Brake fluid change

[Asjem65]

Hi

some advice please, just looking a booking my 6.1 jan 24 Cali in for its 2nd year service (as part of the free 5 plus plan ) My query is when looking to book online the service it states my brake fluid is due changing, add for £99. I find this somewhat premature at 2 years and just 16k miles. I suspect VW trying to claw some money out of us in way of servicing. In all the cars ive owned none have needed brake fluid change at 2 years?!!! What's peoples thoughts, experience please.

 

[The Little Red Cali]

The recommendation was at 3 years and then every 2 thereafter. It’s now apparently changed and it’s now just every 2 years. My van is 25 months old and I’ve just had it done. £79. They said it was essential maintenance so I not going to give them an excuse to riggle out of a warranty claim if anything failed with regards to the brakes.

 

[Asjem65]

The recommendation was at 3 years and then every 2 thereafter. It’s now apparently changed and it’s now just every 2 years. My van is 25 months old and I’ve just had it done. £79. They said it was essential maintenance so I not going to give them an excuse to riggle out of a warranty claim if anything failed with regards to the brakes.

Im going to have to suck it up and have it done.. As you say don't want to give them an excuse!! We all know though it's just a money extracting exercise.. Thanks for your reply.

 

[Bellcrew]

The recommendation was at 3 years and then every 2 thereafter. It’s now apparently changed and it’s now just every 2 years. My van is 25 months old and I’ve just had it done. £79. They said it was essential maintenance so I not going to give them an excuse to riggle out of a warranty claim if anything failed with regards to the brakes.

If it is "essential maintenance" somewhat surprising the procedure is not included in the standard service.

 

[Perfectos]

Brake fluid is hygroscopic,
It is designed to operate in a semi closed system under pressure.

the reason to replace the fluid is to ensure the water content it naturally absorbs does not impair its function when heated (i.e. under heavy breaking )
Similarly increase water content can cause corrosion to the internal brake components such as slave cylinders , pistons , brake lines etc,

There is no requirement to replace brake fluid at pre determined intervals, other than the extra revenue achieved by the dealer.

Brake fluid can be tested for water content very simply and within a minute.

Usually checking is carried out annually, two years after the last fluid change. Usually modern brake fluid is good for more than two years (lots more)
when the fluid is found to have elevated water content, approaching the predetermined levels & via the metered test, its is then changed. (Not before )

VW dealers take the opportunity to upsell this change at specific intervals "Recommend " to change for safety reasons ! (Scare tactic)
This is highly lucrative for the Main dealer as they charge a ridiculous amount compared to other highly competent garages.

Also binning perfectly good brake fluid is not environmentally friendly and purely cost the consumer unnecessarily !

I'm sure some will come on here to defend the practice , but in reality a simple one minute test can determine if the brake fluid needs to be changed.
Why change before it needs to be changed , the degradation is a very slow process, which can be monitored upto a level which is Considered normal brake fluid operating parameters.

Similarly Not one single brake components are not covered under warranty, therefore "recommended maintenance" is purely a safety consideration & one that should not be an issue for a vehicle within the first three years (See simple annual test) if it were recognised as an issue within the first three years, surely they would make it a mandatory change within the service schedule, not a recommendation!

It's your choice if you want to be ripped off by the main dealer pricing or have the fluid checked properly by a trusted garage and help save the environment and your pocket.

 

[Perfectos]

A simple cheap tester, every decent garage will have something like this

Best brake fluid testers 2023 | Auto Express

Knowing the state of your brake fluid is vital. Which tester is best?

www.autoexpress.co.uk

 

[Perfectos]

Do You Really Need to Replace Brake Fluid Every 3 Years? The Truth About Brake Fluid Maintenance - AutoCarsHub

Brake fluid, the unsung hero of your car's stopping power. It's a crucial component, often overlooked, yet vital for your safety on the road. You've probably

autocarshub.com

 

[sidepod]

Isn’t it funny how it’s only important/considered/carried out when vehicles are new-ish.
Get them to fit the type of fluid used in slightly older cars because that lasts for donkeys years!!

 

[Wannabecamperman]

If it is "essential maintenance" somewhat surprising the procedure is not included in the standard service.

I was going to say precisely this. Anything 'essential' should ordinarily be covered in the standard services carried out as part of the 5 year promise.

 

[procrastinator]

recently had the same, 2nd service 73 plate.
yes, I thought it should come under the service plan, but if you don't have it done, your van might not have a full service history!

 

[KevH]

Similar experience, 3 years old, interim service, brake fluid change highly recommended. £90.
So far three different prices have been quoted in this thread, all by VW dealers. Surely there is a set charge for such basic items? Or do dealers just charge what they like?

 

[Saesneg Shaun]

Breeze Poole charged me £82.50 + VAT so £99 inc yesterday

 

[dspuk]

Similar experience, 3 years old, interim service, brake fluid change highly recommended. £90.
So far three different prices have been quoted in this thread, all by VW dealers. Surely there is a set charge for such basic items? Or do dealers just charge what they like?

Parts prices are (generally) the same nationwide. Dealer rates, like any garage, differer by region and dealer group. Dealers are generally independent franchises. There are very few, if any, OEM dealers.

London will pay the most. Outermost regions less. Like houses.

 

[Quiddle]

Parts prices are (generally) the same nationwide. Dealer rates, like any garage, differer by region and dealer group. Dealers are generally independent franchises. There are very few, if any, OEM dealers.

London will pay the most. Outermost regions less. Like houses.

£69, North Wales Van Center in October.

 

[Magic Bus]

My 6 year old 2019 Van, done 24,000 miles, had apparently never had its brake fluid changed, so I had it done at the last service in May 2025. I paid £105 inc vat at Marshalls in Lincoln. I have a service package but apparently this isn’t covered.

 

[Jerry999]

A simple cheap tester, every decent garage will have something like this

Best brake fluid testers 2023 | Auto Express

Knowing the state of your brake fluid is vital. Which tester is best?

www.autoexpress.co.uk

I use a similar tester to check my brake fluid. Out of all of my vehicles only the 10 year old MX5 with dubious service history shows any moisture content and that’s only 1%.
In my opinion, rather than replacing perfectly good fluid every two years the service provider should simply test the fluid and advice the customer to replace it should the moisture content show it necessary.
Yes, they are never going to do this as that’s a revenue stream lost!

 

[Jerry999]

I bought this one - works a treat.
Brake fluid tester

 

[Bellcrew]

I use a similar tester to check my brake fluid. Out of all of my vehicles only the 10 year old MX5 with dubious service history shows any moisture content and that’s only 1%.
In my opinion, rather than replacing perfectly good fluid every two years the service provider should simply test the fluid and advice the customer to replace it should the moisture content show it necessary.
Yes, they are never going to do this as that’s a revenue stream lost!

Presumably they use a tester and confirm there is negligible moisture detected, tempting not to bother actually changing the proven safe fluid?

 

[silversurfer]

I use a similar tester to check my brake fluid. Out of all of my vehicles only the 10 year old MX5 with dubious service history shows any moisture content and that’s only 1%.
In my opinion, rather than replacing perfectly good fluid every two years the service provider should simply test the fluid and advice the customer to replace it should the moisture content show it necessary.
Yes, they are never going to do this as that’s a revenue stream lost!

My local independent tests mine - so far no replacment needed. As he puts it, if you're going rallying maybe you need new fluid - but for most of us it's fine..

 

[faustomilani]

CIAO

Qualche consiglio per favore, sto solo cercando di prenotare la mia 6.1 California del 24 gennaio per il tagliando del secondo anno (come parte del piano gratuito 5 plus). La mia domanda è: quando cerco di prenotare il tagliando online, mi viene detto che il liquido dei freni deve essere cambiato, aggiungendo 99 sterline. Trovo questo un po' prematuro a 2 anni e solo 16.000 miglia. Ho il sospetto che la VW stia cercando di estorcerci dei soldi per il tagliando. In tutte le auto che ho posseduto, nessuna ha avuto bisogno del cambio del liquido dei freni dopo 2 anni?!!! Cosa ne pensate, esperienza per favore.

The brake oil is an horoscopic fluid and and all the vehicle manufacturer suggested to change it every 2nd year.

 

[faustomilani]

L'olio dei freni è un fluido oroscopico e tutti i produttori di veicoli consigliano di cambiarlo ogni 2 anni.

igroscopico

 

[Blanco]

When you have brake fluid changed check that they replaced the fluid in each brake line. I had ours done at a local tyre centre earlier this year and found only one of the brake nipples was damp - they'd drained the old fluid from the caliper furthest from the cylinder and not bothered with the other three.