Changing brake fluid?

[Jendsley06]

So I took my 18 ram to the dealer today for a complimentary oil change as usual, and before they got done I was informed that I needed my coolant and brake fluid both changed. 48k miles service items I believe. This may technically be the recommendation, but since when does the brake fluid ever need changed if it isn't ever opened? I'm not sure about the coolant, but the brake fluid just blew my mind. And when I asked the service advisor about ZF and their recommendation of a 100k service on the transmission, they say they have never done one. Doesn't need it. Even under heavy use...
And last oil change, they let me know that I was due for an air filter, and this time, it didn't get brought up. Maybe it cleaned itself. LOL

 

[crazykid1994]

Brake fluid should be changed due to heat degradation. I usually do 50,000 miles. Comes out brown and usually feels more responsive after changing. Dot 4 is synthetic and I think is rated to 10 years before you’re supposed to change it. Had a 97 bought at around 90,000 miles that never had brake fluid changed. Changed it at 150,000 and it was jet black. Put in dot 4 and the brakes felt less spongy.
Edit: I also believe the coolant to be a 10 year 100,000 mile type as well. Not 100 on that though

 

[stevenP]

Thats funny, on my 14 the brake fluid looks slightly darker that I thought it should. The service manager at the local RAM dealer told me they never usually swap out brake fluid. He said they could if I wanted the brakes bled, but they usually never do anything like just swap out the fluid, as routine maintenance.

 

[RVGuy]

I've never done brake fluid on any of my vehicles unless I was opening the system for some reason. I did my coolant flush when the manual said to at 240,000km/150,000miles.
Air filter they're likely just telling you when the intervals show up on their system. The manual actually lists a distance and time interval for the air filters for some reason.
As for the trans, I'm on the fence about it. I still have the 6 speed but I've asked some dealers about the 8 and they for the most part haven't done any service on them. For the amount of 8 speeds out there and the amount of people who are likely listening to the dealers and Ram and not doing fluid changes, I've not really heard of any failures at all... It's encouraging to say the least, they also list lifetime fluid on the HD trucks so we'll see how that goes.

 

[Wild one]

I've never done brake fluid on any of my vehicles unless I was opening the system for some reason. I did my coolant flush when the manual said to at 240,000km/150,000miles.
Air filter they're likely just telling you when the intervals show up on their system. The manual actually lists a distance and time interval for the air filters for some reason.
As for the trans, I'm on the fence about it. I still have the 6 speed but I've asked some dealers about the 8 and they for the most part haven't done any service on them. For the amount of 8 speeds out there and the amount of people who are likely listening to the dealers and Ram and not doing fluid changes, I've not really heard of any failures at all... It's encouraging to say the least, they also list lifetime fluid on the HD trucks so we'll see how that goes.

That's only Chryslers recommendation,ZF themselves recommends between if I remember right 80,000 to 100,000 kms for a service on the 8HP70,and seeing as how they build the trannies,i'd probably go with ZF's reconmendations over Chryslers reconmendations

 

[RVGuy]

That's only Chryslers recommendation,ZF themselves recommends between if I remember right 80,000 to 100,000 kms for a service on the 8HP70,and seeing as how they build the trannies,i'd probably go with ZF's reconmendations over Chryslers reconmendations

I know.... I never said they didn't. Just saying that with how many people who are likely unaware of that and listen to the dealers and Ram there is shockingly very very little failures in the 8 speeds. Especially since they've been in use for I think 7 years now?
If you go on a BMW forum they have failures left and right with their ZF transmissions so I just found it weird that it's so uncommon on the trucks.

 

[crash68]

I also believe the coolant to be a 10 year 100,000 mile type as well. Not 100 on that though

That is correct, the OAT coolant is 10 year 100K mile coolant, that printed right on the jug. Even the previous HOAT coolant has a 5 year 100K mile rating.

 

[dexter]

So I took my 18 ram to the dealer today for a complimentary oil change as usual, and before they got done I was informed that I needed my coolant and brake fluid both changed. 48k miles service items I believe. This may technically be the recommendation, but since when does the brake fluid ever need changed if it isn't ever opened? I'm not sure about the coolant, but the brake fluid just blew my mind. And when I asked the service advisor about ZF and their recommendation of a 100k service on the transmission, they say they have never done one. Doesn't need it. Even under heavy use...
And last oil change, they let me know that I was due for an air filter, and this time, it didn't get brought up. Maybe it cleaned itself. LOL

Brake fluid should be changed it absorbes water.
I had brake and steering fluid change d at 50k and can feel the difference.

 

[Octane]

That is correct, the OAT coolant is 10 year 100K mile coolant, that printed right on the jug. Even the previous HOAT coolant has a 5 year 100K mile rating.

10 year 150k on OAT

 

[crash68]

10 year 150k on OAT

I blame auto correct ...lol

 

[madtrucker2016]

When I do my oil change I take some brake fluid out with a turkey baster my wife gave me to use. I suck it up and put it in a water bottle ,then just fill up the brake container with dot 3. over time it really makes a difference.

 

[crazykid1994]

When I do my oil change I take some brake fluid out with a turkey baster my wife gave me to use. I suck it up and put it in a water bottle ,then just fill up the brake container with dot 3. over time it really makes a difference.

You should be using dot 4. It’s compatible to mix with dot 3 and most newer vehicles come with dot 4 already. It’s a higher heat rating.

 

[88ROOK]

correct me if I'm wrong, but isnt if you change the fluid on the 8 speed trannys you have to buy a new bottom pan cause you have to drop it to change the fluid and possibly the trans filter...i could be wrong here just thought i read it somewhere

 

[crazykid1994]

correct me if I'm wrong, but isnt if you change the fluid on the 8 speed trannys you have to buy a new bottom pan cause you have to drop it to change the fluid and possibly the trans filter...i could be wrong here just thought i read it somewhere

The pan has the filter built into it. PPE has a pan and filter kit that is separate

 

[88ROOK]

The pan has the filter built into it. PPE has a pan and filter kit that is separate

right, that what i was getting at so you do have buy a whole new tranny pan when you change the fluid (think its plastic to). probably why its 100,000 mile change interval

 

[madtrucker2016]

You should be using dot 4. It’s compatible to mix with dot 3 and most newer vehicles come with dot 4 already. It’s a higher heat rating.

The bottle says dot 3 and dot 4 on it so what do I do re-buy the fluid Lol

 

[Wild one]

right, that what i was getting at so you do have buy a whole new tranny pan when you change the fluid (think its plastic to). probably why its 100,000 mile change interval

It's actually 100,000 km or roughly 62,000 miles.ZF is in Germany and they use the metric system like the rest of the world,only you Yanks still use the old imperial system anymore,lol
I thought somebody here posted a link to a composite Dorman pan that uses a replacable filter,the PPE pan is beautiful ,I have one,but it won't clear the stock Y pipe under the tranny with-out some tweaking

 

[patmanz28]

Seriously find another dealer. At the age of the vehicle, I would only change brake fluid if I regularly towed near max capacity in the mountains. Your coolant I'm sure is good as its 150k coolant, but if you are a maintenance nut it would not hurt anything to do both. I do the brake fluid every 4 to 5 years and that seems pretty good to me.

 

[Bob1313]

Changing brake fluid is a good idea as it absorbs moisture readily from the atmosphere.

Just get some on your hands and see how quickly your skin dries out.

That water not only will cause rust in the system, when it gets down to the calipers and cylinders, it boils and erodes the metal. This can lead to leaks and malfunctions.

I have spent my life as a mechanic. During the first half, we didn't change the fluid, instead we honed, resealed and replaced cylinders. The second part, we started changing the fluid and I do not recall changing any parts due to erosion, only accident and abuse.

Why risk an accident caused by brake failure? I've seen it happen.

That said, I only use synthetic. It holds up much better all around.

 

[TallCowboy0614]

Brake fluid NEVER needs to be changed unless the system has been opened at some point.

Repeat.

Never.

*eyeroll* some people's kids...