I'm looking thru the service schdules today and see that VWgroup recommend brake fluid change 3yr from new and thereafter every 2nd year.

 

Does anyone have a logical explaination why VWgroup brake fluid is good for the first 3yrs, but only good for two years thereafter? 

2 years is precautionary. It's possible it's good for three or four but it's hygroscopic so you're playing with fire. From new the system should also be vritually guaranteed to have no leaks, whereas an older one may have. 

 

I understand it to be precautionary.

 

 - Bret

I agree that 2 years is precautionary advice for the service schedule,  as they don’t know how each individual car will be treated. But I suspect the initial 3 year period is just so they don’t have to include it any free servicing offers from new. ( I stand to be corrected if it is included).

Skoda uk servicing schedule is a joke, with it’s mix of fixed and variable, digital service record, no book or schedule supplied with the cars etc, and I’ve yet to find anyone who can logically explain it.

Edited 20 June, 20187 yr by classic

15 minutes ago, classic said:

I agree that 2 years is precautionary advice for the service schedule,  as they don’t know how each individual car will be treated. But I suspect the initial 3 year period is just so they don’t have to include it any free servicing offers from new. ( I stand to be corrected if it is included).

Skoda uk servicing schedule is a joke, with it’s mix of fixed and variable, digital service record, no book or schedule supplied with the cars etc, and I’ve yet to find anyone who can logically explain it.

 

With my last Mk3 I got three years free servicing as part of the deal. The brake fluid was changed at the third service (about 2 yrs 8mths as it happens). So it is included.  

Cheers. There is no logic to it then !

Not so many years ago it was first at 2 years then every 2 years.

Like all things Skoda / VW find there is no corrosion / failings or no great numbers of any so extend the first action to 3 years to suit fleet / lease but still get Dealerships work.

 

As it is you get Brake Fluid Testers and test your brake fluid anyway,  and ask the Dealership to Test at a Major Service, so first at 2 years.

Testing for H2o content.

They say they check fluid levels anyway, not that you will see any removing a battery.....

 

Brake Fluid now in the UK MOT,  not that a MOT tester will be removing any batteries to check.

1 hour ago, Offski said:

Not so many years ago it was first at 2 years then every 2 years.

 

Brake Fluid now in the UK MOT,  not that a MOT tester will be removing any batteries to check.

 

Not so many years before that, brake fluid was never mentioned !   And I was really glad to hear it was part of the MOT although I'm not sure garages will agree. In all my life I have never known anyone or even read in forums or articles of someone's brakes failing because of poor fluid, yet the industry would have us believe we're all going to die if it isn't changed at 2yr. Wonder how many fluids will pass at 2yr, 3yr, 4yr etc.

 

I very easily could have been killed because of brake fluid change if it were not for sheer luck. Unknown to me but part of replacing faulty ABS sensor some years ago on my Golf was replacing the brake fluid. The VW mechanic who carried it out tho obviously didn't test the brakes because they hadn't been bled properly. Driving around 40mph coming off a dual carriageway, hit the brakes and nothing happened    So a tip for anyone who does have a fluid change carried out - TEST YOUR BRAKES !!!

Edited 20 June, 20187 yr by Guest

Not mentioned by whom?

Mechanics mention it, are trained and have knowledge, maybe technicians and service desk staff or drivers never mention it.

 

Some vehicle might have 20 year old Brake Fluid in if the pipes never corroded, or hoses changed.

Sporting driving and track use might well have owners upgrading brake fluid and change regularly because moisture in brake fluid causing boiling / overheating.

Brake Fluid being Hygroscopic.

So location, location, location and usage, and climate, sea side, humidity and many other factors.

 

Like Tyres, belts, filters, oils, etc,  there are many different conditions globally and Service Schedules & Guidelines need common sense applied, 

and an understanding of the function and preventative maintenance. 

Edited 20 June, 20187 yr by Offski

10 hours ago, brettikivi said:

It's possible it's good for three or four but it's hygroscopic so you're playing with fire. 

 

Umm, playing with water actually.....

10 hours ago, Offski said:

Not mentioned by whom?

 

Can't think of a single car I owned during the mid 80's - Y2k where the garage asked (or recommended) that brake fluid needed changing. The first time anyone asked me was after 2yr ownrship of my first Volvo in 2002. Nobody from Honda recommended it and that car was in the garage every four months ( 6000 mile service intervals) during my ownership. Car was 4yr old when I changed it. Same with the Toyota's before that.

Edited 20 June, 20187 yr by Guest

I have been aware of the 2 year recommendation for most of my driving life. However, I think common sense takes place to some degree. Regular checks of the fluid level and regular checks of hoses, discs, pads, etc along with testing your brakes regularly, to ensure they are working efficiently and are not weak, grabby, pulling to one side, etc is just good practice. One of the worse things is not tightening the fluid reservoir lid adequately and either over tightening, thus splitting, the inner diaphragm or leaving it loose and allowing the dreaded water in! Spongey brakes, anyone? Air or water will do this. Don't put off repairing them, thinking it will save a few quid 'cos it might just cost a lot more!

 

I know a guy who was test-driving a Mini (Old school) Where the owner advised him it needed the brakes to be bled. The guy drove up the A127, to the next major roundabout, back round and down. Came back to the Fortune of War roundabout (It WAS one, then) And promptly smashed the car to bits! He refuse to pay the damage as he was adamant that the owner should NEVER have allowed him to drive it, the owner was insistent that the potential customer was to blame! I see both points but neither should have been driving such a poorly maintained car!

Well, I think that I bought my first set of bits to replace brake fluid back in 1976 or so, so is certainly is not a relatively new good idea.  Back in these days you tended to have the satisfaction of seeing "dirty" fluid being removed and then the clear new fluid appearing in the bleed tubing, nowadays I've never noticed any change, which is okay/good though!

Scot5,

  what garages do you use to maintain your cars?

 

If someone does not want to test the brake fluid or change it then nobody is making them.

 

No idea where people that do no maintenance or very little and trust others to tell them when to think that others do not have issues, brakes that heat quickly, disable the XDS or XDS+ until the brakes / system cools down or the likes with VW Group vehicles. 

That would be with spirited driving, maybe heavy braking, maybe not what most do in everyday driving. 

Volvo / Ford had plenty of Master Cylinders that failed in the bad old days of Ford owning Volvo.

 

There are reasons that people get brake pipes, hoses and components replaced and it is not always for external corrosion.

Less often now on more modern vehicles maybe, or on ones someone has 3 years or so them punts.

Not everyone drives cars that are new or only a few years old though.

 

As to the Japanese manufacturers, they are the ones that build reliable and safe cars except when they dont, or the source crap components as they have done in the past.

They at least own up to their failings, do recalls not just service campaigns when forced to.

 

My 2003 Volvo had an engine replaced early in life, the Auto box when 12 years old. the master cylinder @ 13 years old and various other stuff, 

brake calipers and suspension parts and it had only done 87,000 miles in 2016.

 

 

Edited 20 June, 20187 yr by Offski

It wasn't 'too many' years ago that a change of your cars brake fluid was recommended to be done annually

Edited 20 June, 20187 yr by hatchy