Dealer Recommends Flushing Brake Fluid?

For the record, the container (the master cylinder reservoir) is not sealed. It's vented to allow for changes in fluid level.

A good way to judge the condition of brake fluid is to visually inspect the master cylinder, and use beer as your guide:
If it looks like Budweiser, it's good.
If it looks like an amber/IPA it needs to be changed.
If it looks like Guinness, it's way overdue for a change.

 

There is a Warranty Extension Program for the brake booster; it's not necessarily brake fluid deterioration. Check with Toyota USA, your dealership or whatever. In Canada it's SOLH-W31-1A, issued August 2018. Check sooner than later, there are a couple of cut-off dates/miles.

Hmm, seems like it survived ok. But, I wonder, would they have known about the chicken dance, to put the car in "invalid mode", prior to draining any fluid? It's explained in the attachment I posted earlier, and @NutzAboutBolts demonstrates it (better) in his video (in thread pinned at top of 3rd gen maintenance forum).

 

But Guinness is soo good though, how can you throw that out?

 

Don't make me trot out my EGR flush Guiness...

Addendum, ah here it is:

EGR & Intake Manifold Clean Results | Page 6 | PriusChat

 

link?

 

...on a side note.

Did full service on my Son's 2018 Tacoma OR last week at 32K miles. Both diffs, xfer case, auto trans, PS, full brakes, oil/filter, dry filters, lubes, alignment, rotate (5 wheel) and balance, wiper blades...and guess what...some of that wasn't scheduled in the manual either.

 

Wallet flush?

 

Not when you do most of it yourself.

 

What lubes are on that vehicle? Are there any grease fitting on any new vehicles other than commercial trucks?

 

factory front drive shaft U-joints, aftermarket upper control arms, aftermarket rear leaf springs

 

Most parents don't flush their children's wallets. If anything, they do the opposite, either in cash or in free parts and labor.

 

Yep...just like most of our parents.

 

All I can add, is that I recently passed the 3 year mark with my Honda Fit, and the owners manual DOES recommend changing the brake fluid every 3 years.
This last routine maintenance go round, I had them flush and change the brake fluid.
Was it strictly necessary?
I speculate probably not. But it really wasn't that expensive, so I had them do it anyway.

 

That's why it's called preventative maintenance. Speaking of which...time for me to shower up and go to work...and get dirty again.

 

2012, 65k, same old brake fluid

 

1958 Model...and way to many miles here.

But then, the Wife doesn't trade me in because see hates the newer models.

 

It is best to flush the brake fluid every 2 years.
The reservoir is vented, it is exposed to air, air has moister.
Moister is not good for brake system.
You don't NEED to change the oil, just leave that oil in the engine.

 

I shared about the test that someone did in his Prius 100k miles/10 years. The moisture is still way too low to be considered as a replacement needed. The strip test also shows really good additives condition, no burn, and enough antioxidant/corrosion. 100K maint - 1

Just get a $5 brake fluid tester, they are cheap and accurate for our purpose 1% tolerance. I had not replaced the brake fluid in the past 70k miles/6 years. It is still less than 1% water content and color-wise, they are the same as new fluid. Amber color. Probably I will replace it on the 10th birthday in hybrid. In non-hybrid, I usually replace it at about 5-7 years but I always have Toyota, Honda, and Nissan. At about 6 years, 80k miles, my Nissan brake fluid failed the strip test, and the anti-corrosion additives are depleted. Too high copper content.