How to check the brake fluid level?
How to check the level?
To check the level of brake fluid, you should find a reservoir in the engine compartment into which this fluid is poured. And this is where a lot of people run into trouble. Some car owners have no idea where the brake fluid reservoir is located. For example, in some models of the French car industry, in order to remove the cover to check or measure the fluid level, you will have to use a special tool. Having found the tank, you should pay attention to two marks: a minimum and a maximum. Ideally, if the brake fluid level is between these marks. If the liquid in the tank is less than the minimum mark, then it is necessary to add to the ideal level given above.
What does brake fluid do?
Naturally, a lot has been said and written about how to check the brake fluid level. Therefore, it is worth explaining to car owners why it is so important. And it's not even that with a low level of brake fluid in the tank, the braking system reacts worse to the driver's orders.
The disadvantage of brake fluid is its low hygroscopicity threshold. In other words, it is able to absorb moisture. Moisture can seep through weak points in the system, even the pores of the hoses can let it through. The result of mixing brake fluid and moisture is the loss of the original properties. Most car owners do not even have an idea about the processes described in the brake system. If you conduct a check, then every second driver can identify problems.
If there is even three percent moisture in the brake fluid, the boiling point drops to 150 degrees. Although in the ideal scenario, this parameter should be at around 250 degrees. Accordingly, in the event of a sharp use of the brakes and subsequent overheating of the pads, the liquid will boil and bubbles will appear. In this case, the fluid will become easily compressible, which will lead to a slow transmission of braking force. Thus, the so-called failures of the brakes occur.
In general, the brake fluid must be replaced after a run of a maximum of sixty thousand kilometers. Or after two years of using the car with less mileage.
Some experienced drivers may question the above information. And they motivate this by the fact that in any modern car there is a large amount of electronics that will find any errors. However, when passing a technical inspection, you can ask about the presence of moisture in the brake fluid and its effect on the behavior of the car on the road. Any employee of the diagnostic station will confirm that even three percent moisture reduces braking efficiency several times.
How to check for moisture?
To check the level of moisture that is present in the brake fluid, you can use a very easy-to-use device, equipped with only three lights of different colors. It is enough to lower it into the tank with the investigated liquid and in a couple of seconds the tester will give the result. But even here it is best to visit a service station, where employees will measure the moisture level, as well as replace the brake fluid, if necessary.
