My 2010 Ford Escape has 111xxx miles. I just had the engine coolant, trans fluid, and brake fluid flushed and replaced at the shop. What is the life expectancy of each fluid? I know the Mercon LV fluid should be changed about every 30k to be safe. What about engine coolant and brake fluid? Not sure what color coolant was used/required for my Escape. Gold or yellow?
Undefinedviewer
If you want with factory recommended replacement coolant(what did the shop receipt state?), it should last as long as the owners manual recommendation. The Gold coolant was stated as being good for 100k miles, with a good reserve of protection at that mileage, per Ford statements. I know nada about yellow, red, orange, or any other color except the green common to older vehicles.
Brake fluid should be good for a long time, and again the owners manual or service recommendation folder would have a recommended time/mile interval. Likely 90% or more never change the brake fluid in their vehicles. Ever. I suspect many do not do anything about any other fluid except oil, and that only reluctantly, and later/longer than recommended. The exceptions would be the surviving widows who previously had someone that handled all that 'stuff', but know something should be done as Dad did (or Mom) previously.
In short, the coolant likely will be good for ~100k miles, and the brake fluid likely as long.
tom
Brake fluid should be good for a long time, and again the owners manual or service recommendation folder would have a recommended time/mile interval. Likely 90% or more never change the brake fluid in their vehicles. Ever. I suspect many do not do anything about any other fluid except oil, and that only reluctantly, and later/longer than recommended. The exceptions would be the surviving widows who previously had someone that handled all that 'stuff', but know something should be done as Dad did (or Mom) previously.
In short, the coolant likely will be good for ~100k miles, and the brake fluid likely as long.
tom
The interval really depends on your environment, driving habits and age of the vehicle. For an easy reference you can refer to the "Severe duty" interval as recommended by the manaul.
From a more universally accepted format:
Brake fluid - 2-3 years - The color change reflects that the system is already corroding.
Coolant - 3-4 years
Transfluid - 30K-50k miles (AZ would be 30K vs somewhere else where summer is not like :fire: ) .
What you must take into consideration is as the car ages, even the most well taken care of pristine vehicle will get corrosion and oxidation in the related systems so, coolant that in a new car would last 5yrs won't last as long in a used car since some of the corrosion inhibitors are used up the instant you add the new fluid to your old system. Brake fluid, same thing. Calipers age/corrode, master cylinders become contaminated with sediment (they are not airtight) etc.
Coolant:
Gold/Yellow is the same thing. You can use Motorcraft or Zerex G-05. Same stuff. Do not use universal Coolant.
Same goes for the Trans fluid, don't use universal.
For brake fluid you can upgrade from DOT3 to DOT4 or DOT4 LV. Higher boiling point, and the LV has a lower viscosity which means the brakes will be more responsive. Fully backwards compatible with DOT3 and DOT4. DO NOT use DOT5 or any silicone based brake fluid. it is not compatible with other brake fluids and may also be incompatible with seals in your braking system (cause leaks/failure).
Not all brake fluids are created equal. There is some variation in Boiling and Wet Boiling point between brands. Ford actually holds its own very well against some top brands in the DOT4 and DOT4 LV arena.
From a more universally accepted format:
Brake fluid - 2-3 years - The color change reflects that the system is already corroding.
Coolant - 3-4 years
Transfluid - 30K-50k miles (AZ would be 30K vs somewhere else where summer is not like :fire: ) .
What you must take into consideration is as the car ages, even the most well taken care of pristine vehicle will get corrosion and oxidation in the related systems so, coolant that in a new car would last 5yrs won't last as long in a used car since some of the corrosion inhibitors are used up the instant you add the new fluid to your old system. Brake fluid, same thing. Calipers age/corrode, master cylinders become contaminated with sediment (they are not airtight) etc.
Coolant:
Gold/Yellow is the same thing. You can use Motorcraft or Zerex G-05. Same stuff. Do not use universal Coolant.
Same goes for the Trans fluid, don't use universal.
For brake fluid you can upgrade from DOT3 to DOT4 or DOT4 LV. Higher boiling point, and the LV has a lower viscosity which means the brakes will be more responsive. Fully backwards compatible with DOT3 and DOT4. DO NOT use DOT5 or any silicone based brake fluid. it is not compatible with other brake fluids and may also be incompatible with seals in your braking system (cause leaks/failure).
Not all brake fluids are created equal. There is some variation in Boiling and Wet Boiling point between brands. Ford actually holds its own very well against some top brands in the DOT4 and DOT4 LV arena.
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