Whaddya think?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 484
Likes: 65
From: Southern UT
Whaddya think?
I have 45 K on my 2005. The dealer recommends changing my brake fluid and my power steering fluid. Should I have it done (not necessarily at the dealer)? If I don't have it done will my car explode and I die? Just call me a mechanical neophyte. Thanks in advance. What a car! What a country! 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,194
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From: Murphy NC
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-17-'18-'19, '21,'24-'25-'26
I have never done that with any car I have ever owned. Even cars in which I have driven over 100K miles. What does the owners manual recommend?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,574
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From: Frederick, MD
Germans are really behind changing their brake fluid every couple of years due to moisture that is collected in the brake lines. Never heard of the power steering fluid being changed unless something was being replaced.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
There are recommended intervals for changing the various fluids. Some are really long. Brake fluid change is not a bad idea every two years. One sensor going bad due to dirt or moisture can be a bummer. PS to prevent the ailments it could suffer might not be a bad idea but to me, not as critical as brakes.
I'd also suggest the trans, either manual or automatic, to have fluid changed out. May not be critical to do so, but that's your call.
I'd also suggest the trans, either manual or automatic, to have fluid changed out. May not be critical to do so, but that's your call.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Frederick, MD
Axles are usually not required to be changed for their lifetime but I usually change mine every 40k or so. I just worry about the dealer failing to put the additive in. Then I go find a parking lot and do some figure 8s just incase they didn't. Which I rather they don't anyways.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: When all is said and done... there is a hell of a lot more said than done. Riverside,Texas
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Lake Worth Beach, Florida
Not a bad idea to change the brake fluid after two years. Brake fluid has properties that promote the absorption of moisture and can cause damage to brake parts or cause the fluid to boil at a lower temperature due to the moisture content.
I installed quick bleeders on my calipers and changed my C5 fluid myself.
Never heard of a recommended interval for power steering fluid change. If you intend this to be the last vette you ever buy and will keep it for a long time any fluid you change will be a good idea.
My C5 had a 25,000 mile recommended change interval for the differential fluid. I did this myself.
Not certain what the interval for the dif is on the C6.
You can get a print out of the true recommended fluid change intervals from the service department.
I installed quick bleeders on my calipers and changed my C5 fluid myself.
Never heard of a recommended interval for power steering fluid change. If you intend this to be the last vette you ever buy and will keep it for a long time any fluid you change will be a good idea.
My C5 had a 25,000 mile recommended change interval for the differential fluid. I did this myself.
Not certain what the interval for the dif is on the C6.
You can get a print out of the true recommended fluid change intervals from the service department.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,760
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From: Fayetteville Arkansas recently moved from Oakland Ca
St. Jude Donor '06
Change it. Wont hurt anything ! Why resist for a few bucks ??
I have 87,000 miles on my 05 and have changed everything at least once. Typically go 150,000 miles plus on Vettes. Its cheap insurance and peace of mind. I've also changed air filters twice and orderred third set yesterday.Clean fluids and clean air = longevity !
I have 87,000 miles on my 05 and have changed everything at least once. Typically go 150,000 miles plus on Vettes. Its cheap insurance and peace of mind. I've also changed air filters twice and orderred third set yesterday.Clean fluids and clean air = longevity !
Last edited by xlr8rvette; Jan 14, 2009 at 01:33 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Don't have my manual with me to check, but if GM doesn't ever tell you to change the brake fluid, that's a significant error. Some high speed track events will require new brake fluid within two WEEKS of the event because of water absorption which greatly lowers the boiling point of the brake fluid. Over a longer period of time, also tends to promote corrosion in the brake system. I do my normal cars every two years, the 'vette every Spring before autocross season.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Edmond Oklahoma
Brake fluid will pick up moisture and other undesirable contaminants. what this will do is as the moisture increased the boiling point of the fluid goes down. If you ever get the brakes really hot and boil the fluid, guess what? no brakes. Another downside is that all that moisture can rust pit the cylinder bores in the brake calipers which can trash the calipers. If you have ever seen the brake fluid that comes out of a system that has been in service for several years you could see exactly what I mean. I always change my fluid in all my vehicles about every two years regardless of the mileage. Change the brake fluid for sure, not so sure about the PS fluid. 
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,663
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From: DFW TX
I would bleed the brake system, change the power steering fluid, change the clutch fluid, engine oil, transmission fluid and differential lubricant. Pretty much everything, but then again, im pretty obsessive about my vette. Some people never do anything past changing the engine oil, not even, and their cars dont necessarily fall apart. However, i prefer preventive maintenance.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Don't have my manual with me to check, but if GM doesn't ever tell you to change the brake fluid, that's a significant error. Some high speed track events will require new brake fluid within two WEEKS of the event because of water absorption which greatly lowers the boiling point of the brake fluid. Over a longer period of time, also tends to promote corrosion in the brake system. I do my normal cars every two years, the 'vette every Spring before autocross season.
)... The reason is because during extensive hard braking the brake fluid can be exposed to enough heat that it begins breaking down...
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Supporting the Corvette Community at Abel Chevrolet in Rio Vista, CA 707-374-6317 Ext.123
St. Jude Donor '08
I would also recommend a trans flush at no more then 50K, along with the brake flush. Even a highway driven car with no track days will have very discolored fluid in it by then. Keep in mind power steering fluid is very close to trans fluid, so it will look nasty after that many miles. It gets hot, just like anything else on the car and should be changed.
Keep in mind that an indpendent shop probably does not have the correct tools for a brake bleed. To do it right a Tech II is needed so that you can perform the automated bleed procedure. Without it, the fluid in the ABS unit will never be bled out. The Tech II cycles all the ABS motors and valves while you crack one bleeder at a time, forcing the old dirty fluid in the ABS unit out through the lines. To do the procedure correctly and completely, this is done twice and uses about a pint of fluid each time.
You payed all this money for the car, so why not take extra good care of it along the way.
Keep in mind that an indpendent shop probably does not have the correct tools for a brake bleed. To do it right a Tech II is needed so that you can perform the automated bleed procedure. Without it, the fluid in the ABS unit will never be bled out. The Tech II cycles all the ABS motors and valves while you crack one bleeder at a time, forcing the old dirty fluid in the ABS unit out through the lines. To do the procedure correctly and completely, this is done twice and uses about a pint of fluid each time.
You payed all this money for the car, so why not take extra good care of it along the way.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
I was trying to say that I want to minimize the possibility of fluid boiling when I get the brakes hotter than normal...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
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From: Longview Texas
I don't think anyone would say that changing brake fluid was a bad idea.
I did not get concerned about brake fluid on other cars in the past, but I had to replace the master cylinder on my 2004 Z06, and I am now convinced that it was at least partially due to contamination of the fluid. I flushed the whole system, and now refresh the reservoir fluid whenever it starts looking discolored, just like I do with the clutch fluid.
I am not as concerned about the boiling point being lowered as I am contaminants accumulating.
I did not get concerned about brake fluid on other cars in the past, but I had to replace the master cylinder on my 2004 Z06, and I am now convinced that it was at least partially due to contamination of the fluid. I flushed the whole system, and now refresh the reservoir fluid whenever it starts looking discolored, just like I do with the clutch fluid.
I am not as concerned about the boiling point being lowered as I am contaminants accumulating.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
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From: Longview Texas
I agree with you on the importance of changing your brake fluid after a track event, but I have to point out that there is absolutely nothing about tracking your car that will cause water absorption to occur (unless you track it under water )... The reason is because during extensive hard braking the brake fluid can be exposed to enough heat that it begins breaking down...
)... The reason is because during extensive hard braking the brake fluid can be exposed to enough heat that it begins breaking down...