Brake Fluid Flush

[bad_idea]

Hello all. My wife just took our 2018 Yukon XL Denali into the dealership for an oil change. They told her it needs a brake fluid flush. I'm out of town for work, will be back in two weeks. I am mechanically capable, built a few older cars from the frame up, but haven't worked on the newer stuff much. I have done some research and I see reference to using a 'Tech 2' to cycle the ABS to flush the fluid in that thing. Can someone dumb that down for me? I plan to keep the truck for another 5 or 10 years and would like to be able to service it myself. Is that a tool worth buying, or should I just pay a shop for work needing that tool? What all kind of work can I do with it? Can you provide a link to a unit worth buying?

 

[RoadTrip]

The Tech 2 scanner can be used for more than just the brake job. If you intend on working on this truck yourself in the future, it would be a good investment.

There are threads on here about which brands of Tech 2 tools perform the best.

 

[Doubeleive]

Hello all. My wife just took our 2018 Yukon XL Denali into the dealership for an oil change. They told her it needs a brake fluid flush. I'm out of town for work, will be back in two weeks. I am mechanically capable, built a few older cars from the frame up, but haven't worked on the newer stuff much. I have done some research and I see reference to using a 'Tech 2' to cycle the ABS to flush the fluid in that thing. Can someone dumb that down for me? I plan to keep the truck for another 5 or 10 years and would like to be able to service it myself. Is that a tool worth buying, or should I just pay a shop for work needing that tool? What all kind of work can I do with it? Can you provide a link to a unit worth buying?

The tech2 will not work on a 2018, but a tool is not needed anyway. A brake flush kit might help though

 

[West 1]

A full flush involves cycling the ABS valves and can only be done with a scan tool as far as I know. I have a Launch X431V+ scan tool, now 5 years old but it has the ability to run the ABS pump as you open the bleeder valves as directed. I am sure any of the higher end scan tools can do this for you and maybe Tech 2 also, I have not needed Tech 2 so have not used it. Be prepared if bleeding your brakes this way you will use between 1 and 2 full quarts of fluid. Dot 3 or Dot 4. Either fluid works fine but Dot 4 offers slightly higher temperature protection.

 

[Doubeleive]

A full flush involves cycling the ABS valves and can only be done with a scan tool as far as I know. I have a Launch X431V+ scan tool, now 5 years old but it has the ability to run the ABS pump as you open the bleeder valves as directed. I am sure any of the higher end scan tools can do this for you and maybe Tech 2 also, I have not needed Tech 2 so have not used it. Be prepared if bleeding your brakes this way you will use between 1 and 2 full quarts of fluid. Dot 3 or Dot 4. Either fluid works fine but Dot 4 offers slightly higher temperature protection.

A Tech2 WILL NOT WORK on a 2018, period..........
a ABS cycling is only needed if there is air trapped in the pump, so like if you pumped all the brake fluid out and got air in there then yes it would need to be activated to get the air out, otherwise it does not "trap" fluid, if it did you would not have any brakes at all if the abs pump failed.

 

[89Suburban]

Just do a regular flush. If you are worried about th le ABD pump flushing you can do a flush and find a gravel road or lot to do some painic stops to cycle the pump and do another flush afterwards

I would be more concerned with frozen bleeder screws than I would be cycling the ABS pump full standard flush will not hurt at all.

@Rocket Man suggested those motive power bleeder which I bought for this and it is a worthy investment. Gives you more motivation to exchange brake fluid more often.

 

[West 1]

If you are going to flush and ABS system it seems to me you want clean fluid in the most expensive brake parts of the car which are the ABS system valves. You can certainly do a flush of the system without flushing the ABS but to me that is skipping the high dollar part that works best in clean brake fluid?


Brake fluid ages, it draws moisture into it over time and needs to be flushed. I have seen cars go 200,000 miles and never get flushed, they seem to survive, I like to keep clean fluid in my cars, not every 2 years as you hear recommended but at least every 5 years I will flush them. It seems to keep them working like new.

I did invest int he Motive power bleeder about 6 years ago, if you have the right caps for it to connect it sure makes the job easier. I have mine set up to maintain a steady 15 PSI when flushing.

 

[West 1]

Dirty fluid in the pump screws it up, clean fluid prolongs the life of the pump. Air in the pump is another issue completely. If you have a capable scan tool it is possible to flush the entire system rather than part of the system. The Launch tool does this but is $1200 to purchase and $400 a year to get the updates and keep it running. Too expensive for most unless you do this work often.

 

[bad_idea]

I want to change all of the fluid, including what is in the ABS portion of the system. The dealership wants $160 to do it. I'll just pay them. Not worth buying a high dollar scanner, to save $160.