Has anyone replaced brake fluid when your Mach e turns into 3 years old?

[Space_Pony]

I do all my vehicles every 2 years. It's so simple & inexpensive to DIY, and I've worked on enough corroded brake systems over the years, why not avoid that if possible? Of course, the trouble won't show up until years down the road, so I'm helping out the next owner(s). But I also enjoy this type of work, so to each their own. If I were paying someone to do it, I probably wouldn't. ?

I assume there's a little more to it than just flushing the brake fluid like I do with my old trucks. Is there a technical procedure that has to be followed?

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[dalola]

I assume there's a little more to it than just flushing the brake fluid like I do with my old trucks. Is there a technical procedure that has to be followed?

You can do a straight "old fashioned" bleed-out, and just bypass the ABS solenoids. The "technical" method will cycle the solenoids to capture that fluid as well. But, if you change fluid every couple years, and cycle your ABS in the winter months, I think it's just as effective as the "technical" method. The key is to stay ahead of schedule, and repetitive. I use an air compressor powered vacuum bleeder, and it works quite well.

 

[MoonRiver]

Interesting - for my 2024, I don't see anything anywhere regarding brake fluid maintenance (other than "fill if necessary") - the owners manual shows this for "Scheduled Maintenance" :

...and in the online maintenance schedule (from the first image above at https://www.ford.com/support/maintenance-schedule/) it shows this for the "odd" 10k, 30k, 50k, etc maintenance schedule :

...with the "even" 20k, 40k, 60k showing this (basically adding a "Replace the cabin filter") :

This goes on totally unchanged until the "final" maintenance schedule at 200k, which states to also "Change the coolant" :

Replacing your 2024 to my 2022 in ford.com site basically came up with the same thing, it differs from the PDF version. I guess Ford thinks the replacement is unnecessary. That gives me another reason of do-nothing.

 

[Ravensfan1996]

I had mine done at around 3 years, was getting a recall done and had them do that also.

 

[superdave80]

My previous cars years/miles: 18yr/250k, 12yr/200k, 10yr/140k, 6yr/100k. I have never once done anything to the brake fluid.

 

[StevenC56]

My previous cars years/miles: 18yr/250k, 12yr/200k, 10yr/140k, 6yr/100k. I have never once done anything to the brake fluid.

I heard that all the time when I was in service at both auto and motorsports. Like a few people have mentioned, conventional brake fluid is hydroscopic. This happens even if your vehicle sits in garage and never gets driven. That's why most manufacturers recommended fluid changes are by time, not mileage. You have been fortunate that you haven't had an failures on you previous vehicles. When questioning customers about brake issues I found out that master and wheel cylinders and/or calipers had to be replaced somewhere along the way. Even rubber brake hose blowouts! They'd still say they never had their fluid flushed and that had nothing to do with the failures. Classic.

 

[MoonRiver]

The moisture in the fluid not only just erodes the brake line but the more dangerous scenario is that when one drives down a long downhill, having to apply the brake for a long time, then the brake gets heat up to the water boiling point resulting the moisture in the brake vaporized, forming air bubbles, then the hydraulic pressure can no longer transfer to the caliber cylinder, at that point the braking is gone.
In case of an EV the chance of applying brake for a long time is much less though.

 

[pikepilot]

how much would it typically cost to flush and replace at a Ford dealer?

 

[StevenC56]

Maybe 3 years is a bit short on an EV all things considered, but never is not the correct path. Maybe 3-5 years is more in line.

 

[shelnian]

When I went in for my 20Kmile checkup, they indicated my cabin filter needed replacing at 30K. Nothing about the brake fluid replacement at 3 years.

 

[StevenC56]

Some shops just never even think about it for some reason. In the motorcycle business, it's a huge deal and always recommended. Some motorcycle manufacturers even recommend it annually depending on the brake system and components.

 

[SXBB]

I just had the 23B12 CSP done which unfortunately took exactly a month for my awesome dealer to get done. While it was sitting there waiting for parts for the CSP, I had them do the brake flush & replace which came to $240 including parts & labor.

 

[Teslaeata]

Its manual calls for it. Mine will be three in a couple of weeks. I tested the fluid with a ITEQ Brake Fluid Liquid Tester Pen. It oked it. So I'm not doing anything with it.

What do you guys think?

Manufacturer says do it so do it, it’s a preventative measure.

 

[Teslaeata]

I have never replaced brake fluid in a vehicle, so no, I'm not doing it.

Never seen anybody who died by not maintaining a car properly write on these forums ?

 

[Teslaeata]

You can do a straight "old fashioned" bleed-out, and just bypass the ABS solenoids. The "technical" method will cycle the solenoids to capture that fluid as well. But, if you change fluid every couple years, and cycle your ABS in the winter months, I think it's just as effective as the "technical" method. The key is to stay ahead of schedule, and repetitive. I use an air compressor powered vacuum bleeder, and it works quite well.

Noooooooooooo

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