Brake Fluid Exchange - Sonic LT

It's been a while since I posted here in the Chevy Aveo Forum. I sold my 2010 Chevy Aveo LT in 2013 and got me a Chevy Sonic LT. It runs great!

However, I got a question regarding brake fluid exchange on the 2013 Chevy Sonic LT. I recently took my Sonic in for its required oil change and the dealer told me that I needed a brake fluid exchange at 30,000 miles. I looked in the Sonic owner's manual and nowhere it is mentioned that I need a brake fluid exchange.

I just want to make sure if a brake fluid exchange is needed at that mileage interval - I just want to make sure that the dealer is not trying to make more money as I was quoted a $140.00 cost for the brake fluid exchange to be done. By comparison I have never had to do a brake fluid exchange on my Aveo LT.

I've never done brake fluid changes unless I was having issues.

At 30k miles, there is no need unless you are competing in autocross every weekend or are having other issues.

Also, you can flush your fluid in your driveway fairly easy for $15.

Really now? Never heard of that one. Kind of reminds me of the stories of muffler bearings, and changing out the air in the tires. If there is any kind of problem with the brake fluid that would warrant a change that early, then IMO Chevy/GM needs to eat that cost. Brake fluid usually lasts for decades under normal use, a good change interval might be 100K miles if you are worried about moisture in the lines. If you drive on the ragged edge in hot dusty conditions, and normally hop out of your Sonic with the brake rotors glowing red hot, then that might dictate a more frequent fluid change, but something tells me you don't drive it that hard. lol

If the brake fluid looks clean and has no obvious contaminants in it , I would say you are good .

However , if you are concerned , go buy a cheap turkey baster and a container of brake fluid that meets spec .

Carefully suck almost all of the fluid from the reservoir & replace with new fluid . If done carefully , you will have changed / replaced a majority of the fluid in the system and will not even need to bleed the brakes . I am pretty sure the new fluid will mix with the existing fluid . Over time .

Just to be proactive , you can do this as often as you feel you need to . The brake fluid may or may not degrade the turkey baster , so it may need to be replaced . Try to buy it as cheap as you can .

God bless
Wyr