Car maintenance question on 2015 Acura MDX

[Harbourmaster]

No Auto Maker that I am aware of ships vehicles with DOT5 (silicone) brake fluid.

You can buy test strips to check the water content in your brake fluid but it's not like the stuff costs as much as printer ink and it's a vital safety component of your vehicle.

Change the fluid every 2 years and you will be safe and sound, and all of the components in your braking system will last longer. Win-Win!

[Racer X]

DOT 4 is a LMA (low moisture activity) formula. Higher wet boiling point, and backwards compatible with DOT 3 (but loses the benefits) systems.

I started to use Castrol DOT 4 LMA in my Buicks back in the late 80s.

[Dennis S]

space-time wrote:
[quote=Harbourmaster]
Brake fluid should be replaced every 2 years. Find an independent shop to do it as they should be >half the cost of the Stealership. Your car should not need a "Fuel Service" at 50K... this is made up BS to put some easy money into the service departments pockets.

That was true on my older cars which used DOT3 brake fluid. The new cars use newer versions, I think 4 or 5 and require new fluid less often.
You can't use 5 on a regular vehicle. 5.1 is OK. (I learned that last night on a Scotty Kilmer YouTube.)

[jdc]

Just checked my cars manual, says 80000 miles on the brake fluid.

We had 10-20-30 year old cars come in all the time -- never a "flush" in their lives, always fine.

[mrlynn]

I have never put any additives in my gas tanks. Never had the brake fluid flushed or changed, either, except during brake work.

I always used to change my oil, filter, and lube front end (my GMC/Chevy vans had 14 grease zirks—current Ford Expy is essentially sealed). But last 10 years or so have let local shop do it. Shop charges just last week were $16.05 labor plus hazmat disposal $1.50. Filter was $4.49, and 7 qts of oil (not synthetic) was 23.03; shop supplies were $.69, tax $1.76. Total $47.52. So it costs me about $20 to have them do it, plus they put it on the lift and check and lube anything that needs it. It's basically a loss-leader for them, but if I have bigger jobs I also use them, and I'm buying tires from them, too.

I used to change oil every 3 months or 3k miles, but now with better oil and lower mileage, every 6 months is OK.

Basically, what cbelt3 said: If it's not in the manual, don't worry about it.

/Mr Lynn

[bazookaman]

50k would indicate it's time for new muffler bearings.

[Bill in NC]

Reality is brake fluid on most new vehicles never gets changed & owners never notice any ill effects.

[Cary]

I recommend changing the brake fluid every 2 - 3 years - it is hygroscopic, as has been mentioned, and can cause corrosion in the brake system.

I wouldn't do the "fuel service", unless there was an issue. You can use a fuel system cleaner added to your gas tank.

[macphanatic]

bazookaman wrote:
50k would indicate it's time for new muffler bearings.

Also time to top off the blinker fluid.

Cary wrote:
I recommend changing the brake fluid every 2 - 3 years - it is hygroscopic, as has been mentioned, and can cause corrosion in the brake system.

It's cheap insurance for the most important safety component of a vehicle.

[NewtonMP2100]

....most stuff @ dealership is way overpriced.....