I went to the Dentist last week to have the routine cleaning and check up, and my Dentist asked me if I had been flossing.  Jokingly, I said "Sure, I floss religiously, on Easter AND Christmas".  He smiled and said "That's fine, you only need to clean the one's you want to keep".

That started me thinking...... cars are a lot like teeth, sure we brush them often, just like we wash our cars when they're dirty, and a few times a year, we get to the dentist for a deep cleaning, kind of like changing your oil and having the car serviced and inspected.  But once in a while, despite the cleaning or servicing, we get a cavity that needs to be taken care of, almost like your car breaking down and getting towed in for a repair. 

As the mind numbing sound of the tools in my mouth continued, I came to realize that we just don't get many cars towed in like we used to.  Why?  Because we're taking better care of them.  We've learned that by doing preventative maintenance and keeping the fluids in your car changed, we're doing less "Break-Down Repairs".  I guess that's similar to having the dentist do the deep cleaning and fluoride treatment along with regular flossing, it means fewer cavities.

For example, let's look at just one of the fluids under your hood:

Brake Fluid - In the past, we rarely changed brake fluid, we waited until the brake Master Cylinder, calipers or wheel cylinders failed and then it would be replaced.  When we did brake jobs, we often found that the calipers and other hydraulic parts were filled with corrosion and needed replacement.  Now, we replace brake fluid on a regular schedule and have seen a dramatic decline in expensive brake part replacements. We replace about 10% as many Master Cylinders and hydraulic ABS parts as before.  Brake fluid is "hygroscopic", which means it attracts and holds moisture.  When brake fluid becomes contaminated with moisture, the boiling point of the brake fluid drops considerably, it promotes corrosion on metal parts inside the Master Cylinder and other hydraulic brake parts and can cause a soft or spongey brake pedal on long hard stops.

How often should the fluid be replaced? By the time a new car is 2 years old, its brake fluid contains about 2% moisture. After 3 years, the moisture content is approaching 3%, which is enough to lower the boiling temperature by 25%. After several years of service, it is not unusual to find brake fluid containing seven to eight percent moisture.

For this reason, it is recommended to replace the fluid as a preventative maintenance service every three years or 48,000 kilometers. At the very least, it should be replaced anytime brake callipers or wheel cylinders are replaced.

If you're concerned about saving some $$, brake fluid replacement can definitely help expensive brake parts last longer.  We'd be glad to test yours and let you know if it's contaminated.  We use a small test meter that measures moisture contamination as a percentage and we offer this service for FREE.  Make an appointment or just stop by and see us.