What Color is Brake Fluid?

A question we receive from many Santa Cruz customers is “What color is brake fluid?” Brake fluid should be clear with a small hint of yellow, however, it will eventually change color and thickness, requiring you to change the fluid. Let’s learn more about brake fluid and its importance in your overall vehicle performance with the service technicians at Santa Cruz Subaru! For more information, feel free to contact us anytime!
What’s The Purpose of Brake Fluid?
Brake fluid is critical to the overall performance of your vehicle. Brake fluid is a type of hydraulic fluid that helps your vehicle stop efficiently by lubricating the entire braking system, preventing any type of corrosion or other damage. If you don’t have enough brake fluid or if dirt, dust, and other debris get into the brake fluid, it could put both you and other Scotts Valley drivers at risk. Therefore, it’s important to check your brake fluid often to ensure that it is healthy and at the proper level.
How Do I Check My Brake Fluid?
When asking the question, “What does brake fluid look like?”, you might also wonder how to check your brake fluid. It’s quite simple and can be done by yourself, similar to checking the oil. By regularly checking your brake fluid, you’ll be able to know if it’s the proper color and if it has the correct viscosity. Let’s take a closer look at how to check your brake fluid by yourself, just follow these simple steps:
- First, just open the hood and find the master cylinder where you’ll find your brake fluid reservoir. If you need any help locating the master cylinder, you can consult your owner’s manual to be sure.
- Find the minimum and maximum lines on the brake fluid reservoir, and ensure the fluid is somewhere in between. If it falls under the minimum level, we recommend adding more brake fluid to the master cylinder.
- Keep an eye on the color of your brake fluid as well. If it is darker or oily, you might have to flush the braking system and add fresh brake fluid.
If you need assistance with adding brake fluid to your reservoir or you think you need a brake fluid flush and replacement, rely on the professional technicians at our service center for help. You can schedule an appointment online to get started today.
Service Your Brakes at Santa Cruz Subaru Today!
Now that we’ve answered, “What color is brake fluid?”, and “What does brake fluid look like?”, you know exactly what to look for when checking your brake fluid. If you’re not quite sure about taking on this important task yourself, you can always visit the Santa Cruz Subaru service center to have one of our certified technicians take a look at your vehicle. To save on your next service, be sure to use our service specials to save near San Jose!