What Is Brake Fluid?

Brake fluid transfers the force applied through the brake pedal through pipes to the calipers, which then help to slow down your vehicle.

In short, brake fluid is essential in keeping you safe on the road - and your car won't work without it.

Read on and find out what brake fluid is, what it does and how to check and top it up.

 

 

What Is Brake Fluid?

Brake fluid is a form of hydraulic liquid used in the brake and clutch systems of lots of vehicles.

Brake fluid is usually a hygroscopic fluid, meaning it absorbs water from the humidity in the air.

This helps your brakes to perform better, as brake fluid has a high boiling point.

Braking generates an extreme amount of heat and the fluid is designed to work under these conditions.

Even when it is diluted by water, known as the wet boiling point, brake fluid has a boiling point of over 140°C.

If water pooled in the caliper rather than being dispersed throughout the entire braking fluid, you would 'lose' your brakes. 

Brake fluid also acts as a lubricant in the system, helping to prevent corrosion.

When you push the brake pedal, brake fluid is forced down to your brakes.

This, in turn, forces your brake pads onto the brake discs.

These squeeze the brakes against the wheel hubs, slowing down the spinning of the wheels.

No brake fluid = no pressure, meaning your car won’t slow down.

Your handbrake is there as an emergency resort, but it’s not strong enough to slow you down quick enough.

 

What Does Brake Fluid Do?

When you press on the brake pedal, the pistons in the master cylinder compress to allow brake fluid to travel under pressure.

The pressure within the brake lines increases, which is where the pressurised brake fluid is contained.

The brake lines use the pressurised brake fluid to divert the force of you pushing down on the brake pedal into the front and rear brakes of the vehicle.

The brake fluid can then convert the energy used to push down the pedal into braking pressure, causing the brake pads to squeeze on the rotors.

The rotors can then slow down.

 

How Do You Check and Top Up Brake Fluid?

You should check your brake fluid levels every week.

If the levels are low soon after topping up, then you could have a leak.

If this is the case, then you should book an appointment at a local garage as soon as possible.

If you need to top up your brake fluid, you should first locate the master cylinder.

It is usually found under the bonnet on the driver’s side, near the back of the engine compartment.

The brake fluid reservoir looks like a metal cylinder with a plastic container on top.

It may be marked ‘brake fluid’ and should have a maximum and minimum line.

Make sure that you are parked on a flat surface so that you can get an accurate reading.

Remove and clean the brake fluid reservoir cap, so that no debris falls into the container.

Using the right brake fluid for your car, open the cap and pour it in until it reaches the maximum line.

Screw the cap back on properly and shut your bonnet.

Take your vehicle on a short drive, braking every so often so that you can check the fluid again to ensure that there has been no leakage.

 

 

 

What Is Brake Fluid Made Of?

Brake fluid is either glycol-ether (hygroscopic) or silicone-based (hydrophobic).

Glycol-either is the standard base, while silicone brings several performance advantages.

However, silicone-based brake fluid doesn’t work well with anti-lock braking systems.

You can find your designated brake fluid type in your vehicle handbook.

It will be indicated by one of four ‘DOT’ numbers.

DOT – also known as Department of Transport – is a brake fluid categorisation system originally designed in America.

It is now standard across much of Europe and the UK, and helps drivers to identify which fluid type they need.

 

What Brake Fluid Do I Need?

There are several types of brake fluid, the most common being glycol-based (DOT 3, DOT 4 and DOT 5.1) and silicone-based (DOT 5).

You must use the recommended type for your vehicle, as the different standards are not compatible.

Whilst you could use a different type of glycol-ether fluid in an emergency, you cannot use silicone-based brake fluid in a car that is not designed for it, and vice versa.

You can refer to your vehicle handbook or check the cap of the brake fluid reservoir to find out which brake fluid to use.

Please note that dry boiling point refers to the minimum temperature needed to change brake fluid’s state of matter from a liquid to a gas with no water present.

Wet boiling point refers to the minimum temperature needed to change brake fluid’s state of matter from a liquid to a gas with 3.7% or more water present in the fluid.

Brake fluid is described as wet when there is 3.7% or more water content in it.

 

DOT 3

This type has the lowest dry and wet boiling point and is designed for everyday use.

It is mainly found in mass-produced cars with small to medium-sized engines.

 

DOT 4

DOT 4 is the most common type of brake fluid and is most suited to vehicles with larger engines.

It is like DOT 3 but includes additives that increase the minimum dry and wet boiling points.

This means you will need to book brake fluid changes more frequently.

 

DOT 5

DOT 5 is the only silicone-based brake fluid, and it is not compatible with any car designed to run on DOT 3,4 or 5.1.

It is also extremely expensive due to its performance benefits.

It is not suitable for vehicles that will be driven at high speeds or under racing conditions, but it is recommended for many classic cars.

 

DOT 5.1

DOT 5.1 gives the same performance benefits as silicone-based brake fluids, but it is a glycol-ether based fluid.

This makes it compatible with modern cars that use anti-lock brakes.

It is chemically similar to both DOT 3 and DOT 4.

It is designed for cars with larger engines and has the joint highest dry and wet boiling point along with DOT 5.

 

 

You can buy brake fluid at many automotive shops, supermarkets, petrol stations and online.

 

Why Is My Brake Warning Light On?

If you notice a brake warning light on your dashboard, then there could be a hydraulic fluid leak.

In the event you need to press the brake pedal further down the usual, pull over and call for help.

If your brakes seem to be working well and the brake fluid level is normal, then there could be a sensor issue instead.

You should be able to drive to a garage to have your vehicle checked.

 

You should book a brake fluid change if your brake pedal feels spongy, the fluid is dark, or you hear any unusual noises when applying the brakes. 

Alternatively, you should book an appointment with a professional garage to have your brake fluid changed every 2 years or 24,000 miles.