Brake fluid change @ 9000 miles?

[GUMY]

I have received an email from the VW Van Centre where I had the first service about 3 months ago, headed "Esssential Maintenace Reminder". It then says "We think that the following maintenance may soon be due: Brake Fluid Change".
The van was first registered Nov. 2023 (but not sold until March 2024 when I bought it with delivery mileage). The service was carried out at just under 7000 miles end of June, it now has just under 9000 miles on the clock.
Is this just VW trying to squeeze a bit more cash out of me, or is it something I should consider doing?

 

[Sasquatch]

I think the first change is due at 3 years (?), and every 2nd year thereafter.

VW wont pay warranty or goodwill for brake faults where there fluid hasn't been changed on spec, but youre still well inside the interval with it not being due until November 2026.

 

[GUMY]

Thanks. Just found this on VW's site: "...we do recommend having the brake fluid changed by a professional for the first time at the very latest three years after buying the car, and then every two years." Since I didn't buy it until March 2024, I guess I could stretch that to March 2027 then, but I expect it will be due the second service before November 2026 anyway, so I would have thought the brake fluid could be changed at the same time?

 

[Sasquatch]

Id go by the date of first registration. It degrades with age, and just being sat for months prior to sale wont have slowed it any.

That said, if you're not worried about goodwill past 3 years old then a rew extra months probably makes little difference.

 

[GUMY]

I like a bit of goodwill I think I will aim to get it done within the 3 years from first reg, but I don't think there's any great rush just yet then. Not even 2 years old yet.
Thanks for your input

 

[Vinyl1210]

Ok. My take FWIW. My van is ‘72 plate (Y22) registered. I bought it new. At first MD service (BTW I had oil changed with OEM spec at an indie after 12 months just cos it’s my van and I love it) at two years old and about 10K mikes when I dropped it off for service I was ‘advised it’s recommended to have the BF changed’. As an Engineer and someone who deals with Engineering Contracts and Site Management, I asked “is it MANDATORY to validate the warranty?” The flat reply was ‘No’. I said I’m happy for you to test it for particulate contamination and water content then if it’s out of spec by all means go ahead and change it. I’ll happily pay 0.25 of an hour labour to quickly test it. ‘Errrrrrrr…….we don’t do that we just change it’. . So….if it doesn’t need doing it’s a waste of my money, materials, and produces waste that then has to be processed. Neither economic or environmental sound practice.
So I declined.
It’s just a money spinner. I’ve since had the fluid tested and A ok. Mines out of warranty this November but not due a MD service till next November. From now I’m going indie so I’ll have the Fluid changed at the next indie service.
It reminds me of when I had my new Golf R in ‘17. “Oh….we recommend a haldex service on the rear…..” but again not required for warranty. As they just dropped the oil and didn’t even clean the internal filter gauze which takes about 30 mins to do…..you guessed it I went indie.
Personally I wouldn’t worry. But I do appreciate it’s a personal choice. Just my experience

Edit to say just had my MX5 ‘23 Reg just had its second service and part of that included a BF change. I could have opted out but Mazda are quite firm you the invalidate the warranty. So for the sake of about £130 extra I obviously did it as I’ve got another year of warranty to run.

You just need to weigh up the pros and cons for you as an individual vs how long you’ll keep the van and your proposed future approach to servicing.

 

[GUMY]

Thanks for your thoughts, appreciated

 

[DXX]

They don’t bleed from each caliper nipple and they definitely don’t bleed the clutch line.
At best they vacuum out the reservoir and refill with a couple of £ worth of brake fluid.
Do what you need to to do to maintain warranty and then buy a brake fluid test probe.
When changing pads; clamp the brake hose and push the old dirty fluid out of the bleed nipple instead of back to the ABS and master cylinder.
If you are driving a van hard enough enough to boil the brake fluid you should be locked up for a very long time minus your testicles.

 

[doncarlyon]

Mines a 21 plate on 84k miles. Doubt it has ever been done. Wouldn't worry.

 

[Madpasty]

Ok, i'm most probably going to get slated here, but after 40 years of driving and all the vehicles i've owned i have never once had the brake fluid changed, No vehicle has never failed an mot due to it, and never has my brakes failed for this reason.

 

[Sasquatch]

It's such an inexpensive process, or an easy DIY one, I cant think of a reason not to.

We used to cook the fluid in police cars during urban pursuits and thst would bring on fade so the fluid was changed regularly. Pads catching fire wasn't uncommon either.

But in a a normal vehicle driven normally a driver will probably never really notice from behind the wheel unless its decades old.

But, again, with it being so easy/inexpensive im happy do do it just because. I wouldn't have dropped 50 large on a van if I couldn't afford £75 every 2nd year. Its peanuts.

 

[Skyliner33]

Just my two penneth.

I do nearly all the maintenance on my bikes.

However I admit that I missed an brake fluid change. Out of interest I bought a tester that was to check the water content of the brake fluid. This came back as pretty much zero. So I left the brake fluid in. I didnt change it until I felt slight brake fade one day (a very lung downhill windy B road) I felt a slight bit of brake fade. I again checked to fluid when I got home, the tester said still not water, but I changed it this time due to feeling a bit of fade.

I really don't believe it needs doing every 2 years and if it does, why do VW recommend 3 years from purchase on a new vehicle - maybe they have a mystical fluid that's only for new vehicles.

 

[Sasquatch]

3 years for the first lot because its gone into a brand new and perfect surgically clean system.

2 years after that because no matter how thoroughly new fluid is pumped through there will always traces of old fluid and contamination present.

Im personally more concerned about corrosion of expensive brake components onnolder vehicles, particularly ABS blocks for which VW does not have a good track record, than a loss of braking performance. It costs so little I dont even think about it.

And remember, what you test from the reservoir may bear little relation to the stuff thats been sat in the pipes and hoses for some time. It doesn't circulate as such.

 

[GUMY]

... after 40 years of driving and all the vehicles i've owned i have never once had the brake fluid changed, No vehicle has never failed an mot due to it, and never has my brakes failed for this reason.

I've never (knowingly) changed brake fluid either - although a lot of my driving years ago was in company vehicles that were regularly main dealer serviced, so maybe it was changed, but I've never ever experienced brake fade or thought perhaps it was necessary, and certainly not on a vehicle less than 2 years old and with under 9000 miles.

...with it being so easy/inexpensive im happy do do it just because. I wouldn't have dropped 50 large on a van if I couldn't afford £75 every 2nd year. Its peanuts.

Absolutely agree. If for no other reason, when the time comes to sell, I want to be able to prove to prospective buyers that I loved and cared for my van

I really don't believe it needs doing every 2 years and if it does, why do VW recommend 3 years from purchase on a new vehicle - maybe they have a mystical fluid that's only for new vehicles.

I think all new parts are mystical. When I had to call the RAC for a home start because my battery was dead on my previous car, the engineer couldn't believe it was still the original battery - on an seven year old car. The replacement lasted three years.

Thanks for all the replies guys - love this place!

 

[Skyliner33]

Absolutely agree. If for no other reason, when the time comes to sell, I want to be able to prove to prospective buyers that I loved and cared for my van

This ^

 

[DXX]

Ok, i'm most probably going to get slated here, but after 40 years of driving and all the vehicles i've owned i have never once had the brake fluid changed, No vehicle has never failed an mot due to it, and never has my brakes failed for this reason.

Fair enough, I wouldn’t worry too much about boiling the brake fluid on a van, it’s not going to happen.
IMO the risk of contaminating the ABS unit with debris (£) outweighs the quick / cheap process of renewing the fluid.
It’s a closed circuit hydraulic system without filtration, you’d be surprised how much debris is created, especially if you let a some junior spanner jockey at the garage renew your brake pads.

 

[doncarlyon]

Not sure I've ever looked specifically for brake fluid changes when buying a vehicle.

 

[Sasquatch]

I do. Brake fluid changes, the type of tyres fitted, orange oil filters, all can tell the story of a van that's been cherished regardless of cost, or a van owned by someone who's done everything on the cheap.

It can tell the prospective buyer a lot about the diligence and character of the owner.

 

[Vinyl1210]

I think the first change is due at 3 years (?), and every 2nd year thereafter.

AFAIAA and also the OP (his van was registered Nov 23 and he got ‘pinged’ by the MD saying it’s due soon ie perhaps next month). Same as me VW will ‘recommend’ every two years. (Max 3) but start ‘pestering’ at the 24 month mark.

@Sasquatch you also said ...with it being so easy/inexpensive im happy do do it just because. I wouldn't have dropped 50 large on a van if I couldn't afford £75 every 2nd year. Its peanuts.

I totally agree…. But my gripe is my MD didn’t quote anywhere near (nearer double) . greedy sods, otherwise I’d probably not have been so belligerent with them

Just to clarify (for others) I’m not saying don’t do it, just ‘perhaps’ seek better value at a trusted indie. (Who’ll, bleed it properly and flush out the old fluid) hence why I said I’m getting mine done this November at my indie at the 36 month mark.

 

[DaveD]

Brake fluid "needs" changing every two years, just like our cam belts used to "need" changing every 4 years regardless of mileage!!! (But now don't).
And apart from seeing that you've paid for a brake fluid change, unless you know the staff well, you don't even know if it really was done.