OK, I have a 2003 Honda Odyssey with about 175K mile on it. I've been taking care of this van myself since 2005. When I do break jobs, I've never bled the brake lines, I just remove the cap on the master cylinder when I compress the pistons, and I've never had an overflow because the fluid levels have always been within limits (I've never added brake fluid). I check my pads and rotors every year when I rotate my tires, and aside form some sticky guide pins over the years things have always looked good. I've never replaced the calipers. So here's my question: I just tested my fluid for water with a tester, and it looks perfectly good, so the fluid has not watered down in the last 20 years, great. But is there some other reason I should flush the system or replace the brake fluid? The brakes are working fine. My concern is that if try to bleed the lines at this point, I'll break the bleeder valves off and end up replacing all the calipers and some of the brake lines. I'd rather not do that if I don't have to.
Please use the site search function, this has been discussed here several times including recently. The short answer is that brake fluid absorbs moisture so it's a good idea to change it periodically. If you used a tester to check for moisture you're aware of that, however electrical brake fluid testers are not very accurate. You need to use test strips for an accurate reading.
@chucktobias Thanks Chuck. I actually did look for this topic but I only got something like 4 posts, and none of them really addressed what I thinking about. Maybe I failed to frame my question properly.
I just tested my fluid for water with a tester,
those pen testers are notoriously unreliable.
2003 Honda Odyssey with about 175K mile on it.
change your brake fluid now if it was never done before. They don't recommend it in the manual for fun.
it looks perfectly good,
it looks good where? in the clean reservoir? The junk collects at the bottom of the system where it is more likely to cause problems
The brakes are working fine
keep them that way. You don't want spring a leak going 70mph on the highway.
My concern is that if try to bleed the lines at this point, I'll break the bleeder valves off
they are replaceable.
... and some of the brake lines.
if your brake lines break while bleeding them, then you are lucky.
I'd rather not do that if I don't have to.
then change your fluid, and your bleeders won't seize and the lines won't rust.
