Do you think it is unnecessary to change the brake fluid in your car? Read on and learn some reasons why it may be a good idea to flush the old brake fluid and replace it with new brake fluid periodically.

The Risk of Freezing

The brake fluid in your car may absorb moisture gradually because of air that gets trapped at the top of the brake fluid reservoir when you top up the fluid. As temperatures drop, that moisture can freeze and cause the brake master cylinder to fail. Some moisture can also get into the brake lines when you have a leak in the system. Periodic brake fluid changes can protect the brake system from being damaged by freezing moisture in the brake fluid.

The Risks of Boiling Moisture

As you drive, the brakes of your car get hot. Brake fluid is designed to withstand that heat generated. However, other moisture does not have the same heat resistance as the brake fluid. Thus, the moisture trapped in the brake fluid may boil and turn into vapour. This vapour can reduce the effectiveness of the brakes.

Risks to ABS System Components

Many carmakers now equip vehicles with an anti-lock braking system (ABS) so that car handling is not compromised when you brake hard. The ABS system prevents the tyres from locking. This reduces the chance that the vehicle will spin out of control due to sudden braking at high speeds. The ABS mechanism relies on several components, such as accumulators and sensors. Those components may corrode once they are exposed to moisture in the brake fluid. Such corrosion may deactivate the anti-lock braking system. It may be very expensive and time-consuming to repair those components so that your braking system functions in the way it was designed to perform. Changing the brake fluid periodically may be a more affordable way to prevent such costly brake repairs.

As you can see, not only engine oil and coolant need to be changed frequently. Moisture poses serious risks to your vehicle's braking system so the brake fluid should also be changed regularly. How frequently should this fluid change be done? Each vehicle is driven in a different environment. It is therefore hard to determine how frequently the brake fluid should be changed unless you ask a mechanic to analyse that fluid. That analysis will give you a more accurate prediction of when you should change the brake fluid.

Share