An ultimate guide: how often to change brake oil

Brake oil plays a key role in the transmission of pressure in the brake system, when we step on the brake pedal, the brake oil will transfer the force to the brake pump, the brake pad and the brake disc friction, so that the vehicle slows down until it stops. If there is a problem with brake oil, the performance of the brake system will be greatly reduced, seriously affecting driving safety.

Must-know: the importance of brake oil

Brake oil, also known as brake fluid, is the medium that transmits pressure in the hydraulic brake system. When you press down on the brake pedal, the brake oil is passed through the brake pipe to the piston in the brake caliper or brake drum, pushing the brake pads or brake shoes to contact the wheel, which creates friction and slows or stops the vehicle.

Brake oil is incompressible, which ensures that force can be transmitted accurately during braking. At the same time, it also has a certain lubricity, which can protect the metal parts in the brake system from corrosion and wear.

There are three common causes of brake oil deterioration that push you to change and replace it. First, brake oil is very absorbent. Over time and with increased use, brake oil absorbs moisture from the air. Once the moisture content of brake oil is too high, its boiling point will be reduced. In frequent braking, as the brake system will produce a lot of heat, when the boiling point of the brake oil is reduced to a certain extent, it is easy to produce bubbles. Air bubbles can prevent the brake fluid from transmitting pressure, causing the brakes to become soft or even malfunction.

Second, the automotive system will produce heat because of frequent braking. Under a high temperature environment for a long time, the chemical properties of the brake oil will be damaged, thus affecting its performance.

Third, during the use of brake oil, if the system is not tightly sealed, external impurities may be mixed into the brake oil. These impurities will wear the components of the brake system, but also affect the normal work of the brake oil.

In-depth understanding: how often to change brake oil?

Advice from car manufacturers

The frequency of brake oil change may vary between vehicle models, driving habits or actual uses. In general, most car manufacturers recommend changing the brake oil every 2-3 years or when the driving range reaches 40,000-60,000 km. This is a general reference standard.

Change according to the use condition

For cars frequently driven in humid environments, such as the rainy season in the south or wading road conditions, the brake oil will absorb water faster. In this case, it may be necessary to change the brake oil more frequently, such as every 1-2 years or when the driving distance reaches 20,000-40,000 km.

Then for vehicles usually operated in high temperature environments, such as jeeps in mountainous areas or hot desert areas, the performance of brake oil declines faster. Therefore, the brake oil should be replaced appropriately in time, like every 1.5-2.5 years or when the mileage reaches 30-50,000 kilometers.

Use according to the frequency of vehicle use

For vehicles with a very high frequency of use such as taxis and online cars, the loss of brake oil will be faster due to the frequent work of the brake system. Such vehicles may need to change the brake oil every 1-1.5 years or every 20-30,000 kilometers driven.

Conversely, if the vehicle is less frequently used, such as some family spare cars, fewer miles are driven in a year. However, as this kind of vehicle has less mileage, the brake oil will still deteriorate due to the long-time storage. Therefore, such vehicles also need the change of brake oil, which can generally be replaced at intervals of every 2-3 years, even if the mileage does not reach the mileage recommended by the manufacturer.

Step-by-step guide: how often to change brake oil?

How to determine whether the brake oil needs to be changed

How to change brake oil?

Brake oil replacement is a relatively complex process that requires professional tools and skills. The following are the general steps of brake oil replacement for your reference.

First, you have to prepare tools and materials, including brake oil, oil drain screw wrench, oil pot, syringe, oil absorber.

Second, before replacing the brake oil, check the liquid level in the brake oil can to ensure that the brake oil is within the normal range. Then you have to locate the oil release screw of the brake system and loosen it to allow the old brake oil to flow out. At the same time, use an oil absorber or syringe to extract the old brake oil from the brake pump.

Third, carefully clean the brake system with new brake fluid to remove residual old brake fluid and impurities. And fill the new brake oil until the specified level is reached.

Fourth, after changing the brake oil, it is necessary to exhaust the brake system. This is because there may be bubbles in the brake system that affect brake performance. The exhaust process requires specialized techniques and tools and is recommended to be performed by professional maintenance personnel.

Finally, it is recommended to conduct a test run to check whether the brake performance is normal.

Comprehensive brake oil change cost

Brake oil change cost varies depending on a number of factors, including the car model, the region, the choice of repair shop, and the type of brake oil, etc.

Factor one: price range of brake oil

Factor two: labor cost

In addition to the cost of the brake oil itself, replacing the brake oil also needs to consider labor costs. In different regions and different auto repair shops, labor costs will vary. In general, the labor cost of replacing brake oil in small repair shops may be about 50-100 yuan, and in 4S shops, the labor cost may reach 100-200 yuan.

To give you a rough reference range, here are some estimates of brake oil change cost for common models.

Economy car: between 200 and 400 yuan, depending on the area and the choice of repair shop.

Middle and high-end cars: about 400-800 yuan, also affected by the region and the choice of repair shops.

Luxury cars and SUVs: Prices can be higher, around 800-1,500 yuan, depending on the model and the shop's pricing strategy.

Too often to change brake oil? Extend the service life

In order to extend the service life of brake oil, you can take the following measures to improve its performance.

For instance, you can try to minimize frequent abrupt braking to reduce friction and heat from brake oil. Or you can also clean the brake system regularly to prevent dust, moisture and impurities from entering the brake oil. And during cleaning, you can check the color, odor and liquid level of brake oil, and replace it in time if any abnormality is found. Last but not least, it is better to choose high quality and performance brake oils to improve brake performance and extend service life.

Final Verdict

The replacement of brake oil is an important maintenance item to ensure the normal operation of the automobile system. Knowing how often to change brake oil and brake oil change cost will help you better plan your car maintenance budget.