18 months ago I had a Lexus dealer install new brake pads and rotors. They also flushed and replaced the brake fluid. I had service done yesterday at another Lexus dealer and they also did a "complimentary service check." I have 34K miles and now drive about 3k per year. I was told my brake fluid was discolored and very old. They stated the brake fluid flush and new fluid would cost $330. The fluid looks like a medium yellow color and reads full on the container. Did the first dealer not flush my brake fluid or is my recent dealer visit giving me incorrect info? How can I visually tell approximately how old my brake fluid is? Thank you in advance for your help.

 

It’s as clear as water when it’s new. It could be that dirty already, it’s starts to look black after about 5 years. So I wouldn’t worry about changing it now. It’s not going to hurt anything if it’s golden, make sure to always verify any work you have done in the future. If I have someone change my oil, I always check all the fluids myself to make sure they have been changed and that they have been properly refilled. They probably recommend a brake fluid change to every customer cause modest people don’t ever change it.

 

Go back to the 1st dealer and ask did they do a complete flush including the fluid that was in ABS system? Then go from there.

 

 

seems unlikely that anyone is going to confess to doing a half *** job 18 months later when they will long ago forgotten what they did. And there is only one source of brake fluid it flows from the reservoir, through the booster into to the ABS system where it will then be split into 4 and then off to each wheel. When flushing a brake system, you just use gravity. You pump the pedal at each corner until the fluid has changed from dirty to clear. If you do that on each wheel, it ensures that 100% of the fluid has been removed from the system and replaced with new fluid.

 

Brake fluid darkens with age as it absorbs moisture from the air. A medium yellow color after 18 months is completely normal and does not mean it's "very old." It is likely still perfectly effective, especially with your low mileage. The dealer is giving you a standard upsell. You do not need a brake fluid flush. Most manufacturers recommend a flush every 2-3 years, not 18 months.

 

No this is incorrect about the flush processes. The pedal pump process is called brake bleeding extraction. That does not get all of the fluid that's in the electronic ecu controlled ABS system out. You have to activate the ABS module solenoids.

In most cars to do the professional full flush you have to open up the ABS with a Scanner tool to actually activate the ABS pump and cycle the valves. It would be very easy to get ask the Dealer, that should have had a service code and cost on you work order receipt, what procedure they charged and performed. It's your car so if you think it's too difficult to ask then why in your 1st post would you ask? - "Did the first dealer not flush my brake fluid or is my recent dealer visit giving me incorrect info?". I was just trying to tell you what I would do if it was me.

The standard Narrative most times seems to be the Dealers id just trying to rip everybody off. The real issue is only if the fluid is contaminated beyond it serviceable life in you car at this point.

https://www.brakeandfrontend.com/bra...g-abs-systems/