How often do you change brake fluid?

Been calling around on behalf of my wife’s CR-V to get the brake fluid changed. The maintenance minder system (Honda’s internal system) says it’s time. I don’t know how it figures that but I know it’s not just based on miles.

A couple places just gave me a price. Two, however, wanted to know why. One let it go when I said the system said so. The other did not. He was real skeptical of it. Said he has never changed e bake fluid in any of his cars as it should be a completely sealed system. His caveat was if there was foreign fluid added or a system failure.

I was hot to trot to change the speed’s brake fluid. I heard that it’s something to be done every two years. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe that’s an old school thing that’s outdated now.

What say you all?

Side note: this is for non-track cars, etc as those are special circumstances.


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The mechanics around you suck. Thats a lot of bad info.

You SHOULD bleed your brake fluid once a year to keep your brakes tight and your pedal firm. It is not the end of the world if you let it go for 2 years.

FYI, most brake systems are not completely sealed. They have a breather slit or hole on the brake cap to allow the brake fluid to fill the master cylinder as the fluid compresses into the lines and calipers without hesitation. Think of a straw with your finger on one end, if its sealed completely the fluid wont move.

The biggest issue's with brake fluid are moisture contamination via breather vents over time, and cooking from brake temps due to use.

Your Honda more than likely had a countdown for brake fluid service, unless they got fancy and added some sensor to detect moisture content and temperature.

 

Well aside from moisture there are small deposits of rubber and copper that build up in the system. I usually flush mine every 2 years but I am lazy when it comes to that.

 

I vaguely remember reading a manufacturer recommendation to flush it after the first 5 years and every 2 years after that.

 

The answer is not never and it's not all the time. At the very least you should flush it every few years

 

thanks all. i'm gonna do it myself. my biggest crutch is not having a 2nd person handy. however, i have a new neighbor who may be willing to assist. i do have an auto bleeder for the mazda (which i also have to do) but i'm sure i'll fuck that up.

the honda requires (or strongly suggests) using dot 3 heavy duty brake fluid from honda. fine.

what type do y'all use? it's been too long for me to recall what i bought. maybe prestone is good nuff. i dunno.

 

I pretty much use pentosin super dot 4 on all of my vehicles, it's (relatively) cheap and has a pretty high boiling point. Compatible with dot3 applications as well.

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Wife's Merc suv got "OEM dot 4" from Canadian Tire works just fine, I had pentosin super dot 4 in her BMW before it got wrecked it's the superior product and will probably swap her Merc to it once it's due again.
Ps for tracking etc if you use the speed ATE typ 200 will do you nicely.

I find I bleed mine every couple of years along with the clutch to keep everything firm.

 

I’ve never heard of Pentosin. I’m not really up on the brake fluid game. I’ll look into that for the speed.


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alright, time for someone to hold my hand:

Pentosin 1224116 Dot 4 LV Brake Fluid or Pentosin 1204116 Super Dot 4 Brake Fluid?

i'm assuming we can use DOT4. not sure if LV is necessary or not.

 

Super dot 4

 

LV seems to be mostly for bitter cold kind of applications, can't say I've ever had my brake lines freeze up but then again it doesn't get that cold here in the sunny pacific northwest

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yeah wasn't quite sure when that would matter. it does get cold here (not arctic, but cold) but i won't be driving the mazda in the winter anyways. should be good with that super dot. #modsList

 

I see -45 here in the winter no issues.