rockyrocks

Hello everyone,

I purchased a CPO 2014 RLX Sport Hybrid last year. I recently had my first oil change at the dealership and they are telling me that I need to flush my brake fluid. I have the car's service history and the brakes were replaced in 2019, there was no mention of brake fluid flush. Since I have had the car, I have not got any Maintenance Minder notifications. That is partly due to the fact that the car has only driven like 7,000 km since I bought it. I am wondering if I should just go ahead with the dealership's recommendations or rely on the maintenance minder.

Also, I was considering looking for an independent shop instead of the dealership to compare the costs. Would you guys recommend that I stick to the dealership for this car? I have never owned a hybrid car before. I'm not sure if the cost saved from servicing is worth taking the risk of messing up other more expensive parts of this car.

Thanks for taking the time to read my post!

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

if you read the owners manual, it will tell you to change the brake fluid after the three year mark. and then yearly after that. This is because Brake fluid is hygroscopic. Which means it absorbs water from the air. water will form in the brake lines causing rust. rust will lock up a caliper piston. then you will have dragging brake calipers.
so, the dealer isnt wrong...however, if you stick with a dealer, you'll end up paying a lot more than an independent shop.

dont think of the RLX as a "hybrid". think of it as a regular car. because it is a car. independent shops will think of it as a regular car. the brakes are regular car brakes. there's nothing special.

mrgold35

I don't think I ever done a brake job that didn't do the brake fluid also? I would only change out the brake fluid if you can't verify if it was done back in 2019, brake fluid looks dark, and it wasn't done +3 years prior to that. You are also getting close to the timing belt 7 years or 105,000 miles service interval (timing belt, water pump, coolant for engine and DC inverter, valve adjustment, spark plugs). The dealership will probably start hitting you up on that service everytime you go for service. Some folks have gone 10-12 years or +150,000 miles with the 2nd MDX. Really up to you if you want to take a chance and delay the service or do it around the 7-8 year mark with your low mileage.

I think I wouldn't assume all the service was done on-time and to the M.I.D. schedule if there isn't a written record. The 2nd Gen MDX owners would sometime skip the timing belt service, reset the M.I.D. timing belt reminder, and sell the MDX (around $1500-$2100 at local shop or dealership for timing belt service).

DanL07RL

What he said^^^^^!! Though fluid flush isn't technically required as part of all brake work (e.g.: pad change). And I don't recall that part about changing the brake fluid every year after the first one.....thought it was every three years or 45K miles, whichever came first. I'll have to go back and look at that. again.

r10apple

FWIW, the only car I every flushed the brake fluid on was a modified Infiniti g35--and I live in North Florida where it is hot, humid and gets below freezing periodically in winter. And that is after replacing pads and rotors on multiple cars--there just wasn't a need. My g35 needed it after the third brake job and rotor/pad swap as I fried them at a track day. That said, I've only kept a couple of cars past 3 years, but all of my cars have always had 35k + miles a year with zero issues. I'd leave the brake fluid flush alone unless you are having issues or are having your brakes replaced again on a 7 year old + car.

rlx015

I can attest that anytime I did a brake job (rotor + pads replacement) doing the brake fluid service right after DOES feel different for me.
I would usually not do these unless it's like 4-5 years etc. but after my wife's car was in service for a brake rotor pads job on a dealer in Highland Park, they did complimentary brake fluid - and car felt brand new braking wise... since then I opt in to have fluid service done when changing the brakes (rotors + pads)... How I see it, more maintenance is unlikely to hurt the car but only to prevent failures