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Want reassurance: does brake fluid look like just had an "exchange" or "flush" at dealer?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by Dan Y, Aug 27, 2024.

  1. Dan Y

    Dan Y Junior Member

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    I'm looking for reassurnce I don't need to go back and deal with this dealership service dept. again. But based on cumulative minor past experiences I have some misgivings about the service dept. at the Toyota dealer where I bought my Gen 4 Toyota Prius LE-AWD. I have used them in past for the free servicings under ToyotaCare and yesterday went and paid for 30,000 mile servicing and because I didn't have my wits about me due to barely being recovered from a 3 week long bout with COVID I agreed to a "brake fluid flush" or "brake fluid exchange" before doing my research. I might not have done it if I had but it's done now -- except I'm paranoid maybe it wasn't but they charged me anyway?

    1. My first concern was that most of the areas under the hood looked maybe air blasted clean except on top of the brake fluid reservoir (although tray above it, it's kinda recessed on this model, does look fairly clean). It's possible they blasted the dust back there though after doing the exchange so who knows. Also when they do this do they use the cap on top of reservoir or is there another access point?

    2. I also got concerned because level of brake fluid was at same place as before which was 2/3 way roughly between min and max near a different line there -- but based on online research this is a "Support line" and is where it should be, correct? On phone later dealer service person sort of confirmed this but not clear they knew what they were talking about.

    3. I opened the cap to look at the brake fluid in the reservoir. This is okay, right? I read online it was despite the "pressurized" warnings.

    4. I looked inside and it's a sort of partly translucent partly yellow cloudy goop. There may be dark areas of it but I'm pretty sure I'm seeing through to what's below it. There might have been a little gray gunk line at edge of fluid by plastic but slightly hard to tell and didn't photograph well.

    5. Can I stop worrying about this and assume it was done or if it wasn't impossible to prove one way or another and I'm just out the money and move on because it was probably unnecessary anyway and this all looks fine, or should I do something further here? If you're going to say test it, which test do you trust and anyway do you think the dealer will accept that result as proof?

    IMG_9009.jpg IMG_9021.jpg
     
    #1 Dan Y, Aug 27, 2024
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2024
    bisco likes this.
  2. Doug McC

    Doug McC Senior Member

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    Relax. While they may have ripped you off by claiming you needed a service that you didn’t, the fluid appears normal. If they actually changed it there’s no harm done even if it didn’t need to be (other than the harm to your wallet). Depending on when your car hit the road for the first time it may be approaching the 3 year mark and many folks feel that’s a good point to change the brake fluid, so no harm.
    You can get some test strips from Phoenix Systems via Amazon that are simple to use and you can test both your brake fluid and your coolant condition. Well worth the money and time to check them yourself every so often to prevent paying for service you don’t need AND getting the service you do need based on fluid condition instead of waiting for some magical time, mileage, or based on someone else’s opinion. You get to decide because you will have the information you need to make your own decisions. There website explains how the strips work and how to do the test.
     
  3. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Check the bleed screw caps (atop brake calipers), for evidence they’ve been removed, maybe a little oily. Or missing…

    If they look untouched, with a patina of undisturbed dust, that’d be a smoking gun.

    take pictures if they’re thus, before bringing it back in, if it comes to that.

    pretty sad, to be in an adversarial relationship with an accredited dealership.
     
    #3 Mendel Leisk, Aug 27, 2024
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2024
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  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    looks nice and new, but idk what the old looks like.
     
  5. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Most brake fluids darken as they absorb water with age. The pictures above look like pictures of fresh stuff.

    You can get testers- there are electronic ones, and there are dip-strips.
     
  6. Doug McC

    Doug McC Senior Member

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    Those are great if all you are concerned about is water content, as is going by color. However, if you want to prevent corrosion and contamination, then testing for that BEFORE it occurs is more effective and cheaper in the long run, thus the strips are looking at copper content in the fluid, which alerts you to the degradation of the fluid before your eyes or cheap moisture indicators can pick it up. FWTW
     
  7. Dan Y

    Dan Y Junior Member

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    Thank you so much Doug for all this reassuring and helpful advice and yeah the car is 3 years old as despite being 2022 model we bought it in August 2021, so maybe good thing. Anyway, thanks again!
     
    Doug McC likes this.