Brake Fluid - Maintenance Sched.

I don't see anything about change intervals for brake fluid in my
owners book (93 4runner). Any recommendations - miles - months? Can't
last forever, one wouldn't think.
thanks

"DonLogan" <xxx@> wrote in message
news:hc15625uhdub9knf5622rrms28323dhutk@4ax.com...[color=blue]
>I don't see anything about change intervals for brake fluid in my
> owners book (93 4runner). Any recommendations - miles - months? Can't
> last forever, one wouldn't think.
> thanks[/color]

If the brake system is sealed, the fluid will theoretically last forever.
In the real world, the fluid absorbs moisture from the air and so changing
the fluid every 3 or 4 years or every other brake pad change is a good idea.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

On Wed, 10 May 2006 23:22:47 -0500, "Ray O"
<rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>"DonLogan" <xxx@> wrote in message
>news:hc15625uhdub9knf5622rrms28323dhutk@4ax.com...[color=green]
>>I don't see anything about change intervals for brake fluid in my
>> owners book (93 4runner). Any recommendations - miles - months? Can't
>> last forever, one wouldn't think.
>> thanks[/color]
>
>If the brake system is sealed, the fluid will theoretically last forever.
>In the real world, the fluid absorbs moisture from the air and so changing
>the fluid every 3 or 4 years or every other brake pad change is a good idea.[/color]

....or if it has already turned black.

Viperkiller wrote:
[color=blue]
> ...or if it has already turned black.[/color]

The only reason for it to turn black is if your flexi-hoses are
collapsing internally, i have an open tub of brake fluid i left out in
the garden for about 3 months - rain or shine - and it hasnt changed
colour much. Still looks like fresh engine oil, used to look like a
fine virgin olive oil.

J

On Wed, 10 May 2006 20:32:29 -0400, DonLogan <xxx@> wrote:
[color=blue]
>I don't see anything about change intervals for brake fluid in my
>owners book (93 4runner). Any recommendations - miles - months? Can't
>last forever, one wouldn't think.
>thanks[/color]

I change it every 2 years, but that's overkill. It's cheap and easy to
do. At the maximum I would say 4 years but that's probably pushing it.
If you don't do it you will likely be awarded with costly abs repairs.

"Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote in message news:ee229$4462bcbe$180fead6$17434@msgid.meganewsservers.com...[color=blue]
>
> "DonLogan" <xxx@> wrote in message news:hc15625uhdub9knf5622rrms28323dhutk@4ax.com...[color=green]
>>I don't see anything about change intervals for brake fluid in my
>> owners book (93 4runner). Any recommendations - miles - months? Can't
>> last forever, one wouldn't think.
>> thanks[/color]
>
> If the brake system is sealed, the fluid will theoretically last forever. In the real world, the fluid absorbs moisture from the
> air and so changing the fluid every 3 or 4 years or every other brake pad change is a good idea.
> --
>
> Ray O
> (correct punctuation to reply)[/color]

If the brakes are done in shop those power bleeders pump a lot of brake fluid thru too.

Come to think of it my 1987 Supra still has the original brake fluid.. lol...

In our fleet service business we changed brake fluid every two years, or 75K
WOF, in those vehicles that use DOT 3. If one uses DOT 5, there is no need
to change the brake fluid because water will migrate to the top and
evaporate

mike hunt


"DonLogan" <xxx@> wrote in message
news:hc15625uhdub9knf5622rrms28323dhutk@4ax.com...[color=blue]
>I don't see anything about change intervals for brake fluid in my
> owners book (93 4runner). Any recommendations - miles - months? Can't
> last forever, one wouldn't think.
> thanks[/color]

I did some research on this a few months back, having to replace the entire
hydraulic system of a vintage Willys. One thought was to use DOT5 as it is
incompatible with DOT3 and 4 requiring complete replacement of the hydraulic
system to upgrade anyway, is not hygroscopic and does not need changing

There is some indication that DOT5 may be phased out by the US military & if
so could become difficult / impossible to find in the civilian world.

While DOT3 and DOT4 are hygroscopic they aren't strongly so; furthermore
they contain anticorrosives which generally last about two years before
losing their effectiveness.

Based on my research I chose to go with DOT3. I intend to change it every
two years with new DOT3 from a sealed container; when topping up I will add
from a tightly closed but not necessarily factory sealed bottle.
--
Mike Harris
Austin, TX

"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:THGdnUVCAfQoAfnZUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=blue]
> In our fleet service business we changed brake fluid every two years, or
> 75K WOF, in those vehicles that use DOT 3. If one uses DOT 5, there is no
> need to change the brake fluid because water will migrate to the top and
> evaporate
>
> mike hunt
>
>
> "DonLogan" <xxx@> wrote in message
> news:hc15625uhdub9knf5622rrms28323dhutk@4ax.com...[color=green]
>>I don't see anything about change intervals for brake fluid in my
>> owners book (93 4runner). Any recommendations - miles - months? Can't
>> last forever, one wouldn't think.
>> thanks[/color]
>
>[/color]

"RT" <noyabusiness@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:237862t4h06gsnkc8lags20v4mvc1oq244@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Wed, 10 May 2006 20:32:29 -0400, DonLogan <xxx@> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>I don't see anything about change intervals for brake fluid in my
>>owners book (93 4runner). Any recommendations - miles - months? Can't
>>last forever, one wouldn't think.
>>thanks[/color]
>
> I change it every 2 years, but that's overkill. It's cheap and easy to
> do. At the maximum I would say 4 years but that's probably pushing it.
> If you don't do it you will likely be awarded with costly abs repairs.
>[/color]

I disagree that it is likely that a vehicle will need ABS repairs if the
fluid is not changed after 4 years. I have yet to see or hear of an ABS
actuator needing replacement for any reason, let alone due to the lack of
brake fluid changes. On the other hand, I have seen calipers and brake
cylinders get corroded due to lack of fluid changes.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

On Fri, 12 May 2006 13:05:42 -0500, "Ray O"
<rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>"RT" <noyabusiness@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:237862t4h06gsnkc8lags20v4mvc1oq244@4ax.com...[color=green]
>> On Wed, 10 May 2006 20:32:29 -0400, DonLogan <xxx@> wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>>I don't see anything about change intervals for brake fluid in my
>>>owners book (93 4runner). Any recommendations - miles - months? Can't
>>>last forever, one wouldn't think.
>>>thanks[/color]
>>
>> I change it every 2 years, but that's overkill. It's cheap and easy to
>> do. At the maximum I would say 4 years but that's probably pushing it.
>> If you don't do it you will likely be awarded with costly abs repairs.
>>[/color]
>
>I disagree that it is likely that a vehicle will need ABS repairs if the
>fluid is not changed after 4 years. I have yet to see or hear of an ABS[/color]

I didn't say after 4 years. I said if you don't do it. read.
[color=blue]
>actuator needing replacement for any reason, let alone due to the lack of
>brake fluid changes. On the other hand, I have seen calipers and brake
>cylinders get corroded due to lack of fluid changes.[/color]

I've seen several abs systems that broke down. All of them had never
had the brake fluid replaced. People think cars only need oil changes.

"RT" <noyabusiness@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1r7a62hbfu2gmcsv406aj0h0iub8t6sqok@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Fri, 12 May 2006 13:05:42 -0500, "Ray O"
> <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>
>>"RT" <noyabusiness@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>news:237862t4h06gsnkc8lags20v4mvc1oq244@4ax.com...[color=darkred]
>>> On Wed, 10 May 2006 20:32:29 -0400, DonLogan <xxx@> wrote:
>>>
>>>>I don't see anything about change intervals for brake fluid in my
>>>>owners book (93 4runner). Any recommendations - miles - months? Can't
>>>>last forever, one wouldn't think.
>>>>thanks
>>>
>>> I change it every 2 years, but that's overkill. It's cheap and easy to
>>> do. At the maximum I would say 4 years but that's probably pushing it.
>>> If you don't do it you will likely be awarded with costly abs repairs.
>>>[/color]
>>
>>I disagree that it is likely that a vehicle will need ABS repairs if the
>>fluid is not changed after 4 years. I have yet to see or hear of an ABS[/color]
>
> I didn't say after 4 years. I said if you don't do it. read.[/color]

I didn't say the ABS would fail after 4 year either. read. ;-)
[color=blue]
>[color=green]
>>actuator needing replacement for any reason, let alone due to the lack of
>>brake fluid changes. On the other hand, I have seen calipers and brake
>>cylinders get corroded due to lack of fluid changes.[/color]
>
> I've seen several abs systems that broke down. All of them had never
> had the brake fluid replaced. People think cars only need oil changes.
>[/color]

What broke down in the ABS systems you saw? What model vehicles? BTW, I
agree on the need to change brake fluid.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

On Thu, 11 May 2006 22:27:10 -0700, RT <noyabusiness@yahoo.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>If you don't do it you will likely be awarded with costly abs repairs.[/color]

Not those of us that don't have or care to have ABS.....

--

Scott in Florida