Date:         Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:31:18 -0500
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: Brake question......
Comments: To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <AANLkTinoSNHzKCrCHiJp1SF7PdqDI9-gejs6__Qs2A8W@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

---- Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

>  The most effective way to descend in a heavy vehicle with small brakes is
> to apply them firmly and slow the vehicle below it's 'perfect speed', then
> get off the brakes and let it build back up to speed (allowing the brakes to
> cool off some)  Watch the truckers go downhill.
>

>   Changing brake fluid regularly is good.  Once you experience Brake
> Fade...you will become a believer...if you live.

So, how often do you recommend changing brake fluid?  Does one go by miles driven, or by time elapsed?  I changed the fluid in my '91 VW Vanagon GL Campmobile 14 months and 6K miles ago when I got it.  In most vehicles I've owned I would change it every two years or 30K miles, whichever was first, but the owner's manual in my Prius doesn't even mention it.  I asked at the dealer about it, and he said something like, "We like to do it at 100K miles."

David McNeely