluid levels or contaminated fluid. As the saying goes “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” so check before problems arise!
To check your brake fluid, check your owner’s manual to see where to find the reservoir. It is often located above the master cylinder. You may also see brake lines coming out of the bottom of it.
Once you’ve located the reservoir, do not open the cap. Removing the cap can draw more moisture into the hydraulics system. The cap should be translucent, allowing you to check the fluid levels without opening it.
Signs to change your Brake Fluid
1. Oily Puddle beneath the Vehicle
If there is a puddle of liquid underneath the car that is slightly oily to the touch, there may be a leak in the braking system. There are many places where a leak can occur, including rubber hoses, callipers, and master cylinders. If this happens, you should have it professionally inspected immediately to ensure safety.
2. Anti-Lock Braking System Warning Light
An illuminated anti-lock braking system (ABS) warning light on a dashboard means that the brake fluid is running low and may indicate a leak. The ABS needs a sufficient amount of brake fluid to work correctly, so if the warning light is on, the safest bet is to get a professional inspection.
3. Old Brake Pads
If the brake pad is making a whining noise, it means it is time to have them serviced and possibly even to replace the brake fluid. As brake pads wear down, they become thinner and must be pushed harder for them to reach the rotor. The thinner the brake pads, the more fluid it takes to fill the callipers for proper compression.
4. Bubbles in brake fluid
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water from the air, which lowers its boiling point. When the brake fluid heats up and boils, it creates steam, leaving air in the brake lines. This leads to a spongy brake pedal or other braking issues. So if you see bubbles in your brake fluid, its a sign to do a fluid change.
When Is It Time to Change my Brake Fluid?
Proper brake maintenance should not be relegated to a mere footnote in your maintenance checklist. So the question is when is the right time to replace my brake fluid? There is no set time for every car, but you should have your brake fluid changed every 40,000km. You can also refer to your owner’s manual for the specifics. In the words of our technician “The importance of changing your brake fluid is the equivalent to how much you value your life”.
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