Brake maintenance:brake fluid exchange

Why flush the brake fluid? 

Many Original Equipment Manufacturers require the brake fluid to be flushed every two years or 30,000 miles (whichever comes first), to keep the warranty in effect. Both the Car Care Council and The Motorist Assurance Program recommend this service as well.

Brake fluid is hygroscopic. This means it absorbs water (humidity) agressively. Normally brake fluid absorbs 1% to 2% of its weight in water per year. The actual amount of water depends on the condition of the system components, most importantly the hoses. It also depends on the type of brake fluid, humidity and driving conditions.  

The brake fluid needs to be exchanged for two reasons.

1. Moisture in the system will cause the fluid to boil at significantly lower tempuratures. If the fluid boils, this could result in brake failure.

   Even if the brake system is "sealed", moisture still enters the system.This is why most  brake fluid resevoirs allow the brake fluid level to be checked without removing the cap.

   New, DOT 3 (Deparment Of Transportation) brake fluid boils at 401 degrees. With moisture contamination ("wet") DOT 3 brake fluid boils at 284 degrees. 

   DOT 4 brake fluid, primarily used in high performance applications, boils at 446 degrees when new, and 311 degrees when "wet".

    
2.  Water in the brake fluid causes corrosion of metal components in the braking system.

This corrosion can cause fluid loss, low and soft brake pedal,and premature pad and or shoe wear that may result in damage to the brake rotor or brake drum.

Corrosion caused by moisture in the  brakeing system may damage expensive Anti Lock Brake Components.

How does a car owner know when to have fluid changed?

There are 3 basic types of testers.

1.  
   1.  
      1.  
         1.  
            1. reagent dip strips 
            2. electronic
            3. refractometer

 

The greatest problem with all three testers is that the fluid is usually tested in the Master Cylinder Resevoir. It is much more difficult to test the other areas of the system. These other areas are much more likely to contain the highest degree of contaminants. It is much more cost effective to flush the fluid regularly to prevent problems.

 

 

Note that the sample of new brake fluid, on the right, is clear. The sample on the left is contaminated brake fluid.

 

 

Maintenance:How should I maintain my car?

What are the benefits of maintaining your vehicle?

• DO NOT think of auto maintenance as an expense, think of it as an investment. Your vehicle is usually the second largest expense in your lifetime. According to Consumer Reports, the average automobile owner can save over $30,000.00 by driving their car up to 225,000 miles.

THE COST OF AUTO MAINTENANCE IS NOT EXPENSIVE        THE COST OF AUTO NEGLECT IS

• According to R.L. O'Connor, a consultant that deals speciffically with the automotive industry, consumers can save over 40% by maintaining their vehicle vs waiting for a component failure.
• Resale value is also a consideration. A consumer who can prove their vehicle has been properly maintained, makes their vehicle more valuable and offers a distinct advantage over vehicles with no service history.
• Reliability. Many of us depend on our vehicle for day to day activities. The commute to work, grocery shopping, picking up the kids after school or sporting events, weddings, or traveling to your family's for the holidays. A vehicle failure that could have been prevented by regular maintenance is not only inconvenient, but can also be expensive. Missed work, late fees at daycare,hotels and meals, and towing fees on top of the unscheduled repair costs.

It is always easier to schedule your vehicle for service at your convenience rather than at your cars convenience.

Terry's Car Care, 332 W Johnson St, Madison, WI, 53703

 

Which type of fuel injection service is best for me?

There are 2 basic types of fuel injection service:

1. The first type involves adding a cleaner to the fuel tank. The cleaner is then pumped by the fuel pump to the injector's and the intake valves. In my opinion, there is two basic problems with this system. The first problem is the cleaner will remove any fuel deposits formed in the tank. These deposits could possibly damage the fuel pump. Secondly, it is difficult to control the concentration of the cleaner because the amount of the fuel in the tank varies.

2. The second type of service involve disabling the fuel pump and using the pump on the tool to run the car using the cleaner. This eliminates possible damage to the fuel pump and allows more precise control of the concentration of the cleaner. Another benefit of this type of system is it allows testing of the fuel pump pressure and volume, as well as a leak down check on the fuel system.

REMEMBER THIS SERVICE WORKS ONLY AS WELL AS THE QUALITY OF THE CLEANER!

Our patented fuel injection cleaner is the crown jewel of this service. This  fuel injection cleaner's unparalleled results are the benchmark of the industry.

Fuel needs to be in the form of VAPOR to burn completely. The best way to assure this happens is to spray the fuel in the smallest droplets possible. The fuel pressure and volume, along with the injector design are responsible for this action. Additionally, the manufacturer designs the cylinder head so the fuel sprays directly on to the intake valve., which is very hot. This promotes complete vaporization of the fuel. This results in: 

• LOWERS EMISSIONS
• IMPROVED FUEL ECONOMY
• RESTORED ENGINE PERFORMANCE

Carbon deposits normally occur thru the combustion process. These deposits can reduce the quantity of fuel, as well as the vaporization of the fuel.

The top injector has carbon deposits that reduce both the volume and vaporization of the fuel.

 

The bottom injector functions properly after cleaning

 

 

 

The intake valve on the left has carbon deposits . These deposits prevent air and fuel from properly entering the combustion chamber. These deposits inhibit proper fuel vaporization.The valve on the right has been cleaned.

 

It is critical the throttle body and Idle air passage be free of carbon. The throttle body allows a specifically calibrated quanity of air to flow past the throttle plates at idle. The computerized engine controls uses a small electric motor to allow more or less air to bypass the throttle plates through the idle air passage. If carbon blocks the flow of air, it may cause poor throttle response and/or rough idle.

Finally, a service worth considering, is the cleaning of the mass air flow sensor. This service usually costs extra, but can be very worthwile on vehicles with higher mileage. The computerized engine controls uses the mass air flow sensor's signal to control fuel delivery. If the sensor is dirty, it will not respond as rapidly as it should resulting in poor engine performance and reduced fuel economy.

I hope you found this article informative. Thanks for your time. If you have questions about our fuel injection services or need car maintenance we welcome your questions.