How to Check Brake Fluid

This takes care and caution, but there’s a step-by-step guide that may allow you to stay on top of the fluid levels in your car, ensuring that your brakes work exactly right when you need them to.

Learn the process to take if you want to check brake fluid in your car, and check in with the team at Kia of Coatesville to make sure that the levels are right and everything is as it should be while you drive the Downingtown, Gap and Coatesville roads.

Checking for Low Brake Fluid

The first step to check for low brake fluid is to find the reservoir. The location depends on the exact vehicle you’ve got, but usually it’s on the driver’s side of the vehicle, near the firewall. It sits just in front of the brake booster and is connected to the brake master cylinder. Often, but not always, it’s a plastic canister. On some older vehicles, however, it’ll be a metal box.

Brake Fluid & ABS

If you have anti-lock brakes, be sure to check your owner’s manual before checking brake fluid. In all likelihood, you’ll need to pump your brake pedal a number of times (sometimes up to 25 or 30) before you open the reservoir.

Steps to Check Brake Fluid

There are four basic steps to checking brake fluid. First, clean the reservoir very carefully before you even open it. Even a tiny amount of dirt in your fluid can cause a complete failure of your brake system, as the internal seals break down.

Second, unscrew the top cap of the reservoir. Never leave the cylinder uncovered for too long; the fluid can suck up moisture in the air, and it can be ruined in as little as 15 minutes. That’s why you want to be prepared and do this process as quickly as possible. This applies to leaving a can of brake fluid open, as well.

Third, check the brake fluid, and look for low levels. If it’s more than a half inch below the top of the cap, you have low brake fluid. Add enough to bring it to within a half inch. In addition, check the color. If it’s very dark, the whole system should be flushed and replaced.

Cautionary Notes

Brake fluid is very toxic, so be sure to properly dispose of any rags or tainted materials at a toxic waste disposal facility. It also eats paint, so clean it off of painted surfaces immediately. Finally, don’t let any oil or grease contaminate your fluid; this can ruin your braking system.

Schedule Service Today!

Since brake fluid can be dangerous to handle, it’s best to let the pros check and replace it. If you need help checking brake fluid in your car in Downingtown, Gap, Coatesville, or Lancaster, Jim Sipala’s Kia of Coatesville can help. We service the entire Reading region, as far as Newark, DE. Give us a call today or contact us through our website, and don’t risk the damage caused by low brake fluid.