Brake Fluid Change

Nodding_Donkey

I think £30 is well reasonable. I charge £30 + brake fluid if it's done as part of a service. Any bleed nipples that are rounded or shear off are charged extra.

EdGasket

Nodding_Donkey wrote: »

I think £30 is well reasonable. I charge £30 + brake fluid if it's done as part of a service. Any bleed nipples that are rounded or shear off are charged extra.

It is reasonable but how will you know they have actually done it?

I've known people who have taken a car in for service and pre-marked the oil filter and finding it hasn't been changed; someone else's oil was still dirty after a service. Another person left a coin inside the wheel after dropping car off for the MoT, When he got back, car and coin were in the same position but the car now had a year's MoT ! These examples aren't internet trawls; they are from people I personally know.

Nodding_Donkey

In our case most services etc are done while the customer waits so they actually see what happens. We have to have someone to make the tea

gilbert_and_sullivan

Nodding_Donkey wrote: »

In our case most services etc are done while the customer waits so they actually see what happens. We have to have someone to make the tea

Quite and some customers/visitors don't have a clue.

I always offer to make the tea for the lads when i visit the tyre workshops for my work.

And i always whenever possible steam clean my lorry, including steam cleaning the underside as much as possible, before dropping it off for inspection/service, call it courtesy if you like.
Its not coincidence that every single little job is done on mine without me having to ask, unlike some of the others which go there thick with road grime salt and grease 6" thick under the 5th wheel.

Do the same with my cars, as clean as possible top and undersides before dropping them off, would anyone want to work in road filth, sweet wrappers, knee deep in fag ends and general detritus, if you do don't expect any favours.

If you're discourteous to people expect it back in kind..

fred246

I love this page from Pagid
http://www.pagid.com/news/why-test-brake-fluid
Brake Fluid Testing - The Sales Opportunity
Brake Fluid Change = Increased Revenue & Profit.
It's up to the individual to decide why suddenly garages are suggesting everybody needs their brake fluid changed.

forgotmyname

Lots of arguments when they changed the brake fluid from the DOT3 stuff.

DOT 3 absorbs the water/moisture and lowers its boiling point, So they recommend changing it every 2 years.

The modern stuff didnt absorb moisture so where does any moisture that gets into the system go?

AdrianC

forgotmyname wrote: »

Lots of arguments when they changed the brake fluid from the DOT3 stuff.

DOT 3 absorbs the water/moisture and lowers its boiling point, So they recommend changing it every 2 years.

The modern stuff didnt absorb moisture so where does any moisture that gets into the system go?

DOT4 and DOT5.1 are still hygroscopic, with higher wet and dry boiling points, and still need changing every two years.
DOT5 (and Citroen's green LHM) aren't hygroscopic, so the moisture doesn't get into the fluid from the atmosphere in the first place, to then be dispersed throughout the system.

EdGasket

AdrianC wrote: »

DOT4 and DOT5.1 are still hygroscopic, with higher wet and dry boiling points, and still need changing every two years.

Nah, only if you drive like you are on a racetrack.

AdrianC

EdGasket wrote: »

Nah, only if you drive like you are on a racetrack.

...and round we go again...

(If you're going to justify slacking off on routine maintenance on those grounds, why stop at brake fluid?)

londonTiger

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Not necessarily, Colino.

If they were quoting £30 as a separate job then you're probably right but, if it's in the air and wheels off anyway for a service then it's only 5 minutes and a litre or so of fluid to connect up a pressure bleeder, crack the nipples, and pump the fluid through.

In that situation, £30 is money for old rope!

considering:
*brake fluid cots £10 and also has high disposal costs as they're toxic chemicals.
*calipers are usually caked in debris
*nipples are often seized and require penetration oil treatment
*Business has overheads, rents rates etc

How much would you charge for a job like this if you're a mechanic?


MSE have extremely poor assumption on what things cost: "yeah it's easy job mate, 5 minute job mate, I'll give you a fiver for it"