Topping up brake fluid
Discussion
Hi,
I need your help again! My car needs the brake fluid topping up. At first I thought this was a p*ss easy task, just gotta get some new brake fluid that’s right for this car (not the stuff that always lived under our kitchen sink that my mum used for wiping signatures off credit cards in the 80’s) but as I started going through the interweb to work out what type my car needs I started to see all this more complicated stuff mentioned.
I’m not afraid of doing stuff myself but I am scared of doing my car more harm by not knowing what I’m doing. And that’s why I try to do my research first.
So firstly what type and how much brake fluid do I need for my car but more importantly what am I supposed to do or look out for in case the fluid being low is a sign of something more serious going on?
In case it doesn’t show on my profile it’s a 2004 Peugeot 206 GTi but the 180 version.
Thanks in advance you lot! You have been brilliantly helpful the past few times I’ve been lost!
Jane
X
I need your help again! My car needs the brake fluid topping up. At first I thought this was a p*ss easy task, just gotta get some new brake fluid that’s right for this car (not the stuff that always lived under our kitchen sink that my mum used for wiping signatures off credit cards in the 80’s) but as I started going through the interweb to work out what type my car needs I started to see all this more complicated stuff mentioned.
I’m not afraid of doing stuff myself but I am scared of doing my car more harm by not knowing what I’m doing. And that’s why I try to do my research first.
So firstly what type and how much brake fluid do I need for my car but more importantly what am I supposed to do or look out for in case the fluid being low is a sign of something more serious going on?
In case it doesn’t show on my profile it’s a 2004 Peugeot 206 GTi but the 180 version.
Thanks in advance you lot! You have been brilliantly helpful the past few times I’ve been lost!
Jane
X
Peugeot actually use their own branded brake fluid (probably just a rebrand of someone else’s) which would have been used by the factory or main dealers if the car has been serviced there previously. You can buy it from a dealer if you’re concerned but any old DOT4 should work
The bigger question is whether you should be topping it up. If the level was set correctly before and now it is low then either that fluid has been displaced into the calipers (because your brakes are very worn) or you have a leak somewhere.
If you’re not confident at checking disc and pad thicknesses against the recommended minimums then I’d recommend getting someone who is to check it out for you.
The bigger question is whether you should be topping it up. If the level was set correctly before and now it is low then either that fluid has been displaced into the calipers (because your brakes are very worn) or you have a leak somewhere.
If you’re not confident at checking disc and pad thicknesses against the recommended minimums then I’d recommend getting someone who is to check it out for you.
I'd question why the brake fluid needs topping up - If you've lost a reasonable amount over a short time, it may be worth having the connections checked to ensure you're not leaking anywhere (You'd probably feel this, unless it's a small leak) - Otherwise, I'd check your brake pads still have plenty of material.
That being said, It's fairly simple to top up - Just tip some more in.
https://youtu.be/nJV0J9kTZ2g
For a top up, you'll only need the first section (Top up) - Don't worry about the brake bleeding section.
That being said, It's fairly simple to top up - Just tip some more in.
https://youtu.be/nJV0J9kTZ2g
For a top up, you'll only need the first section (Top up) - Don't worry about the brake bleeding section.
Aww thanks for your swift reply! And you got my worries spot on there! I am scared there something more serious going on as I’ve never had to do that to a past car.
I’m pretty confident at looking at how worn my pads and discs are and think they are fine. Also had her MOT and serviced in March and haven’t done that many miles in her since. So where could I be losing the fluid and how?
Thanks again!
X
I’m pretty confident at looking at how worn my pads and discs are and think they are fine. Also had her MOT and serviced in March and haven’t done that many miles in her since. So where could I be losing the fluid and how?
Thanks again!
X
Me again!
So how often is brake fluid meant to be changed? I have no idea when it would have last been done on my car and I presume that isn’t regular service type stuff?
I’ve had the car a year and my mum had it but barely used it for a year before.
I’m sort of guessing I top it up and keep a close eye on what’s going on. But I would appreciate your help in where else I need to check
So how often is brake fluid meant to be changed? I have no idea when it would have last been done on my car and I presume that isn’t regular service type stuff?
I’ve had the car a year and my mum had it but barely used it for a year before.
I’m sort of guessing I top it up and keep a close eye on what’s going on. But I would appreciate your help in where else I need to check
Hmmmm.... I reckon I better just get her booked in and have it changed then. As pretty as she is she an old girl and doesn’t have proper service history. I don’t trust the garage my parents took her too and the place I’ve been going to seem good but it’s not something we have ever talked about.
Thanks again for all your advice. You lot are amazing and joking this forum thing has been so reassuring for me. So many answers so quickly!
X
Thanks again for all your advice. You lot are amazing and joking this forum thing has been so reassuring for me. So many answers so quickly!
X
I usually flush the fluid when I change the pads. Depending on the car, needing new pads means either it's been hammering the brakes (in which case the fluid needs replacing to deal with overheating) or the pads have been on for a few years (in which case it needs replacing to deal with potential water absorption.
The fluid should not need topping up at any other time; if it does, make sure you fix the underlying problem.
The fluid should not need topping up at any other time; if it does, make sure you fix the underlying problem.
J-Cam said:
Me again!
So how often is brake fluid meant to be changed? I have no idea when it would have last been done on my car and I presume that isn’t regular service type stuff?
I’ve had the car a year and my mum had it but barely used it for a year before.
I’m sort of guessing I top it up and keep a close eye on what’s going on. But I would appreciate your help in where else I need to check
Peugeot demand every 2 years. But then again Peugeot demand a lot of things, but 2 years is what they want.So how often is brake fluid meant to be changed? I have no idea when it would have last been done on my car and I presume that isn’t regular service type stuff?
I’ve had the car a year and my mum had it but barely used it for a year before.
I’m sort of guessing I top it up and keep a close eye on what’s going on. But I would appreciate your help in where else I need to check
Check the colour of it, as it's become an MOT test item, if it's dark then it'll need changing regardless.
sgtBerbatov said:
J-Cam said:
Me again!
So how often is brake fluid meant to be changed? I have no idea when it would have last been done on my car and I presume that isn’t regular service type stuff?
I’ve had the car a year and my mum had it but barely used it for a year before.
I’m sort of guessing I top it up and keep a close eye on what’s going on. But I would appreciate your help in where else I need to check
Peugeot demand every 2 years. But then again Peugeot demand a lot of things, but 2 years is what they want.So how often is brake fluid meant to be changed? I have no idea when it would have last been done on my car and I presume that isn’t regular service type stuff?
I’ve had the car a year and my mum had it but barely used it for a year before.
I’m sort of guessing I top it up and keep a close eye on what’s going on. But I would appreciate your help in where else I need to check
Check the colour of it, as it's become an MOT test item, if it's dark then it'll need changing regardless.
Thanks everyone for your advice. I’m gonna top up the fluid so I can drive her to the garage and get her looked at properly coz as I first suspected that isn’t normal to loose fluid like that. She already spunked all her power steering fluid on the driveway a few months ago!
I’ll have a look at what colour it is. What does it mean has happened if it’s dark?
GreenV8S said:
I usually flush the fluid when I change the pads. Depending on the car, needing new pads means either it's been hammering the brakes (in which case the fluid needs replacing to deal with overheating) or the pads have been on for a few years (in which case it needs replacing to deal with potential water absorption.
The fluid should not need topping up at any other time; if it does, make sure you fix the underlying problem.
Thanks! As I think I’ve said I have never even had to mess with my brake fluid on previous cars so was worried this is something more serious going on. But honestly although I’m capable of changing my own pads I don’t have a great understanding of how the braking system works and what part the fluid plays in that. Hopefully I’ll learn more now though!The fluid should not need topping up at any other time; if it does, make sure you fix the underlying problem.
Normally as the pads wear down the pistons protrude further from the calipers so the closed circuit contains more fluid, so the level in the reservoir drops.
When you replace the pads you displace the additional fluid back into the master cylinder so the reservoir level returns to the original level.
If you mistakenly top up the reservoir as the pad wears, it will be over-full after you have pushed the pistons back and may even overflow. The only other reason for the reservoir level to go down is that there is a leak, in which case topping the reservoir up is obviously not the right answer.
When you replace the pads you displace the additional fluid back into the master cylinder so the reservoir level returns to the original level.
If you mistakenly top up the reservoir as the pad wears, it will be over-full after you have pushed the pistons back and may even overflow. The only other reason for the reservoir level to go down is that there is a leak, in which case topping the reservoir up is obviously not the right answer.
GreenV8S said:
Normally as the pads wear down the pistons protrude further from the calipers so the closed circuit contains more fluid, so the level in the reservoir drops.
When you replace the pads you displace the additional fluid back into the master cylinder so the reservoir level returns to the original level.
If you mistakenly top up the reservoir as the pad wears, it will be over-full after you have pushed the pistons back and may even overflow. The only other reason for the reservoir level to go down is that there is a leak, in which case topping the reservoir up is obviously not the right answer.
That makes sense! Thank you for explaining. As I said I don’t really understand how the whole system works and only just about know how to change the pads and put it all back together. But embarrassing as it may be I’d rather let you lot know I don’t know and benefit from your knowledge and experience instead of fronting so it’s really appreciated! When you replace the pads you displace the additional fluid back into the master cylinder so the reservoir level returns to the original level.
If you mistakenly top up the reservoir as the pad wears, it will be over-full after you have pushed the pistons back and may even overflow. The only other reason for the reservoir level to go down is that there is a leak, in which case topping the reservoir up is obviously not the right answer.
Thanks again!
Jane
X
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