Why You Need to Change Your Brake Fluid Regularly

The brakes of any vehicle are a critical safety feature that should undergo regular maintenance to ensure they perform as efficiently as possible.

If they do not work efficiently, they may not be able to slow down or stop a vehicle more effectively.

While this may seem obvious, many drivers still choose to ignore this important factor and fail to change their brake fluid or service their hydraulics as often as required.

Since the brakes are placed under the car, they tend to be more exposed to harsh elements of the environment, such as dust, water, and humidity.

During the winter season, for instance, the roads tend to be much wetter, making the brakes more susceptible to damage by liquids and trapped dirt.

brake fluid

What Does Brake Fluid Do or Why is it Important?

Brake fluid is ideally hydraulic fluid used to power movement. It is effective in moving components in a typical braking system under high pressures.

This makes it even more important to ensure the brake fluid works more effectively because it tends to become more ineffective over time.

It needs to be changed regularly because it tends to absorb moisture and water from the surrounding environment. Even under high pressure, it cannot be compressed. Although it has a boiling point, the heat generated from the brakes is not sufficient to cause boiling.

How often should you change your brake fluid?

According to motor vehicles mechanics and experts, this fluid should be changed every two years.

Motorists are also advised to check their manufacturers’ requirements regarding brake fluid replacement. However, you should not wait for 2 years or 24, 000 miles to elapse before you have it checked, especially if suspect a leak because a lack of this fluid could major problems. Mechanics also do test the fluid’s boiling point to determine its effectiveness.

Brake Failure Related to Brake Fluid

If you have low levels of this braking system component in the master cylinder then the performance of your system may be affected.

This is common when you press the brake pedal to the floor but does not respond as much to slow down or stop the vehicle. Checking the level of this component to ensure it has not dropped too low could make all the difference. This problem is often easy to fix because all you have to do is top up the component and your car will perform as effectively as it should.

Avoid Fluid Contamination . . .

However, avoid contaminating the fluid in the master cylinder when topping up because this might lead to further problems. This form of contamination is common and could reduce the efficiency of the braking system.

Water and dust particles can get inside the fluid and change its performance or ability to withstand the high amount of pressure applied during braking. Water is the most common contaminant and can be dangerous when it freezes inside your car’s braking lines.

Therefore, whether you are in London, Kent, Essex, or Heathrow, you can work with a reliable mechanic to ensure your car’s braking system is working efficiently by changing the brake fluid regularly.

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