vdavenp802

I just read an article in CorvetteFever (March), which the author stated you should change brake fluid every three years - regardless. Never heard that. Anyone do this? (I know you're out there).
What does the manual say? I'd check but got it in storage for the winter. About 2' of snow on the ground, covered by .5" of ice.
Not the best Corvette weather .
Antifreeze I do change at 3 year intervals. Not brake fluid.

Joe_Planet

i do it after almost every track event haha! if you dont track the car you can let it go for longer, but you'll get a mushier pedal and if you ever have to actually make many stops you can lose the brake pedal due to fluid boiling. its cheap to do and is a good preventative maintenance

ByByBMW

BMW recommends it every two years and I have used the rule on all my cars, BMW or not.

gordonb50

I guess everyone has their own ideas of what should be done. I do change mine every 3 years. But, something I do between those changes is remove the fluid from the master cylinder and replace with new fluid every year, normally around April or May. Get one of those cheap turkey basters at the grocery store to suck it out of the cylinder. Works very well and is very easy. Takes 5 minutes.

Wayne O

To the best of my knowledge the owner's manual does not specify a specific (time) schedule for changing brake fluid but IMO it's a good idea to do. I feel clean, fresh fluid is better than older, dirtier fluid. For all practical purposes you can change the brake fluid yourself but to completely flush the brake fluid a Tech 2 tool is needed to exercise the ABS circuits. I bleed the brakes and change fluid fairly often due to how I use the car...every so often I have a shop completely flush the system and change fluid.

lsbrodsky

What Wayne said! The high end euro car manufacturers recommend every two years, mostly due to possible moisture problems in ABS components. I had my dealer do a full flush at the 2 year point, seems like cheap insurance for $105.

Larry

Glennm27

My Brake fluid is changed at least once a year, sometimes more frequently. I guess it depends on how you use our car.. I need fresh DOT 4 or 5 fluid in there all the time....

Cooling system, no more than 2 years, but that's because this Dexcool crap and the stories associated with it scares me some...

george vee

What kind of fluid is best to use for street use?

Top_Fuel

I change the fluid in all of my cars about once a year. Yeah...it's probably overkill...but a tall can of brake fluid is only a few bucks. If you install a set of Speed Bleeders, changing brake fluid is an easy one-man job.

Like someone else said, you will need a scan tool to completely flush out the ABS unit...which I might have done every 2-3 years.

Bandit1

I change mine along with the other fluids every 30k miles. I use AMSOIL synthetic fluid. Valvoline also makes a good synthetic brake fluid, easily found in just about any parts store.

vdavenp802

I've read DOT 3 has been used by GM for 50 years or so. DOT 4 I think is okay but NOT DOT 5. (CorvetteFever)

Dudeurgettnavette

If the "manual" doesn't say to change it, there's no reason to.

Ounce

On my '05 Malibu, I had it changed after 5 years with 80K on the clock. I was told old fluid screws with the ABS system, making it inoperable. You still have brakes, just not ABS. HTH.


oz

Road Rage

Asian makers recommend every 3 years. I've done it every 2 years for every vehicle I've owned for over 10 years now. The fluid doesn't know what car it's in. I had this discussion in here last year, got called many names so I'm stopping now.

mksz51

Wrong. Brake fluid is hygroscopic - attracts moisture. Not good longterm.

Dudeurgettnavette

How often does the "manual" say to change it?

Dans C6

can you just use a turkey baster to suck out the old fluid? and then fill it up to the fill line?

silvervettesyco

The manual doesn't say to change tires or windshield either .Come on man BREAK FLUID CHANGE.GOOD Common sense!

mksz51

It also doesn't recommend to not shift into reverse at 80 MPH - does that mean that's OK?

Sorry - but it's pointless to pursue something when you're wrong......

GotChrist?

Brake Fluid is Hygroscopic - it absorbs water and will cause rust on the components. GM has rec'd this for many years that I'm aware of.