I have a 2021 Ford Edge ST. The manual says to change brake fluid every 3 years. The thing is, I’ve only ever changed brake fluid once, and that was on an old Mustang when I replaced the power brake booster.
Do you guys actually do this every 3 years? Or is this one of those things that barely anyone follows?
It’s probably a good idea. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, which can cause issues.
That said… I doubt most people actually do it. I know I don’t lol. But it’s not a bad recommendation.
Tyler said:
It’s probably a good idea. Brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, which can cause issues.
That said… I doubt most people actually do it. I know I don’t lol. But it’s not a bad recommendation.
I guess I’m just surprised by the timing. They say 150K miles for transmission fluid and 200K for coolant, but only 3 years for brake fluid?
I have a 2018 Edge and changed my brake pads, rotors, and fluid last year. The fluid looked nasty coming out… brownish, and when I let it sit overnight, there was a thin layer of water on top.
I didn’t notice a big difference in braking, but it felt good knowing I got rid of the old stuff.
Honestly, the job itself is easy, but the bleeding part is tedious. A second person really helps.
@Elliott
I’ll check mine and see how it looks. Brake fluid is already kind of gross, but maybe I can tell if it’s worse than usual.
My dad actually enjoys this kind of thing, so I bet he’d help with the bleeding process. Thanks for the input!
@Roman
You might be surprised to know that brake fluid is usually clear or light amber… not dark.
Caelan said:
@Roman
You might be surprised to know that brake fluid is usually clear or light amber… not dark.
Good point. I guess I need to figure out what I’m actually looking for.
Your ABS and traction control systems operate at really high pressures through tiny openings. Keeping the brake fluid clean helps prevent issues with those systems down the road.
Sophia said:
Your ABS and traction control systems operate at really high pressures through tiny openings. Keeping the brake fluid clean helps prevent issues with those systems down the road.
That’s a solid point. ABS problems seem pretty common, and if something as simple as fresh brake fluid can help, it’s probably worth doing.
3 years seems about right. My local Ford dealer wanted to charge me $95 for a brake fluid change… yeah, no thanks. It’s not a hard job to do yourself.
Murphy said:
3 years seems about right. My local Ford dealer wanted to charge me $95 for a brake fluid change… yeah, no thanks. It’s not a hard job to do yourself.
Yeah, I think I’ll just do it myself when the weather warms up. Might even make it a project with my dad.
@Roman
Yeah, having a second person helps a lot. Even just someone to press the brake pedal while you bleed the system.
I actually change my brake fluid every spring along with my first oil change of the year. It really does make a difference—brakes feel firmer after fresh fluid.
3 years is a reasonable interval if you don’t want to do it more often.
@Oscar
Good to know! Where do you dispose of the old fluid? Auto parts store?
Roman said:
@Oscar
Good to know! Where do you dispose of the old fluid? Auto parts store?
Haha, honestly, I just have an old oil jug in my garage where I dump it. A full flush doesn’t even take much fluid, so I haven’t gotten rid of any yet.
@Oscar
Yeah, that makes sense. Compared to something like a transmission flush, this is barely any fluid.
What type of brake fluid do they use? DOT 3? DOT 4?
That stuff usually lasts a long time. I’ve only changed mine when doing caliper work, but my original fluid still works just fine.
A simple way to keep brake fluid fresh is to use a syringe to suck most of the old fluid out of the reservoir and refill with new fluid every year or two. Then just do a full flush when you replace the brake pads.
Weirdly, in the Middle East (at least for a 2016 model), Ford doesn’t list brake fluid as a required maintenance item. Just says to check it and replace if necessary.
My dad’s Edge has been serviced at the dealer since new, and I think it’s still on the original brake fluid 
.
@Alivia
That’s why I like asking real owners! Sometimes it feels like manufacturers just pick random service intervals.
