Definitely not needed to change that often. I usually wait until I change pads to change it out.

 

You shouldn’t add brake fluid. Brake fluid level is a good indicator of pad wear. If you need to add fluid, your brakes are shot.


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Yeh, every 20K is a little much.

Biggest concern is that brake fluid gradually absorbs water, which (1.) lowers its boiling point, and (2.) corrodes brake system parts.

ABS-equipped vehicles don't tolerate moisture in brake fluid as well as older vehicles did.

 

I'm using DOT 3 synthetic in my 2001 non-ABS. Isn't this fluid compatible with ABS systems?

 

I flush the system when I change the pads. German cars recommend 2 yr/24K.
But...
If you change all of your other fluids based on the manufacturer schedule, why would you not do the brake fluid?

 

I would go by time rather than mileage, every 2-4 years depending on climate, or when your fluid starts not looking clear in the reservoir. Moisture in the fluid can cause havoc with the ABS controller pump,sensors,and valves. Pretty expensive little item.They do sell brake fluid test strips for fluid contamination if your inclined to trust them.

 

I second this. Because it absorbs moisture over time, go by time not mileage. Also take into account your local climate. I'm in the humid southeast so I change brake fluid every two years as preventative maintenance. Guys in the arid west can go many years because the fluid isn't absorbing moisture.

It's a quick and easy maintenance job if you have a helper. Only use fresh brake fluid.

 

My 1998 Frontier still has its factory brake fluid (250K miles); so does my 2004 (103K).

I'll flush the system/new fluid when/if I have a master cylinder, caliper, or rear wheel cylinder issue. On their hydraulic clutch systems, I did replace the factory fluid on the '98 when I installed new clutch master and slave; 2004 is on factory clutch stuff and fluid.

Disclaimer: I'm in Arizona.

 

I have just done mine when I changed out all my fluids, which I have done at around 30K mile intervals. Takes me about 15 minutes. It has always looked perfectly clear and I'm sure did not need to be done, but I'm your typical OCD fella.

 

They covered replacing PS & PB fluids on PBS' Motorweek today. Pat Goss recommended every 2-3 yrs IIRC. You AZ/desert guys can likely go longer.

 

As little mileage as I put on my Frontier, I will be 30 years dead a buried before my


Power steering fluid is a different animal entirely - Not hygroscopic, and normally runs hot enough to boil off any moisture. Most folks never replace it.

 

Hip Hip Hooray for Pat Goss!!!!!!!!! and Motortrend TV

 

I typically bleed my brake fluid when I change out the pads. I will look in the MC reservoir to see how dirty it is. I stir up the grim at the bottom of the reservoir and use a turkey baster or tube and pull out as much fluid as I can; usually keeping just enough to cover the outlet hole. Then I bleed the caliper till the fluid goes clear. I am probably not flushing the entire system. You will notice that the fluid near the caliper is darker. Not sure exactly why. I have read that it is dirt getting back through the piston seals. Also read that it is due to the heating of the fluid by the pads/rotor/caliper and degrades and turns dark.

 

I am probably not flushing the entire system. You will notice that the fluid near the caliper is darker. Not sure exactly why. I have read that it is dirt getting back through the piston seals. Also read that it is due to the heating of the fluid by the pads/rotor/caliper and degrades and turns dark.

You are flushing more of the system than doing an oil change does for the engine, which doesn't obviously change every drop of oil in the engine. I usually start with the wheel furthest from the master cylinder and work my way to the wheel closest to the master cylinder.

Having a second person helps, but you can work around that by having a catch bottle and doing a combination of gravity bleeding and pumping the pedal. You'll use more brake fluid, but if you're by yourself, it's either that or get a vacuum bleeder.

That's pretty much it. Calipers hold quite a bit of fluid inside them, and they obviously get warm. The fluid in hydraulic braking systems is pretty stagnant. That is, the fluid in the calipers isn't going to cycle into the master cylinder reservoir. Rather, the fluid is a medium of sequential energy transfer, like knocking over a row of dominoes.

 

The calibers can easily get 5-600 degrees which causes the darkening of the fluid.Or humidity and O2 at the master cyl will darken the fluid over time.

 

I did mine @ 50,000 miles with a $30 brake fluid exchange from Harbor. Was the color of iced tea. My wife’s altima @ 75,000 was the color of Pepsi. Then did all 3 motorcycles and my brothers.

 

It seems strange that no one here thinks to trust the engineers who made this fine truck. Personally: I would 1) trust the specs and change the fluids on that schedule; or 2) contact Nissan and ask for clarification.

I'm all for empowering yourself with knowledge and trusting in your own handiwork... but has anyone actually asked WHY the number is so low? If not then it seems silly to just downright ignore it. They literally "wrote the book" on how to maintain this truck. I get a strange satisfaction from putting in fresh fluids so I've never thought twice about flushing the brake fluid while doing brake work.

 

It seems strange that no one here thinks to trust the engineers who made this fine truck. Personally: I would 1) trust the specs and change the fluids on that schedule; or 2) contact Nissan and ask for clarification.

I'm all for empowering yourself with knowledge and trusting in your own handiwork... but has anyone actually asked WHY the number is so low? If not then it seems silly to just downright ignore it. They literally "wrote the book" on how to maintain this truck. I get a strange satisfaction from putting in fresh fluids so I've never thought twice about flushing the brake fluid while doing brake work.

Yes, it is interesting that many people think the oil change intervals on vehicles are too long, but the brake fluid change intervals are too short.

 

As many already know, (most) brake fluid is ethylene glycol based which is why it absorbs water readily. From what I have read it is along the lines of 2-3% a year.

I do not go by mileage, but given the climate here I do a vacuum flush every 2 years at minimum. Do what you want that's your choice. Brake fluid is cheap, and it's not going to hurt anything to change it.

 

Brake fluid is glycol-ether based, not ethylene glycol. And yes it’s hygroscopic and makes a reasonably good paint stripper.

DOT 4 is better than DOT 3 for not absorbing moisture.

 

The flushing interval wasn't increased in frequency so much because of moisture (which is a good reason to flush the brakes), but because of copper contamination of the brake fluid from the ABS actuator. They even sell strips to test for the copper in the fluid.

 

I've got to take some exception to that. It's the moisture that causes sudden unexpected loss of braking in an otherwise sound brake system. There are federal standards that limit the wear allowed by the fluid on parts made of copper, rubber, steel, brass, etc., but that's a problem for the fluid manufacturer. European car makers have long recommended 2 year flush intervals. Domestic and Asian, not so much.

This subject took on a whole new life back in the mid-90's when the wrong child died in the wreck of a 4 or 5 year old well maintained mini-van, which triggered a federal investigation. Turns out there was 'brake failure' due to moisture in the brake system. It brought to light the fact that few automakers were recommending meaningful brake fluid changes.

It's a safe bet personal injury lawyers have been successfully getting to carmakers over this deficiency. That alone would give them incentive to publish periodic brake maintenance intervals. No doubt DOT was leaning on the carmakers also.

 

If that was the case, I would think all your local liability lawyers on tv would be having brake fluid injury commercials non-stop. I think that you see more manufactuer's calling for brake fluid changing due to the addition of todays new vehicles having very expensive ABS controllers in them that water-soaked fluid will lead to increased warranty claims, which hits them in the pocket book.

 

I think that you see more manufacturer's calling for brake fluid changing due to the addition of todays new vehicles having very expensive ABS controllers in them

Nothing new about today's abs pumps. They've been almost unchanged in the last 25 years. There's a few more sensors being used for "stability control", but the areas exposed to brake fluid really haven't changed. It's just a pump and about 10 or 12 solenoids.
You need a couple of higher speed hard stops to boil the brake fluid. That won't happen in a 40 mph crash.

 

as noted time as well as your climate is a good gauge + i remember 5 years being recommended for most vehicles + 2 years for motorcycles. when i purchased my preowned 2011 Fronty in jan 2018 with only 27,5xx on it i changed ALL the fluids!! i have a motive power bleeder + its EZE one person job, just need the right adapter for your reservoir. manufacturers push xtra services for $$$$, but of course braking is VERY important!!

 

Changing brake fluid is not a difficult DIY.

https://www.clubfrontier.org/threads/brake-fluid-type-and-procedure.361101