Technicians Talk with PTT Lubricants: "Loss of brake fluid" should be refilled or not?

Technicians Talk with PTT Lubricants: "Loss of brake fluid" should be refilled or not?

 

“Brake fluid loss? Do we have to refill it?”

If you are now facing this problem, don’t worry. Take it easy and try reading this first. "Technicians Talk with PTT Lubricants” is here to answer all the questions for you!

It is commonly known that the braking system is very important when driving on the road as it helps control the car to slow down or to stop safely. For that reason, the braking system is a safety system that car users should not overlook and should always make sure that parts in the system are in good condition, especially the brake fluid. If the fluid is overly added or neglected to the point that it is abnormally decreased, it can negatively affect the braking and driving performance of your car.

When talking about the brake fluid, many car users might have experienced worrisome problems like fluid depletion.

When changing the brake fluid for the whole system, the amount of the fluid in the tank should be at the maximum level (Max), this level will also serve as a reference when observing whether there is a leak or not. Apart from that, a the brake fluid level should only change slightly over the course of use (learn more details from the manual of each car model), if the fluid is found to be decreased or abnormally lower than the minimum level (Min) in a short period of time, that means the leak has occurred.

If this happens, don't rush to add the fluid and continue using the car right away. It is better to find the cause of the brake fluid loss first so that you can know where to fix it. In case of an irregular loss, let us assume that there are problems with the brake system. Since there may be damage to the parts inducing leak, deterioration of brake fluid, or any other part, it is important to have the whole system inspected and fixed right away for your own safety.

The leak of brake fluid can be caused by many reasons, such as:

Brake pads wear

As the brake pads wear and become thinner over time, the piston in caliper (disc brake) or brake cylinder (drum brake) will be pushed to move farther out for maintaining the proper distance between the brake pads/brake shoes and disc/drum. So, more volume of the brake fluid is required to be displaced in the piston. As the fluid is displaced, the level of brake fluid in the reservoir can reduce as well.

Leak in brake fluid pipe

Car users should check the area around the brake fluid pipe for stains or leaks of brake fluid. If the stains are found, the brake fluid pipe may be leaking. As this can lead to accidents caused by broken brakes or longer braking distances, if you notice an abnormality in the brake fluid pipe, it is recommended to have it replaced immediately.

Worn-out O-ring in the brake caliper 

Car users should check the brake caliper area and brake discs to see if there is any oil stain or leak. If yes, it indicates that the O-ring inside the brake caliper may be damaged or deteriorated and should be replaced immediately.

Deteriorated O-ring rubber around the joint

Car users should check each joint of the brake system. Oil stains will indicate whether there is damage or deterioration of the O-ring rubber or not. If yes, it should be replaced immediately.

Brake fluid degradation

Brake fluid degradation from extended drain intervals or high levels of contaminants can also damage the rubber ball in the wheel cylinder that prevents oil leaks. With the rubber ball being damaged, the brake fluid will leak out. It is recommended to have the fluid changed as soon as possible for your own safety.
 

How would car users know when to change the brake fluid?

The initial recommendation is to have the fluid in the whole system changed according to the distance specified by the manual of each car model, such as every 40,000 kilometers or 2 years in order for the brake fluid to work at its maximum efficiency.

Learn more details about our brake fluid: https://pttlubricants.pttor.com/en/product_trading/0/0/0/144 

 

Therefore, if the brake fluid level appears to decrease abnormally, do not add more brake fluid right away. It would be better to start checking the brake system first and see if there is a leak. When any leak is found, use clean water to wash the area touched by the brake fluid to prevent damage to the parts and paint. The car should be brought to the service center afterwards to have a thorough check to prevent an accident from a broken brake or longer braking distance.

More importantly, car users should always check the condition and the level of the brake fluid and make sure to have it changed when reaching the specified distance. Do not forget to use high quality brake fluid to increase the efficiency and durability of the braking system for a longer service life. With care from PTT Lubricants

High-quality brake fluid SYNTHETIC BRAKE FLUID DOT 3 and SYNTHETIC BRAKE FLUID DOT 4 from PTT Lubricants are available today at any store that carries PTT Lubricants products near you. 💙