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Brake Fluid Loss and Brake TSB's

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Care, Maintenance & Troubleshooting' started by jdcollins5, Oct 7, 2011.

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  1. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    45,000+ miles and my level is @ 3/4's full.
     
    #21 Mark57, Oct 10, 2011
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  2. jjPrius

    jjPrius Junior Member

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    20,500 miles - fluid checked last evening after no activity for ~24 hrs...fluid level at minimum mark.

    Jeff
     
    #22 jjPrius, Oct 10, 2011
  3. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    This is very troubling. Fluid should not be at the minimum mark on a newish car where hydraulic brakes are practically an afterthought!
     
    #23 seilerts, Oct 10, 2011
  4. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Couldn't agree more... even after 126K on our ol Camry, I never added fluid to it or had the brakes replaced. Though it was getting close to time. :)
     
    #24 spiderman, Oct 10, 2011
  5. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    I know from a different conversation of at least one person that was misreading the indicator lines on the reservoir tank. So here's a pic with the lines highlighted with a black magic marker just to make sure no one else is reading the wrong line. It's easy to miss the indicator at the bottom since it's dark and down below the seam on the tank.

    I hope this helps. [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

    #25 Mark57, Oct 11, 2011
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  6. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    Thanks Mark, totally misread that one.
     
    #26 spiderman, Oct 11, 2011
  7. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    NP, had to put on my reading glasses and use my 1,000,000 candle power spotlight to see all the lines. ;)

    Even so, I still wonder what the average fill level looks like when they're brand new from the factory. I'd bet they're all a bit different.
     
    #27 Mark57, Oct 11, 2011
  8. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    Thanks Mark. Yes, I was looking at the wrong mark also. Even though this is not the Min mark, the level has still dropped considerably from the Max mark to below the second mark in a short amount of time. I do know that all of my reservoir levels were at the Max mark when new and the brake fluid is the only one that has dropped.

    I will need to get my glasses and high powered flashlight and find the real Min mark :)

    My wife's 2007 Honda Accord with almost 60K miles has not had this much brake fluid drop in a similar size reservoir.
     
    #28 jdcollins5, Oct 11, 2011
  9. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    The line below the MAX mark in your picture is not the MIN mark. The MIN mark is actually below the "seam" at the bottom of your picture and it says "MIN". Your picture shows the level about midway between the MAX and MIN marks, just like mine (I checked it today.)

    EDIT - Sorry, Mark57, I didn't see your picture before I replied.
     
    #29 RRxing, Oct 11, 2011
  10. spiderman

    spiderman wretched

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    ^ just rub it in why don't you. ;)
     
    #30 spiderman, Oct 11, 2011
  11. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    LOL I really wasn't kidding on that part of my post. I really did have to go get my specs and high beam spot light.:D I've never needed glasses my whole life. Then, almost to the day that I turned 50, I had to start wearing 1.25x reading glasses if it's closer than about 30 inches. Major PITA from 20/20. :rolleyes:
     
    #31 Mark57, Oct 11, 2011
  12. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    Same thing here :)

    I wondered why the mark below the Max mark did not have the Min text under it :confused: I would have never thought to look all the way down to the bottom of the reservoir. Of course, I would not have been able to see it without glasses and flashlight either :D
     
    #32 jdcollins5, Oct 11, 2011
  13. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    When I bought mine, it was filled to just above the "not this one" mark in the pic.
     
    #33 El Dobro, Oct 11, 2011
  14. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    I pulled my front tires off this weekend to inspect the work on the front brakes. I could see where the new bushings were added to the two bolts holding the brake caliper brackets (not sure what the purpose of these are) and the white grease added to the tabs on either end of the brake pads where they fit in the housing so they can slide easier. Other than cleaning the greasy hand prints off of the housings everything looked good. I measured the brake pad thickness and both pads showed 8 mm.

    I noticed from the TSB for the rear brakes that they will be replacing :

    Rear Brake Caliper Brackets, Shims, and Rear Brake Pad Replacement

    on my car based on my VIN and serial number. These are the parts that the dealer has on backorder now.

    Still no good explanation on the loss of brake fluid.
     
    #34 jdcollins5, Oct 17, 2011
  15. vinnie97

    vinnie97 Whatever Works

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    ^I haven't looked at the job done on mine but after having both front and rear brake TSBs completed, it almost feels like I have a new car. That rattling was getting to me! I'll have to keep mine eyes on the fluid level henceforward.
     
    #35 vinnie97, Oct 18, 2011
  16. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    That pretty much matches my level. I suspect that's a normal level from the factory build process.
     
    #36 Mark57, Oct 18, 2011
  17. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    It will be interesting to see, if others will continue to comment, where the majority of brake fluid levels are from the factory.

    I am 99.9% sure (there is always that little bit of doubt) that mine was filled to the Max mark. I was always impressed from day one that all 3 of my resevoirs; engine coolant, inverter coolant and brake fluid, never moved off of the Max fill marks. At least not until the last few months when I began to notice a small drop in brake fluid level each time I checked which was about every weekend.
     
    #37 jdcollins5, Oct 18, 2011
  18. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    I'm sure yours probably was full. What we can do is watch the Newbie forum and as new owners post, specifically ask them to check their level and post in this thread.

    I put a pencil mark on mine and will watch it over time. I Googled around quite a bit and the consensus seems to be that there's not much expansion/contraction due to temperature changes so I shouldn't see much change just due to ambient temps.
     
    #38 Mark57, Oct 19, 2011
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  19. yyyiiikes

    yyyiiikes Junior Member

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    I will be receiving a new 2011 next week and can relay the initial level.
     
    #39 yyyiiikes, Oct 19, 2011
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  20. enriquejfr

    enriquejfr Junior Member

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    I noticed that the Consumers Report gives the Prius 2010 a worse than average reliability grade only for breaks. I do not know if the reason is related to mechanics reporting problems with fluid leaks.
     
    #40 enriquejfr, Oct 20, 2011
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