How often does the brake fluid need changing?

mrsmortenharket

Just booked car on for MOT & service.

Just want to make sure I'm not being ripped off.

Told me also needed brake fluid & air con needed doing.

He said it needs doing every 2 years. Was last done 2 years ago.

Husband having heart failure as we also need the cam belt done!

Thank you.

fivetide

Two years is about right. I believe that it (in laymans terms) gets contaminated with water which means it can boil in the pipes and reduces effectiveness.

Likewise coolant/antifreeze is usually every two years but that can also be checked to see if it is still operating within tolerances. (I have had that done in the past which delayed the change for a year)

bikingbarney

Most car makers recommend changing the brake fluid every two years so that is right however the aircon is a sealed unit so shouldnt really need changing unless you notice that its not getting cold any more.

mrsmortenharket

Thank you both.

The brake fluid is more important to me than the air con.

Frozen_up_north

Some garages check the brake fluid and only change it if it's contaminated...

mrsmortenharket

Thats handy to know Frozen, thanks.

keith1950

They are only recommendations , I have never bothered having brake fluid changed in the 3.5 million miles I have so far covered !

Ultrasonic

mrsmortenharket wrote: »

He said it needs doing every 2 years. Was last done 2 years ago.

If you have a look in the service book for your car it will probably tell you what the manufacturer recommended. It's two years for my car, so as others have said that sounds reasonable.

photome

keith1950 wrote: »

They are only recommendations , I have never bothered having brake fluid changed in the 3.5 million miles I have so far covered !

Me neither, as you say it is a recommendation, I didn't think anyone actually had it changed

paddedjohn

As an ex mechanic and mot inspector I have never once in my life had cause to change the brake fluid on any car I ever worked on unless I was doing major work on the system.

fivetide

I think I've had it changed once, mainly as I was having it all done, discs, pads, etc so seems to make sense.

That and I've been in a car that did boil the fluid (towing and hills) so err on the side of caution since then.