Clean brake fluid is essential
Q. I own a 2013 Nissan Altima and the service guide says to change the braked fluid at 15,000 miles. One of the fast lube places wants to "suck" out the brake fluid, which makes no sense to me as I think that would damage the gaskets on the master cylinder. I would think you would need to to open the bleeder values to do this properly.
Do you really need to replace the brake fluid at 15,000 miles? Does brake fluid break down that much now?
A. The manufacturer does call for you to change the brake fluid in the Altima every 15,000 miles for severe service and 30,000 for normal conditions. Typically we recommend following the severe service guidelines because the driving we do around here falls into that category.
Over time, brake fluid does absorb moisture and also accumulates contaminants, which can be byproducts from seals wearing and such. The moisture will decrease your braking power and in certain situations could cause your brakes to fail. Any dirt and debris in the fluid becomes a wearing agent for the master cylinder, wheel cylinders, brake calipers and anti-lock components.
Whenever someone brings their street car to a racetrack to run it, one of the requirements is they have proof of a recent brake fluid service to a high-quality brake fluid. If any moisture is present, the brakes could fail as the fluid gets super heated in those severe racing conditions. One minute you could have a good brake pedal, the next minute it could feel as if there is nothing there.
For most cars, a general rule of thumb would be every 30,000 miles or at the time of a brake repair. If the manufacturer requires it earlier, do it earlier to keep the warranty in force. Any time the fluid is found to be contaminated or dirty, I recommend getting the fluid flushed.
As far as the procedure goes, you do want to remove the old fluid from the master cylinder and clean it out first. You want to avoid flushing any more of the dirty fluid through the system than you have to. Typically, the fluid is removed with some type of a suction tool.
Once the old fluid is out, and the master washed clean, than you flush clean fluid through the system until you get the fresh brake fluid coming out of the bleeder valve at each wheel. By doing this procedure at regular intervals, you always have a nice firm brake pedal and you reduce the risk of having to replace any of the expensive hydraulic components prematurely.
• Douglas Automotive is at 417 W. Main St., Barrington, (847) 381-0454, and 123 Virginia Road, Crystal Lake, (815) 356-0440. For information, visit douglasautomotive.com. Send questions to underthehood@dailyherald.com.