Is it necessary to change the brake fluid for a car?
3 Answers
The brake fluid in a car needs to be changed. The replacement steps are as follows: 1. First, park the car on level ground, turn off the engine, and engage the handbrake. 2. Use a jack to support the right rear of the car, remove the right rear wheel, locate the bleeder valve on the wheel cylinder, and attach a prepared 40 cm long rubber tube to the bleeder valve to prevent waste fluid from contaminating the ground or the car body. Place the other end of the tube into a wide-mouth bottle. 3. Use a small open-end wrench to hold the hexagon at the base of the bleeder valve. Have another person press the brake pedal inside the car, then turn the wrench counterclockwise. The waste fluid will start flowing into the wide-mouth bottle. When the flow noticeably weakens, turn the wrench clockwise and call out "release," at which point the person in the driver's seat should release the brake pedal. 4. Loosen the bleeder valve again and call out "press," and the person in the driver's seat should press the brake pedal again. Repeat this process four times, then have the driver exit the car and add new brake fluid to the brake fluid reservoir. After filling it, return to the driver's seat and continue the previous steps until the discharged waste fluid becomes clear, indicating that the new fluid has pushed out the old. Finally, turn the wrench clockwise and call out "release," and the driver should release the brake pedal. 5. Remove the rubber tube, clean the bleeder valve with a soft cloth, and have the driver press the brake pedal a few more times to check for any fluid leakage, ensuring the bleeder valve is tightly closed. Reinstall the right rear wheel, completing the bleeding process for one wheel cylinder.
Brake fluid definitely needs to be replaced! It's crucial for the stability of the braking system. I once went too long without changing it, and during an emergency stop, the braking power noticeably weakened—I almost rear-ended another car. Later, I found out it was due to the fluid deteriorating and absorbing moisture. In humid driving conditions or with frequent high-temperature braking, the fluid degrades even faster. Most vehicle manuals now explicitly recommend changing it every 2 years or 40,000 kilometers to prevent moisture buildup from lowering the boiling point and compromising safety. Don’t skimp on this small expense—just think about the risk of brake failure, and it’ll send chills down your spine. The right approach is to replace it on schedule.
I'd say changing brake fluid is essential. Over time, the fluid absorbs moisture, which lowers its boiling point and can make the brakes feel spongy during emergency stops, reducing braking power. Checking it is simple too – just have a mechanic test the moisture content with a tester pen to see if it needs changing. The cost is usually around 200-300 RMB, much cheaper than waiting until major components fail. Especially in areas with lots of rain like southern China, don’t slack on this. I once delayed changing it, and on the highway, the brakes felt unresponsive. The mechanic said the moisture content was too high, affecting performance, and changing it immediately fixed the issue. In short, developing good maintenance habits is always beneficial.
