You’ve probably read that as a general rule, it’s a good idea to have a brake fluid flush in Herndon, VA every three years or thirty thousand miles, but is that really true? Is that the best approach?
We’ll say this: It’s a workable approach, but it has a serious drawback you should be aware of. As far as we can tell, the reason that recommendation came into being was simply the idea that most people don’t think too much about their brakes until or unless there’s a problem, and the goal was to give car owners a quick and easy answer they could remember, like the recommendations surrounding oil changes.
Unfortunately, in many cases, that sees you getting a brake fluid flush in Herndon, VA more often than you need one. While there’s no such thing as too much maintenance, and it’s certainly better than not doing it at all, the drawback is that you’re almost certainly spending more money than you need to.
Here’s what we recommend in terms of having a brake fluid flush in Herndon, VA:
Our mechanics can tell just by looking at your brake fluid if it might be problematic because they’re an experienced group, but there’s no substitute for testing, and in fact, there are two simple tests that can be conducted on brake fluid that will tell you with 100% certainty if and when it’s time to have the system flushed.
The first is a strip test. This measures the concentration of copper in your brake fluid which is the most common reason for the darker coloration we mentioned above. The insides of your brake lines are coated in copper. Brake fluid itself has anti-corrosive compounds in it, but over time, those begin to break down and stop working. When they do, the fluid will slowly start causing some of the copper to flake off and get into your brake fluid.
A small amount won’t hurt anything, but beyond a certain threshold, it begins to interfere with the normal functioning of your brakes. The strip test can tell us if it’s to that point yet. The second test is called a moisture test. It measures how much water has mingled with your brake fluid. As above, tiny amounts aren’t problematic, but at a certain point, it will start to have an impact, at which point, it’s time for a system flush.
We can conduct both of those tests right here at our shop. If you’re not sure when the last time you had your brake fluid checked, and you have any concerns about your brake system whatsoever, don’t delay. Give us a call or stop by the shop and we’ll get you taken care of.
