Ford brake fluid and coolant

egyptiancotton

Hello!

The brake fluid and coolant is due to be changed on my trusty Ford Fiesta. There's a garage local to me, who have had rave reviews on the Good Garage Scheme's website (they are Citroen/Peugeot specialist) who can change the brake fluid and coolant for me on my car. I mentioned that the Haynes manual for the car and the Ford manual says that the brake fluid and coolant has to conform to a certain Ford specification. The co-owner of the garage quite confidently said that it's all the same stuff and they don't purchase rubbish.

The Day's garage local to me can do the same job but for £10 more. I'll have peace of mind knowing that the proper fluids have been used that conform to the Ford specifications.

I'm tempted to go with the cheaper garage but is it really a case of that all brake fluid and coolant is the same (e.g. all DOT 4 brake fluid is the same, and all coolant is the same)?

Thanks in advance.

Retrogamer

Most Dot 4 fluid is compatible with other Dot 4 fluid so that shouldn't be too much of a problem i'd have thought, but worth checking what type Ford recommend and see if it's unique or not in any way. Dot 5 is where the problems start due to it being silicone based. Don't mix that in any way at all.

Coolant i'd only use the recommended stuff personally. Different manufacturers tend to use different stuff (i only use VAG G12 in mines for example (Ibiza TDi) , but my old car was generic 2 year / Blue stuff (99 Corsa TD)

For £10 as piece of mind i'd just go for that to be honest.

Horizon81

All good garage schemes have rave reviews. It's a joke and don't be taken in by it.

I have no idea what a Days garage is. Is it Ford?

I wouldnt worry about the quality of the coolant and brake fluid.

egyptiancotton

Horizon81 wrote: »

All good garage schemes have rave reviews. It's a joke and don't be taken in by it.

I have no idea what a Days garage is. Is it Ford?

I wouldnt worry about the quality of the coolant and brake fluid.

The Day's garage is a Ford garage. Sorry, forgot to mention.

BeenThroughItAll

For the sake of a tenner? Get Ford to do it.

egyptiancotton

Thanks for the advice, all.

Ford said £35 including VAT, labour and fluids for the brake fluid. £29.99 including VAT, labour and fluids for the coolant. I think it's a pretty fair price!

Edit: For info, the other local garage quoted £55 for both.

AdrianC

lloydyyy wrote: »

but is it really a case of that all brake fluid and coolant is the same (e.g. all DOT 4 brake fluid is the same, and all coolant is the same)?

DOT4 is the bog-standard industry standard brake fluid spec. Only a very small subset of cars use anything else.

There's two basic types of coolant - blue/green glycol or red/pink OAT. Unless it specifies OAT in particular (VW G12 included), then just go with what's in there now. Glycol needs replacing more frequently, and is less effective as a corrosion inhibitor. OAT is more expensive. If you're going to switch from one to t'other (say, it's got blue in but specifies red), then get it flushed through several times to reduce the mixing - a mix can gel and block the rad/heater.

But the specialist garage will certainly know all of that. If your Fiesta's a recent diesel, then the engine may well be very familiar to the Pug/Cit specialist anyway, since some of the engines were shared between PSA and Ford.

Personally, I'd go with the indie - they're almost certain to be experienced and time-served mechanics who've moved on from learning the ropes in a dealership, and they've got a greater personal incentive to retain your loyalty - plus I generally prefer to give my money to local independent businesses than corporates.

egyptiancotton

AdrianC wrote: »

If your Fiesta's a recent diesel, then the engine may well be very familiar to the Pug/Cit specialist anyway, since some of the engines were shared between PSA and Ford.

My Fiesta is a 2008/08 model with the odd bubble headlights

paddedjohn

I cant see what the big deal is regarding brake fluid, I served my time many many years ago and have owned a good few vehicles in my time and I have never renewed the brake fluid on either my own vehicle or a customers unless I was working on the system. I know it all looks good on paper about the fluid holding water but in my mind its all a con.

spacey2012

Expect a long list of deadly faults that need urgent attention to be discovered, that much so they do not want you to drive the car home.

AdrianC

paddedjohn wrote: »

I cant see what the big deal is regarding brake fluid, I served my time many many years ago and have owned a good few vehicles in my time and I have never renewed the brake fluid on either my own vehicle or a customers unless I was working on the system. I know it all looks good on paper about the fluid holding water but in my mind its all a con.

It most certainly isn't a con. Not only have I had neglected "wet" brake fluid boil - always at inopportune moments - but "wet" fluid is the greatest cause of calipers and wheel cylinders needing to be replaced. It's cheap, it's quick - providing the bleed nips aren't seized due to the numpty before you neglecting the fluid changes - so why _wouldn't_ you?