Do you guys change the brake fluid and how often?

I’ve had many cars and I’ve never really changed the brake fluid and the cars have always been fine. I have a 2013 LS460 and I see it was changed at 30k miles over 10 years ago by the original owner during the 30k mile Lexus service. Says brake fluid flushed/changed.

The previous owner I bought the car from purchased it in 2021 with 41k miles and sold it to me with 158k but has never changed it in his time with it. It’s all highway miles since 2021. Do you think I should have it flushed?

What’s the best brake fluid for these cars to preserve the ABS?

 

Dot 3 or 4, you don't need anything special if you're changing it every 2 or 3 yrs.

 

Brake fluid is hygroscopic. It should be changed regularly in every vehicle but the Lexus ABS system is particularly sensitive to old fluid with water in the lines. There are simple paper-dip tests you can buy to check the fluid but just put it on autopilot like an oil change.

Read this article when you have time:

https://drivesmarttools.org/hygrosco...hy-it-matters/

 

Officially, its every 2 years or 30,000 miles. However, absorption of moisture into the brake fluid is primarily a function of time and environment and has little to do with miles driven.

 

I have a 13 , Never had brake fluid changed

 

how many miles you have? Any issues with brakes?

 

damn I guess this car is way over due. When releasing the brakes sometimes I hear like the brake grabbing or a slight rubbing type of noise. It sounds just like the pads but from what I see online this could be a symptom of a bad actuator. I hope not. It’s a weird sound but it only happens when slightly releasing the brakes and it kind of sounds like the pads just rubbing almost like a seal bark as it releases.

 

Mine does it to Lexus dealership says its fine haven't had any problems.

 

the dealership saying it’s fine doesn’t give me much faith, because a good 75% of them just say whatever they think makes you happy and don’t really know that much about these cars, unless you speak with a real master tech, but let’s hope they are right.

Did that noise stay even after you changed the pads? I thought it could be the pads

 

That's exactly how the TSB describes the actuator noise.

 

Every 2 years, I use ESI6

 

I bought some of that to try next time.

 

U can buy an inexpensive tester to tell % moisture in fluid.

 

Yea that’s why I want to change the fluid hoping it will help and it’s not too late. There was an OEM actuator for my 2013 LS on eBay for $650 but he just changed the price to $800 and it sold. I should’ve bought one just to hold