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How often do you change your brake fluid?

Discussion in 'Prius c Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by bonanzoo, Feb 16, 2020.

  1. bonanzoo

    bonanzoo Member

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    One of my struts was leaking fluid, so I ended up just changing both front complete strut assemblies and new brake pads. Should I have my brake fluid change or should I just leave the existing fluid? Do you think that changing the fluid would loosen up at seal and somehow or another mess up the ABS module? I am at 140k. Thanks.
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I would go for it, change the fluid. Toyota Canada recommends tri-yearly or 48K kms brake fluid changes, for all their vehicles. Toyota USA says nothing, as far as I know. To be fair, Toyota Canada just start saying to change it, starting 4~5 years back. Honda Canada's recommended brake fluid change tri-yearly, regardless of mileage, as far back as I can recall.

    If you're planning to get it done by pro's, I'd strongly recommend to stay with a dealership. Phone around for best price, shouldn't be much more than $100.

    Ask that they do a quick test drive after (to verify brake function), and verify all bleed caps are back on.*

    I don't have a Prius c brake-fluid-change-without-Techstream instruction (or any portion of the Prius c Repair Manual). If you're going to DIY I'd recommend to log into Toyota Tech Info, see what they say.

    Hopefully there is a published Techstream-free method, there is for 3rd gen Prius, but not for second gen, fwiw.

    If you HAVE Techstream, that opens up your options more.

    Even though it's not your car, worthwhile to watch @NutzAboutBolts video, doing the the job on a 3rd gen. Links in a thread pinned in the 3rd gen maintenance forum.

    * I've had a dealership (not Toyota) royally mess up a brake fluid change: they left one rear brake inoperative. To add insult to injury, they lost half the bleed valve caps. They heard about it...
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, Feb 16, 2020
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2020
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    what does your maintenance schedule say? i haven't done mine either
     
  4. bonanzoo

    bonanzoo Member

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    I couldn’t find it anywhere. I even called Toyota and they said it’s not listed in my maintenance schedule. I guess I’ll have it done. Hopefully all goes well.
     
  5. bonanzoo

    bonanzoo Member

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    I found a shop that works primarily on Prius’s and he told me $85. He said he had the proper equipment to change it. The dealership all quoted me $130$-$160 :/ let’s hope this all goes well.
     
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  6. Jon Watkins

    Jon Watkins Active Member

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    Just had it done last week on the wife’s 2015 with 50k miles. $139 at the local stealership.
     
  7. dig4dirt

    dig4dirt MoonGlow

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    I did my "c" and my Gen3 at the 5 year mark. (about 6 months ago)
    It was sorta easy to DIY it.

    But for $85 done, and done right....I would let them do it :)
    I would probably pay upwards of $150 too.

    I am not sure atm if I will go to the 3 yr interval or maybe just every 5 yr
     
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  8. AtkinsonCycle

    AtkinsonCycle Junior Member

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    Hello. I did mine at 93k miles - about 3 years old. It's time again now - almost 200k miles and 3 years. Generally, there is a time and mileage recommendation for maintenance items. Oddly, I believe Toyota recommends different intervals for various places in the world. I realize the climate varies, but it's strange to see what Toyota recommends for the same maintenance item at different service intervals based on where the car is. I believe Canadian service intervals are a bit 'tighter' (meaning lower mileage) than the U.S. recommendations. I think changing them at a recommended interval makes much more sense than stretching the interval. Fluids can be recycled, and if changing them prevents a major component failure, it's worth it. I drive my car quite a bit, so generally I hit the service interval based off the mileage suggestion, not the time.
     
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  9. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    For Toyota USA and Canada recommendations see my post #2. Toyota USA says nothing, Toyota Canada does have a recommendation.
     
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