Lack of brake fluid change in Service History
Discussion
Just wanted to get the opinion of you guys on here.
My Cayman is due for the 6 year service in a couple of months time.
I'm going to get the service done at an OPC rather than an independent, as I'd like to maintain dealer stamps.
The service book has also had the brake fluid change section stamped every two years as per the recommendation.
However, I changed the fluid less than a year ago and I'd detest paying Porsche £150 to change it again.
So my question: As long as the actual main servicing is done on time by an OPC, would any of you be bothered by the brake fluid section of the service book not being kept up to date? Can you imagine it being a problem for selling / part exchanging in the future?
I know it wouldn't bother me, (and the change is just a recommendation) but I'd like the second opinion from some of the more experienced Porsche owners.
My Cayman is due for the 6 year service in a couple of months time.
I'm going to get the service done at an OPC rather than an independent, as I'd like to maintain dealer stamps.
The service book has also had the brake fluid change section stamped every two years as per the recommendation.
However, I changed the fluid less than a year ago and I'd detest paying Porsche £150 to change it again.
So my question: As long as the actual main servicing is done on time by an OPC, would any of you be bothered by the brake fluid section of the service book not being kept up to date? Can you imagine it being a problem for selling / part exchanging in the future?
I know it wouldn't bother me, (and the change is just a recommendation) but I'd like the second opinion from some of the more experienced Porsche owners.
MTR - Thanks. I know it wouldn't bother me, but I just wondered if it's something Porsche would try and use as an excuse. (Bearing in mind they pick up on non-Porsche Batteries and tyres etc)
KPE - I think you may have misread the post. It doesn't actually NEED doing. I did it myself last summer, and I'll probably change it again this year. It's just that I obviously can't stamp the book myself.
(And I'd rather have no stamp than a Kwik-fit stamp in the book. :-) )
KPE - I think you may have misread the post. It doesn't actually NEED doing. I did it myself last summer, and I'll probably change it again this year. It's just that I obviously can't stamp the book myself.
(And I'd rather have no stamp than a Kwik-fit stamp in the book. :-) )
Paul,
I suggest that you ensure that the fluid boiling point is checked. There are other factors, but that is the key indicator of fluid degradation. Not sure what fluid is required in your Porsche, but if you drive it hard or use it for track days, then you probably want a fluid with at least a 280C dry boiling point. Fluids are now available up to 330-335C DBP from people like AP Racing, Brembo and Motul. Probably change at around 250-260C, or for day to day use maybe change at 230C.
The other factors include corrosion, so fluid should be changed regularly to prevent that anyway.
If you or your garage uses conductivity testers, do not trust their results as they do not work for all brake fluids. Some brand new fluids do not pass, and some old fluids do pass.
I suggest that you ensure that the fluid boiling point is checked. There are other factors, but that is the key indicator of fluid degradation. Not sure what fluid is required in your Porsche, but if you drive it hard or use it for track days, then you probably want a fluid with at least a 280C dry boiling point. Fluids are now available up to 330-335C DBP from people like AP Racing, Brembo and Motul. Probably change at around 250-260C, or for day to day use maybe change at 230C.
The other factors include corrosion, so fluid should be changed regularly to prevent that anyway.
If you or your garage uses conductivity testers, do not trust their results as they do not work for all brake fluids. Some brand new fluids do not pass, and some old fluids do pass.
It's probably time you switched to an indy anyway, stamps from a reputable one will be just as good as an OPC (IMO). £150 for a brake fluid change is daylight robbery.
But to answer your original question, yes I would be bothered if there were no brake fluid stamps and the seller claimed to change it himself every year.
But to answer your original question, yes I would be bothered if there were no brake fluid stamps and the seller claimed to change it himself every year.
Brake fluid change is something that car companies have added into the service intervals of cars as all of the old stuff dropped out - contact breaker points, ignition timing, grease points , valve clearances , etc etc were all part of a service , now no longer required. This has been replaced with pollen filter change , brake fluid change etc.
I'm not saying that brake fluid change isn't necessary at some point but every two years for your average non track day driver is way ott, and purely a revenue generator.
My Volvo diesel requires the brake fluid changed every two years, my last Volvo that I ran for 10 years did not have it as part of the service schedule - has brake fluid gotten worse over the years and needs changing more often ? I didn't have any issue whatsoever with the brakes on my last Volvo in 10 years.
Anyone know when pollen filters and brake fluid became part of the Porsche service schedule ?
OP ... I also have a six year old cayman, took it out of the OPC network for its six year service, £138 total charge at arguably Scotland's best Indy, diagnostic readout, Mobil oil etc, save yourself £500 and go to a good Indy.
I'm not saying that brake fluid change isn't necessary at some point but every two years for your average non track day driver is way ott, and purely a revenue generator.
My Volvo diesel requires the brake fluid changed every two years, my last Volvo that I ran for 10 years did not have it as part of the service schedule - has brake fluid gotten worse over the years and needs changing more often ? I didn't have any issue whatsoever with the brakes on my last Volvo in 10 years.
Anyone know when pollen filters and brake fluid became part of the Porsche service schedule ?
OP ... I also have a six year old cayman, took it out of the OPC network for its six year service, £138 total charge at arguably Scotland's best Indy, diagnostic readout, Mobil oil etc, save yourself £500 and go to a good Indy.
wilkos said:
If I came to buy your car, I'd think if you're too cheap to spend 75£ on a fluid change, what else have you scrimped on. Only the price of a tank of fuel.
That's a fair point. Although before the previous comments I was expecting to pay £150, not £75.It's just a bit frustrating as I know I'm literally paying JUST for somebody to stamp the book, as the fluid is fine. (And a higher spec than what they will put it, unless I supply the fluid myself)
To everyone else who replied, thanks for all your thoughts and comments. (Although the various conflicting views mean I'll be giving it a bit more thought.
supermono said:
If you chcanged the fluid and you did it right why not write the date/miles in and leave it at that? Get it done at main dealer next time it's due if you like. Worst case is someone will knock you back 75 quid on sale time if they
Don't trust your work
I don't think me writing it in the book would mean much to anyone, unfortunately.Don't trust your work
The trouble is it's officially 'due' in two months, and I'll probably have sold the car before the next service is due in another 2 years time.
BertBert said:
but presumably you changed it between services so it wasn't more than 12 months old? So no problem having it done 12 months later. If you want a higher spec fluid, then they'll probably do it too.
Bert
Yes, I changed it after 12 months because I wanted to put some decent stuff in before a track day. Bert
There's no problem having it done again now after 12 months, it's just that it doesn't need it and I can do it myself for a few quid.
However I will ask the OPC how much they will charge if I supply the fluid.
spyderman8 said:
Not sure if its a factor with tou but the Porsche brake fluid isn't anywhere near as good as a proper DOT 4 race fluid like Castrol SRF. If you're going to track it, use a better fluid.
I use Gulf RF1000 on the Cayman and on previous vehicles.It's the best performance per pound that I've come across. The dry boiling point is 325°C, but it's significantly cheaper than SRF.
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