1st Feb 2007, 18:46
Well, that's interesting. My GM has 60,000 miles on it and still has not "consumed" a DROP of brake fluid. Then again, I guess nothing lasts as long in Japanese vehicles.
1st Feb 2007, 19:14
It is my belief that you have a MUCH better vehicle there than any of your GM's. You have the best small pickup truck in the world; however, you still need to do routine fluid checks and maintenance (although I've owned some Toyota's that ran perfectly without either), it's still a good idea. Simply check and replace your fluids and filters (oil and fuel, transmission, if you have an automatic), and this truck will run for a very long time. Enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed mine.
2nd Feb 2007, 15:57
In 1993 I bought a new Ford Ranger XLT with the 2.3 litre 4 cylinder. I drove the truck until October of 2000, at which time it had 63,000 miles. During that time I had NEVER EVEN CHECKED the brake fluid (it never had a brake job), power steering fluid or coolant level. I do all my own oil changes, so the truck was never serviced by anyone else. It has been my experience with both Ford and GM that NOTHING on the vehicle really requires any attention until almost 100,000 miles. I just recently did an oil change on my GM car and checked all the fluid levels in it. Everything was great, and that was the FIRST TIME in 58,000 miles I had ever checked ANYTHING under the hood on it (except oil changes). No well built vehicle should lose brake fluid in a mere 30,000 miles or so unless the brakes are abused.
24th Dec 2008, 19:57
I have a 2004 extended cab SR5 2x4. At about 30,000 miles my brake light would occasionally come on. I checked my brake reservoir and notices that the fluid was near the minimum limit.
I inspected my front brakes and found that the pads had very little life left. I replaced the brake pads and topped off the fluid and problem solved.
The truck has most of the weight up front. The brakes have to work harder up there than the rear. The thinner your pads the more heat and the brake fluid boils off. Brake wear is a result of hpw often and hard you brake.
Your dealer should have checked that I guess. You could just top the fluid off, but I wanted not to worry for another 30,000 miles. Now I know.
1st Feb 2007, 15:59
Your truck's "consumption" of brake fluid is normal... as the pads and drums wear down, the fluid will naturally drop. Not a big deal; you should have popped the hood and checked it yourself. Taking it to the dealer for anything other than warranty issues is an invitation to get ripped off, as you did.