WARNING: Regularly check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir. The brake fluid level should be near the mark «MAX» on the body of the tank.
A drop in fluid level indicates either a leak of brake fluid from the system or excessive wear on the brake pads. If a lamp on the instrument panel lights up, signaling a low level of brake fluid, do not rush to top it up immediately, first check the thickness of the brake pads: maybe it's time to replace the pads?
Car manufacturers recommend changing all brake fluid in the system after 40,000 km or 2 years (whichever comes first).
Some drivers ignore this advice because the fluid in the tank seems clean enough to them, and it’s completely in vain. The fact is that brake fluid is very hygroscopic (absorbs moisture from the air), and this moisture over time not only destroys the surfaces of the brake cylinders, pipelines and, as a result, leads to premature failure of the brake system components, but also significantly reduces the boiling point of the brake fluid. The normal boiling point for DOT-4 brake fluids is 210–260°C. Disc brakes become very hot during frequent heavy braking, and if the water content is high, the brake fluid may boil, which, as a rule, leads to brake failure.
USEFUL ADVICE: In order not to expose yourself to unforeseen expenses for repairing not only the brake system, but the entire car in the future, it is better to change the fluid in the brake system in a timely manner.
USEFUL ADVICE: We recommend changing the brake fluid after 1 year.
GOOD ADVICE: If you have problems with the brakes, bleed the brake system (cm. «Bleeding the brake system»). If this does not give the desired result, it is necessary to carefully check the entire braking system, as described below (cm. «Checking the brake system»).
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