![]() It might not say "brake fluid," but you should see various instructions on the cap, the reservoir or both. The reservoir itself is relatively small compared to other reservoirs and has a screw cap on top. The owner's manual should tell you the specific location for your particular vehicle, but in most vehicles you can find it on the driver's side near the firewall (the wall between your engine and the cabin). Newer vehicles sometimes have a built-in system, but others will require you to lift a brace to hold up the hood. Be sure to secure the hood so it doesn't fall back down. You'll find a lever that you need to move or pull until you can lift the hood up the rest of the way. Step around to the front of the vehicle and feel under the center of the hood. Once you find and activate it, you should hear the hood "pop" open.Īs a safety measure, popping the hood is only the first step. There's usually a lever or button inside the cabin that's accessible to the driver, often along the left side. How you open the hood varies with different cars and trucks, too (again, your owner's manual can help with this). To check your fluid level, you'll need to let your car cool down if it's been running, then access the engine underneath your hood. Just realize that doing it wrong can cost you a lot more than that if your brakes give out.Ĭhecking your fluid is quite a bit easier. According to AutoMD, doing it yourself can save around $100 for the average vehicle. ![]() If you're up for the task of changing your own brake fluid, you can save a bundle. First you need to bleed, or drain, your brake fluid system, then add new, clean fluid. This process is not as straightforward as changing your motor oil, especially given the cramped conditions under the hood of today's vehicles. If you're ambitious, you can change your own brake fluid. The owner's manual will have specific information for your vehicle. For most vehicles, it's recommended to change your brake fluid every 1 to 2 years. What tests work for diagnosing brake problems?Īs useful as brake fluid is, it still requires regular maintenance, just like your other automotive fluids such as coolant or motor oil.Just imagine the vibrations shooting up your arm, especially if you needed to stop quickly. If you look at a 19th century stagecoach, you'll see a big lever on one side - this is what they pulled to stop the carriage. An advantage of brake fluid over a strictly nonliquid mechanical option is that the driver doesn't feel the strong forces at work on the brake pads, where temperatures can soar to around 800 degrees Fahrenheit (426.7 degrees Celsius). It's like Fred reaching down with his feet, but not quite being able to reach the roadway - not a good feeling when you're heading down a winding hill.īecause liquids are by nature relatively uncompressible (that is, applying pressure to a liquid doesn't appreciably decrease its volume), it makes an ideal medium to transfer pressure from your foot to the brake without losing force. Without brake fluid, there's no way for the pressure you apply with your feet to make it to the brakes. In our case, though, there are a couple things between us and the road - tires, brakes and an amazingly useful and underappreciated liquid we call "brake fluid." Remember the old "Flintstones" cartoon where Fred Flintstone would push his feet down to the ground to stop his car? Our car brakes today are surprisingly similar: We put our feet down, and the car stops. Never fill the reservoir above the "full" mark as this could cause damage to your brake system or cause it to overflow.
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