Understanding The Role of Brake Fluid in Your Toyota
Understanding The Role of Brake Fluid in Your Toyota
Posted on October 18, 2023
Toyotas have become synonymous with reliability and are known Canada-wide for their durability, dependability and performance. However, like any car, your Toyota requires regular maintenance to make sure it runs smoothly and safely.
One critical aspect of vehicle maintenance that often goes overlooked is the brake fluid. Brake fluid plays a crucial role in your braking system, and knowing when and why to change it is an important part of owning a Toyota.
Understanding the Role of Brake Fluid
Before diving into when and why you should change your Toyota brake fluid, you need to first understand the role it plays in your braking system.
Brake fluid is a hydraulic fluid that transfers the force of your foot pressing the brake pedal to the brake callipers. This then takes that pressure are applies it to the brake pads and eventually brings your vehicle to a stop.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, which means it can absorb moisture from the air over time. This moisture can lead to several issues within your braking system, ultimately affecting the ability of your Toyota to stop safely.
When Should You Change Your Toyota's Brake Fluid?
The frequency at which you should change your Toyota's brake fluid largely depends on the model and your driving habits. Toyota Canada recommends having your brake fluid removed and replaced with Toyota-approved brake fluid every 48,000 km.
However, you might need to change it more frequently if you use your vehicle for harder tasks such as regularly towing a trailer or if you live in a particularly humid climate.
In addition to these general guidelines, there are also some signs that can indicate it might be time to change your brake fluid.
How The Brake Pedal Feesl: If you notice a spongy or soft feeling in the brake pedal when you press it with your foot, it could be a sign of moisture contamination in the brake fluid.
The Colour Of Your Brake Fluid: Fresh brake fluid is almost clear with a slight yellowish tinge. Over time, it usually becomes darker and can even turn brown or black. A change in colour can indicate contamination and that you need to get your brake fluid changed.
You Hear Strange Noises: If you hear squealing or grinding noises when you apply the brakes, it could be a sign of air or moisture in the brake lines.
You Have Reduced Braking Power: If you find your vehicle takes longer to stop or the brakes feel less responsive, this could be another sign your brake fluid has become compromised.
Why Should You Change Your Toyota Brake Fluid?
Changing your Toyota's brake fluid is important for a few reasons:
Safety: The most important reason to change brake fluid is to maintain the safety of your vehicle. Brake fluid contaminated with moisture can lead to reduced braking efficiency, longer stopping distances and even brake failure in extreme cases.
Prolonging Brake System Life: Regular brake fluid changes can help extend the life of your braking system components, such as brake pads, callipers, and rotors. It also prevents corrosion and damage caused by contaminated brake fluid.
Maintaining Performance: Fresh brake fluid ensures that your brakes work at their best, allowing you to stop quickly and effectively when needed. This is especially crucial in emergency situations when you need to come to a stop immediately.
Preventing Costly Repairs: Neglecting brake fluid maintenance can lead to expensive repairs down the line. Regular fluid changes are a small investment compared to the cost of repairing a damaged brake system, which can be in the thousands.
What Brake Fluid Should I Use For My Toyota?
Toyota Genuine Parts are designed by the same people who built your Toyota. That means they are made perfectly for your specific vehicle and its needs. That is why we always recommend using Toyota-specific brake fluid. Not only does it maintain a high boiling point even under the most extreme operating conditions, but it also offers superior protection against metal corrosion.
Toyota products were created with special attention and detail and work best when installed and maintained by our Toyota Technicians who have thorough training and experience dealing with all Toyota models and their accompanying mechanical systems. If you are interested in purchasing Toyota brake fluid or speaking to one of our West Edmonton Mall Toyota experts, contact us here.
Need To Book a Service For Your Toyota?
The brake fluid in your Toyota plays a critical role in ensuring not just your safety, but everyone else on the road. In fact, your brakes are one of the most important systems in your vehicle and should be treated as such. Knowing when to change your brake fluid, as well as why it's essential, can help you keep your Toyota running smoothly and safely for decades to come.
At West Edmonton Mall Toyota, we believe we have the best Toyota service centre in the city. We offer convenient hours for our guests which means we are open seven days a week and late. We also have dozens of service bays manned by one of the largest and most knowledgeable service teams around.
If you have a question about your Toyota and its servicing needs, contact us today at (780) 483-2121 or make an appointment online. Need to order a Toyota Genuine Part or Accessory? Our Parts Department can assist you with ordering almost any part you need from across Canada.
Did you find this blog post helpful? Read more helpful service tips from us here and be sure to follow us on Instagram for more helpful information on maintaining and caring for your Toyota.