Does the brake fluid really need to be changed every 2 years? Got the change fluid service light on and based on what I know it takes a special pump & tools to do it...

 

I've read a couple other posts on it; MINI certainly recommends it, to the point of having the BC alert you to this need every two years. The posts mention the ability of brake fluid to absorb water, the bad effect this has on brake fluid boiling point and corroding caliper parts, and so forth.

I don't know that a MINI braking system is especially prone to water absorption; it looks fairly sealed up in operation, certainly similar to other brands. Nor have I seen a side-by-side where MINI #1 was serviced every two years, MINI #2 was not, and a teardown of brake components was conducted out in year 8 or so to see which was in better condition.

Nonetheless, I decided to service this myself; bought a BavAuto kit for $60 and then I'll buy brake fluid locally when I do this. Everything I read made it seem this was pretty routine; you could do it with nothing special at all with some help: a friend to keep the fluid reservoir topped up, another friend to pump the brakes, with you opening each bleeder screw as required. The kit I bought replaces the need to line up some buddies, basically, by pressuring the reservoir so that new fluid from the pressurized tank flows whenever the bleeder screw is opened. There's another bottle with a hose connector for the bleeder screw to catch the old stuff. It looked pretty easy, and I'll time mine with a tire rotation; that way I'd have the wheels off already so that the bleeders are easy to get to.

 

Correct. This is a very easy job with a helper. Once you get the car off the ground, it takes about 10-15 mins. The helper holds the pedal down while you open then close the bleeder screw. Release the pedal and repeat. Fill the reservoir when it gets low. Move from the furthest from the reservoir to the closest.
The hardest part for me was being able to know when "NEW" fluid was being expelled from the bleeder. I searched for a different color of fluid in standard DOT4, but could only find amber.

 

As mentioned the change fluid service light goes on routinely as a reminder.

For all cars it is recommended to change brake fluid over time, two years is standard. Most people wait too long. Same goes for coolant change, every 24,000 miles or two years.

The more you need your brakes to work the more you need to change brake fluid as a routine maintenance practice. Owners that live on a steep hill or do performance driving regularly ought to change fluid regularly.

Some owners that do High Performance Driving events or go to the track will change brake fluid before going. Moisture in the brake fluid (normal thing that happens over time) or contamination can lead to brakes overheating under hard use, even when driving down steep hills.

see
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums...Number=2422005

 

2 years is overkill if you ask me. Until recently, no one changed brake fluid unless the brakes were physically serviced. It's a closed system, there is no water to absorb unless you have a leak.

 

Lots of people don't change it every 2 years and I haven't heard of any fiery car crashes yet. However, I would still do it. It's easy to do with yourself and a friend and requires no special tools except for a wrench, piece of tubing, and a funnel. And don't overtorque the bleeder screw. It doesn't take much torque to seal. Just don't let the fluid reservoir run dry whatever you do!

 

The reason for having 2 years as the standard for changing brake fluids has to do with the relative risk of moisture getting into the brake fluid for the general population of cars out on the roads.

While it is true that the system is closed, moisture is in the environment (sometimes to large degree as in where I live Hawaii but same for many southern states and Florida).
Moisture gets into the fluid every chance it has which is when the storage container is open, when the brake fluid is added or refilled, and through the brake lines. Brake fluid doesn't take long to soak up moisture in the air.

see
http://motocrossactionmag.com/Main/N...LUID-1843.aspx

HOW DOES WATER GET IN?


Hydraulic brake systems are sealed, so how does water get in? There is a good chance that the brake fluid was contaminated with H2O before you put it in your brakes. Or the moisture entered when the reservoir cover was off. It's even possible for hydroscopic fluids to pull moisture past the master cylinder diaphragm. As a matter of fact, cheap brake fluids are so hydroscopic (water attractive) that manufacturers have started to use Teflon brake hoses to keep moisture from being drawn through the rubber.

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I suppose it is possible to go longer than 2 years if you live in a very dry environment and you have a new car with little wear on the brake pads.

If you have a sportscar and brake parts are expensive, you would not want old brake fluid to start corrosion happening to your brake system. Simply brake fluid change would help reduce that risk. If you track your car you should do a brake fluid change yearly and upgrade your fluid to handle higher temperatures generated on the track.

 

As your brake pads wear, more and more brake fluid from the master cylinder reservoir backfills the brake lines and then into the caliper piston. Displaced brake fluid from the master cylinder is replaced with atmospheric air, which of course contains moisture (humidity). It is not a sealed system.

 

^^^ Bluebrat is correct.

You have not lived until you have boiled the fluid from repeated hard braking. Brake fluid is cheap & changing it out is easy to do. Why be cheap when your safety is at stake?

Brake systems are not sealed. The cap breaths, without the ability to breath once you pushed the brakes down they would not return & you'd have locked brakes.

 

You don't need any special tools to do the brake fluid change. Just leave the ignition off and do a normal manual pump and release to bleed the brakes like a normal car from the 50's no special tricks to it.

 

ATE Blue is no longer available in the US. Fortunately just after the ban was announced I bought 4 cans locally.

For me, I do a fluid exchange each year during my spring maintenance weekend. Blue to Amber or Amber to Blue. It’s a Zen thing for me that includes a full detail.

///Rich

 

I am a 2 year bleeder. I use a Motive bleeder and have had great success. Water loves to sink in a brake system. The low points being the caliper, I can prevent them seizing by changing fluid, and keeping piston boots intact and lubricated.