Technical WTF?

I've heard a lot of crazy BS about some of the oil change businesses but this is insane.

My daughter went to the local jiffy lube to get her oil changed because her boss wanted her to go to North Carolina this afternoon and she kept putting it off and didn't ask me, had she it would have already been done, but that point is moot.

Anyway they seem to do severally system checks and they tell her the brake fluid is showing 10% moisture, I'm old school and I have never heard anything like this, they suggested they flush the system and put new brake fluid in.

I checked her brakes and I can't detect any problem, I removed the master cylinder cover and see no indication of any contaminates.

Is this a scheme like some of the brake shops pull? HRP

 

Money sucking scam.

 

When businesses adopt...

 

One of those extra fee gotchas but it is something the two of you can do in the garage at home later.

My mom used to pull the ""My son is a mechanic at ________ I'll ask him about it and then she did the My son teaches auto mechanics I'll ask him about it" thing. I always got asked and always checked it out but upselling is what creates a decent profit margin.

 

They do test for moisture when having a oil change. Pretty much every manufacturer recommends changing brake fluid every 3 years these days.

 

With the trouble free cars we have today and closing service bays shops are looking at anything to make a buck especially with women. Someday I’ll change brake fluid in a car and it will be the first time ever. When I changed the complete rear end and added disc brakes to the front I’m sure it got changed then but because I had to.

 

I change brake fluid every 15 or 20 years, or it leaks out. Which ever comes first. Scam !!

 

I think my antifreeze has some moisture in it----------

 

That's why when I go I tell them only the oil/filter change. Do NOT touch anything else.
Paul in CT

 

Hopefully they didn't use a Fram filter...

 

Basically nothing is free anymore (if it ever was), those 10, 20, 100 point check is for them to find something to up sell......and they WILL find something. BTW around here Jiffy lubes are f'ing horrible, forgetting oil (or not putting in the correct amount), stripping drain plugs.......should stay away at all costs.

 

It's not a scam. You guys are paranoid. She does not need to consent to the service, but it is good that they checked.

I can remember the brake fluid change interval being called out since the 1970s.

Yes, you need to change your brake fluid. It is a thing. It has ALWAYS BEEN A THING!

Brake fluid is hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs moisture. It is supposed to do that. The desired function is to suspend moisture in the fluid, in an effort to keep it off of metal surfaces.

This is not only to prevent corrosion that could to lead to brake failure, it is also to reduce the likelihood of turning that moisture into steam in the brake fluid, under hard braking.

Brake fluid, and even water, are both not compressible. Steam, however, is. That can make for a awful surprise.

In this era of vehicles that do not need any major service for 100,000 miles, people have become detached from the notion that vehicles need any maintenance, at-all!

At GM we would see cars come in from lease return with one bald set of post-OEM tires, OEM belts, and what appear to be all of the original filters in-place, and un-touched.

 

Oh, and 2% moisture in brake fluid is not good.

10% is not acceptable.

 

i change the brake fluid in all of my cars every 5 years

 

Sounds like you have never been to a Jiffy Lube or one of the clones. They typically lay out the air filter and the pcv valve and any other filters the car has.

My Jiffy Lube story: I had just moved here and didn't have my shop setup. I managed to change the u-joints in my truck, but couldn't find my grease gun adapter to get in small spaces to lube them. I went to a Jiffy Lube and asked specifically for them to grease the u-joints. The young man said yes sir, we lube every point listed on the manufacturer's chart. I told him the truck came with non-greasable u-joints, I just changed them and I wanted them lubed. I think I got the same answer.

I watched them service the truck and pull it out. I told the young man at the desk that I never saw the lube mechanic go anywhere near the u-joints. Would you check with him and make sure he lubed them? The young man went out and talked to the lube mechanic then came in and asked me for my keys. They brought the truck back in and the lube mechanic proceeded to lube the upper ball joints (guess he didn't do that the first time). I took the truck home, searched around and found my small adapter for my grease gun and lubed them myself.

 

I change the brake fluid in every vehicle that I own, except for those that have mechanical brakes, every 3-years.

 

<-------- I have owned this car for 33 years now and have never changed the brake fluid, they still work as goon as the day I installed them. HRP

 

GM literature

the oil change place is performing a CYA.
If you refuse the service, they have done their job legally to inform you

 

But your daughter knew to ask you first.
And you knew to ask here.
Glad you did.

 

I have a muscle car that I've never changed the brake fluid in and it developed a leaky rear wheel cylinder.

I have 4 OT cars, one with 209,000 miles on it, that I've changed the brake fluid on the manufacturer's schedule which I think is every 2 years. The brake fluid comes out black and while I haven't checked the moisture content, I expect it has a bit.

 

Gimpy is absolutely correct, most people grossly neglect their brake fluid, just because you haven’t had a problem doesn’t make it right.

 

I don't trust the oil change places or brake shops, but you guys have opened my eyes on the moisture content in brake fluid.

I plan on taking the 32 and my daughters car to my pal Earl's Shop early next week and get him to check the brake fluid moisture content in both cars,

 

It's also true when they recommend air filter changes. One of those places wanted to charge my daughter $80 for an air filter change. A trip to the auto parts store for a $15 air filter, and taking 10 minutes to show her how to do it,
and done.

 

Friend of our had an OT Mercedes wagon, they always took it to the dealer for service. About once a year they would change all the fluids, brake and all. She told me normal service on that car was about $300, the yearly was close to $1500! They got rid of it after a couple of years, cost too much to keep up!

 

Just change the fluid. It is preventive maintenance. You don't wait until you spin a rod bearing to change your oil!

I don't understand the resistance to this notion.

This would be like saying "I feel fine. I'm not listening to my doctor, what does he know, anyways?! Telling me that I need to take steps to lower my cholesterol is just a Big Medicine scam!"

Surprise birthday parties can be fun. Surprise brake failures, probably not.

Don't gamble with life-safety equipment.

 

When I worked at the Subaru dealer it was an annual service. None of are regular customers had any hydraulic problem with the brakes.

 

So, when a Jiffy Lube changes the brake fluid, they bleed every wheel cylinder? That is the only way to do it completely. Or are they just sucking most of the master dry then topping off with new fluid?

 

So, how exactly is this measured? Inquiring minds want to know…..

If someone has already said…my apologies. I have Automotive Deficit Disorder.

 

Every three years old man.