Brake Fluid Change Not Required?

[PurdyStone]

I was watching a YouTube video today (Jay Leno's Garage: Mustang Mach E GT Performance Edition ). Jay Leno is interviewing the Ford Director of Future Electric Vehicles and at 14:30 in the video, He states that brake fluid changes are not required on the Mach E !
I would tend to agree since the brakes minimally used during normal driving. Comments?

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[macchiaz-o]

I dunno, man. If you speak with certain service advisors, they'll tell you your car is critically overdue for a brake fluid change even though you arrived on a bicycle.

In all seriousness, though, he misspoke. Ford recommends replacing brake fluid every three years.

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/...A&div=f&vFilteringEnabled=False&buildtype=web

That said, I owned each of my prior vehicles for at least 7 years and roughly 100k miles, and never replaced brake fluid. I probably should've though. ?‍

 

[Mach-Lee]

Brake fluid is hygroscopic and absorbs moisture from the air over time in every vehicle that uses it, including the Mach-E. So yes it still needs to get changed every 3-5 years. I have a moisture tester and change the fluid in my vehicles when the water content gets too high.

 

[Teslaeata]

Brake fluid is hygroscopic and absorbs moisture from the air over time in every vehicle that uses it, including the Mach-E. So yes it still needs to get changed every 3-5 years. I have a moisture tester and change the fluid in my vehicles when the water content gets too high.

Bang-on, well advised.

Most makers say 2yr yrs, just had mine done at 2yrs 60k.

The possible consequence of not changing brake fluid regularly is vapour locking under prolonged & heavy braking and brake failure, ignore at your and everybody else’s peril.

 

[v8318cid]

This is purely my own opinion, based upon my own experiences so take it for what its worth to you. Brake fluid service seems to be the most heavily pushed by non-US manufacturers. I've had vehicles with between 150k and 200k with the original brake fluid and had no issues beyond the fluid being really dark. Granted, some of these predated ABS and didn't seem as sensitive to old/contaminated fluid. With newer technologies, including ABS, traction control, etc (many of which still rely on the ABS hydraulic unit), however, I would probably recommend regular fluid exchanges regardless of manufacturer. This carries more significance if you start to see visible fluid degradation (vehicles that share a reservoir between the brakes and the clutch seemed more prone to this; i.e. 2005 Chevy Cavalier w/ 5spd manual had a shared reservoir and had visibly dirty fluid within 10k miles). A little bit of caution doesn't hurt. Even a simple syphon and refill of the brake master cylinder can still help extend the fluid life in the short term if time/cost prevents having a full exchange performed.

 

[MG101]

Brake fluid service seems to be the most heavily pushed by non-US manufacturers.

Agreed.
Just a though but it has something to do with claiming our car has lower maintenace costs than their car.

 

[squirrels2nuts]

you really have nothing else to maintain on the mach-e, might as well change it out since the dang thing weighs 5000lbs and you want to be able to stop on a dime (and also recharge)

 

[Teslaeata]

This is purely my own opinion, based upon my own experiences so take it for what its worth to you. Brake fluid service seems to be the most heavily pushed by non-US manufacturers. I've had vehicles with between 150k and 200k with the original brake fluid and had no issues beyond the fluid being really dark. Granted, some of these predated ABS and didn't seem as sensitive to old/contaminated fluid. With newer technologies, including ABS, traction control, etc (many of which still rely on the ABS hydraulic unit), however, I would probably recommend regular fluid exchanges regardless of manufacturer. This carries more significance if you start to see visible fluid degradation (vehicles that share a reservoir between the brakes and the clutch seemed more prone to this; i.e. 2005 Chevy Cavalier w/ 5spd manual had a shared reservoir and had visibly dirty fluid within 10k miles). A little bit of caution doesn't hurt. Even a simple syphon and refill of the brake master cylinder can still help extend the fluid life in the short term if time/cost prevents having a full exchange performed.

Please, please, please, everybody, heed Mach-Lee’s & other professional advice and ALWAYS defer to the Manufacturer’s specifications.

Safety is paramount.

You won’t “see” degradation of brake fluid.

That you see dark coloured brake fluid means it’s already overdue changing because that is contamination by wear/corrosion residue which can or is already wearing the inside your brake components.

You only suffer brake failure due to vapour lock once because you, and whoever you hit are dead afterwards and you can’t see vapour contamination or predict when vapour lock will strike.

I’m afraid changing some fluid from the reservoir will have very little effect because brake fluid don’t circulate but sits in the lines so you have no idea what condition the brake fluid is in the lines, brake wheel units and other parts so full brake fluid changes, flushing right through with fresh is essential when recommended.

There are a whole load of crap which dealers do try and up-sell to enhance their profit margin on stuff like engine & fuel system Flushes, a/con antibacterial treatment etc etc

As a professional forensic vehicle examiner I will advise such up-sells are not necessary, by all means buy them if it makes you feel good but they do no actual proven good irrespective what those who sell them tell us.

I always ask the question of a dealer attempting an up-sell “is that YOUR recommendation or the Manufacturers?” And when they say because they have to admit certain items are their recommendations I instruct them to do only what the car maker recommends.

Hey, let’s be careful & sensible out there!

 

[Teslaeata]

Friendly advice?

 

[RickMachE]

Bang-on, well advised.

Most makers say 2yr yrs, just had mine done at 2yrs 60k.

The possible consequence of not changing brake fluid regularly is vapour locking under prolonged & heavy braking and brake failure, ignore at your and everybody else’s peril.

Can you cite that "most makers say 2 years"? I've never heard that. Nor any mileage specification.

I can say that I've never changed the brake fluid on any vehicle I've ever owned. Mach-E is every 3 years (mileage is NOT specified). Same for Lightning. My 2013 F-150 has no mention of it.

GM's Cadillac Escalade manual says every 5 years.

 

[Teslaeata]

Can you cite that "most makers say 2 years"? I've never heard that. Nor any mileage specification.

I can say that I've never changed the brake fluid on any vehicle I've ever owned. Mach-E is every 3 years (mileage is NOT specified). Same for Lightning. My 2013 F-150 has no mention of it.

GM's Cadillac Escalade manual says every 5 years.

I could “cite” but not prepared to go though every manufacturers’ recommendations just to answer forum chat.

This is the general advice of publications & other more professional sources in UK, at any rate which does reflect Manufacturers’ specifications:

https://haynes.com/en-gb/tips-tutorials/brake-fluid-change-how-much-and-how-often

You already cited sufficient to prove that brake fluid should be changed regularly and there is by definition a need for that.

That is the important thing, not necessarily whether it’s 2, 3 or 5 years which may alter between areas of different climate.

 

[superdave80]

So yes it still needs to get changed every 3-5 years.

I have had vehicles for 18, 12, and 8 years, and I've never changed the brake fluid. I MIGHT have changed it once on the 18 year car, but I can't remember that far back...

 

[Scarpia]

I have had vehicles for 18, 12, and 8 years, and I've never changed the brake fluid. I MIGHT have changed it once on the 18 year car, but I can't remember that far back...

Yup, and some people smoke 3 packs a day for 50 years and don't get cancer.
Probably better not to chance it. Changing brake fluid is not that expensive.

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