According to the Car Care Council, half of the drivers surveyed have expressed concerns when their brake system is faulty. Furthermore, it is estimated that a car running about 16,000 – 25,000 km/year would have the driver pressing the brakes about 75,000 times.
Therefore, it can be seen that the brake system is essential for maintaining the safety of the driver. However, about half of the cars and trucks operating over 10 years in the US have never had their brake fluid changed. Meanwhile, when drivers in some European countries are required to regularly check brake fluid, about half of the vehicles are found to have faults.
Water-contaminated brake fluid will render the brake system ineffective
In Vietnam, there is currently no official statistics on the maintenance of the brake system and regular brake fluid changes by car drivers. However, with the awareness of safety still not as high as today, the situation in Vietnam can be even worse than in the US and Europe.
Car engine oil plays an important role in maintaining safety while driving and vehicle owners should change the brake fluid according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Experts believe that brake fluid contains a certain amount of glycol, a strong water absorbent. The brake system overheats, causing the fluid to boil and create air bubbles, displacing the liquid brake within. Air bubbles will render the brake system ineffective. In addition, water-contaminated brake fluid can also accelerate the corrosion of brake system components. Over time, the water vapor will permeate through rubber hoses and seals. This condition is particularly evident in vehicles used in high humidity environments.
Change brake fluid every 1-2 years
Water-contaminated brake fluid can pass safety inspections as long as the fluid is within the allowable limits. However, after a long period of use, danger can occur at any time. Therefore, experts recommend that drivers check and change brake fluid every 1-2 years. It is known that brake fluid can be contaminated with 2% water after 1 year of driving and 3% after 18 months. For vehicles used for several years, finding brake fluid samples containing 7-8% water is not too difficult.
The US National Traffic Safety Commission states that up to 20% of the total 1,720 vehicles have brake fluid contaminated with more than 5% water. In this case, the boiling point of the fluid mixed with water is lower than that of “dry” fluid. Most new DOT fluids have a boiling point of about 240-260 degrees C. DOT 3 fluid boils at 205 degrees C. When mixed with 1% water, the boiling point of DOT 3 drops to 187 degrees C. It continues to decrease to 160 and 145 degrees C when contaminated with 2% and 3% water, respectively. Meanwhile, although it absorbs moisture slower, DOT 4 fluid has a greater decrease in boiling point compared to DOT 3. The boiling point of DOT 4 is reduced by half compared to DOT 3 when contaminated with 3% water.
5 Reasons Why Your Car Shakes and Vibrates During Operation
The phenomenon of shaking when driving may not pose a danger, but it creates an uncomfortable feeling for those sitting inside the car. So what is the cause of this?
10 Incredibly Useful Facts to Know About Car Airbags
Airbags in cars inflate when? Do seat belts trigger airbags to inflate? To answer these questions, it’s important to learn a few helpful facts about car airbags.
Car Airbags: “Not All Collisions Result in Explosions”
In some cases, after an accident, the car’s exterior may appear to be heavily damaged but the airbags do not deploy. There is a reason for this.
Global NCAP: Safety Levels Vary for Cars in Different Markets
According to the reputable Global NCAP, there is certainly a safety gap between car models designed for different markets.
