Annual oil change or at recommended interval?

Originally Posted by docdyh

Thanks to all. How often do you guys change your brake fluid? My dealer suggests every two years?

Your dealer is correct.

[tomk17]

Originally Posted by bmussatti

Your dealer is correct.

RE the brake fluid change every 2 years, what does the dealer typically charge for the fluid change? I just had my car in for the 2 year service and they did not push it on me or even mention it.

[FTD]

Flush the brakes every two years unless your are autocrossing / racing. If so, then more often.
I also concur on the oil change annually, even with low mileage. The oil deteriorates [my scientific explanation] and should be replaced.

Originally Posted by tomk17

RE the brake fluid change every 2 years, what does the dealer typically charge for the fluid change? I just had my car in for the 2 year service and they did not push it on me or even mention it.

I had it done last year, just a little early, and I think I was charged about $135 at the dealership.

[docdyh]

Thanks again. My dealer charges about $150 for the brake fluid flush.

[Kirk]

On the brake flush... I bought a little hand vacuum device that makes bleeding a one-man job and relatively easy. I think it was less than $50. You might want to consider this a DIY job if you have the time. I flush all of my vehicles every two years.

Several years ago Sport Compact Car did a test on several aftermarket braking systems on a specific test car. After they were done with swapping calipers several times they put the stock calipers and rotors back on and got a significant improvement in stopping distance, I believe it may have even been better than the aftermarket systems! The conclusion of the article was that braking power had increased because of several flushes of the brake fluid when they were changing calipers. Before the testing the brake fluid had not been flushed for several years. Thus they recommended forgoing any of the aftermarket systems and just flushing your brake fluid, at least it's a good and cheap start!!!

Kirk

[FTD]

I would like to expand on Kirk's recommendation to consider DIY on your oil change and brake flush.

I posted a most excellent Brake Flush DIY here on this forum. I wrote it from the perspective of someone with no clue [me]. There are other excellent Boxster flush DIYs on the internet. [I am proud of mine, however] and I concluded that while the oil drains during my oil change, I can flush the brakes, all in about an hour or so [getting the car on stands and the wheels on/off is half the time] at a savings of about $300. Its easy work if you are interested.