The only thing that stands for both you and something you’re nearing is your car’s braking system. Your vehicle will not brake if it is not provided with the necessary braking fluid. That’s why proper brake service is essential for the security of not only yourself and any riders in your vehicles but also the other drivers and motorists who are on the road.
At Christian Brothers Automotive, we consider that every car owner should know what brake fluid is, how it functions, why it’s so essential, and how to change it when it’s necessary.
What is brake fluid?
When the brakes are applied, brake fluid converts force into pressure and brings the car to a complete stop. Modern braking systems, like your engine, require regular brake fluid flushes and repairs at specified intervals.
For several reasons, brake fluid is one of the most important fluids in your car:
- Brake fluid helps in the stopping of your vehicle.
Pascal’s law is shown beautifully in the interaction among brake fluid, hydraulic braking system, and car motion. Whenever a fluid receives any form of pressure difference in an enclosed area, this principle says that the pressure is transferred uniformly in all directions.
It happens when you push on the brake pedal whenever you drive toward a red light. A rod pushes a piston into a cylinder, which produces more pressure in the whole hydraulic system. It makes the brakes work better.
By pumping brake fluid down the brake lines and into the caliper pistons, such newly enhanced pressure is spread all throughout the system. The pistons also deliver pressure to your brake pads, slowing down the complete car by providing force to the rotating tire rotors.
Moving elements of your car’s braking system, it also absorbs any humidity to avoid rust and corrosion.
During the first case, how well does water get somewhere? Water usually enters your system through brake line leakage or damaged sealing in the cylinder or calipers.
What are the different brake fluids kinds?
There are four types of brake fluid available: “DOT 5.1”, “DOT 5,” “DOT 4” and “DOT 3”. However, the DOT 5.1, DOT 3, and DOT 4 are glycol-based water-absorbing fluids that are still widely utilized in current cars. DOT 5 is a silicone-based braking system fluid that will not soak up and is commonly found in classic vehicles that require a non-petroleum braking fluids system.
In most cases, materials are added to the brake fluid to help protect it from corrosion, rust, or normal wear. Some additives seem to be acid neutralizers as well as pH balancers.
What Brake Fluid Should My Car Require?
The easiest way to find out what kind of brake fluid users need for your car seems to be to look at the owner’s manual or even the master cylinder reservoir limit supplied by the company.
WHEN Should I Replace My Brake Fluid?
The car’s owner manual will tell you how often you should clean and change the brake fluid, as well as the kind of brake fluid you should use. Brake fluid change are suggested every 30,000 miles or even in every two years in average. Finally, the regularity in which you replace your brake fluid is controlled by your driving style and braking habits. Brake fluid service may be required fairly soon due to factors such as regular stop-and-go traffic, rapid braking, or increased miles.
