How to Check Brake Fluid at Stanley Ford Sweetwater
Sometimes your brakes are the only thing that stands between your vehicle and an accident. You need to have brakes that you can rely on for your safety and the safety of others. Since your brake system is one of the most important components, it’s essential to make sure it is functioning well. If you live in
Abilene,
Roscoe, or
Sweetwater,
Stanley Ford Sweetwater can help keep your brake system at peak performance with our brake fluid service.
Brake Fluid Function
Your brake fluid is a hydraulic fluid that lubricates and protects all the components of the system from corrosion, as well as helping you to stop and slow down whenever you need to. The brake fluid, in general, is glycol-ether based, but there are some brake fluids that are mineral oil and silicone-based. Your owner’s manual will tell you which brake fluid you should use for your vehicle. Using the wrong kind of fluid can cause serious damage to the brake system and your engine.
Frequency of Brake Fluid Purge
Purging your brake fluid and replacing it with fresh fluid is an important procedure to keep your brakes working the way they should. Your owner’s manual gives a recommended maintenance schedule for all maintainable parts and systems in your vehicle. Most recommend a brake fluid change about every 45,000 miles or between four to five years. However, there are times when the brake fluid may need to be changed early, and the following situations may warrant an early change.
- Fluid contaminants build up in your brake fluid over time, typically, these are small particles that build up over time, but they can cause some serious problems.
- Some brake fluids attract moisture which can corrode the system, rendering it less effective.
- Your traction control system and anti-lock brake systems are known to generate heat, and too much heat can cause the fluid to burn up, which will damage the system.
How to Check Brake Fluid
Your vehicle’s owner’s manual explains how to check your brake fluid, but the basic steps are:
- Find the fluid reservoir, which is usually a small clear plastic or white plastic tank that sits atop your brake system’s master cylinder.
- The lid to this tank likely has a dipstick attached to it, and on the dipstick are two lines, MAX and MIN, meaning maximum and minimum. The brake fluid should be between these lines.
- The color of your brake fluid tells a lot, and normal brake fluid will have a clear yellowish or clear reddish tint. If the fluid is brown or black, it needs to be purged and refilled.
Brake Fluid Service at Stanley Ford Sweetwater
Stanley Ford Sweetwater’s
service department has qualified technicians available to complete any maintenance service you need for your brake system. You can schedule a maintenance service with our easy
online scheduler. You can set up your appointment for brake fluid service to keep your vehicle’s performance at its best. Set up your appointment today!
