What is the method for replacing brake fluid in an electric vehicle?
2 Answers
Replacing the brake fluid in an electric vehicle involves the following steps: 1. Open the car's hood and locate the brake fluid reservoir; 2. Remove the reservoir cap and inspect the quality of the brake fluid; 3. Use a syringe to extract all the old brake fluid from the reservoir and then add new brake fluid. Brake fluid has hygroscopic properties, and if not replaced for a long time, it can corrode the braking system, potentially creating safety hazards while driving. Since absorbed moisture lowers the boiling point of brake fluid, it can lead to insufficient braking pressure and affect the vehicle's braking performance. It is recommended that owners replace the brake fluid every two years or every 40,000 kilometers.
As a DIY enthusiast who enjoys working on my own car, I recently changed the brake fluid in my electric vehicle and felt quite accomplished. The first step was preparing the tools: purchasing the appropriate DOT 4 brake fluid, a simple brake bleeder wrench, a clean container, and gloves. I made sure the EV was parked on level ground, the parking brake was engaged, and the auxiliary battery was disconnected to prevent accidental startup. Next, I opened the hood to locate the brake fluid reservoir and removed the old fluid. Then, starting from the wheels—typically the rear wheel bleeder valve—I connected the bleeder pump and had a friend help press the brake pedal while slowly adding new fluid to the reservoir. At the same time, I opened the bleeder valve to let the old fluid drain into the container until new fluid appeared. This process was repeated for each wheel. Finally, I checked that the brake pedal returned properly with no air bubbles. The entire process took about an hour, with extra care taken to avoid splashing the fluid due to its corrosive nature. After finishing, I made sure to recycle the old fluid. Doing it myself saved over 200 yuan in labor costs and gave me a deeper understanding of my car's details.
