There’s nothing worse than driving your car, trying to stop at a red light, and realizing your brakes aren’t working as well as they could be. Brake fluid is an essential part of ensuring your car runs smoothly and keeps you safe. This means it’s important to know which type of fluid is best for your Honda. It’s also necessary to understand when to change the fluid, how to do it, and what to look for to see if there’s a problem.
Honda Accord Model
You have a couple of options for your Honda Accord brake fluid. Typically, you’ll find DOT 3 and DOT 4 options. Either one is acceptable for use in your Honda. DOT 3 fluid is the more affordable option and is a good option if your car is a daily driver that you drive smoothly. DOT 4 brake fluid is important if you drive your vehicle a little more roughly, such as making hard stops. It’s also a good idea to use DOT 4 if you find that you drive in a lot of stop-and-go traffic.
Honda Civic Model
Some manuals for the Honda Civic recommend that you use genuine Honda brake fluid in your Civic. However, this isn’t a true necessity. In fact, finding genuine Honda brake fluid is sometimes hard to do. You can use a basic DOT 3 or DOT 4 name-brand fluid and get the same results. Use DOT 3 as your Honda Civic brake fluid if you drive smoothly and spend a lot of time on the highway. Stick to DOT 4 if you drive in a lot of stop-and-go traffic or tend to go above the speed limit.
How Often To Check and Change Your Brake Fluid
There are a lot of varying opinions about how often you should check and change your brake fluid. Some experts say you should do so every 30,000 miles or three years. Others say to do it every 20,000 miles or two years. Still others recommend checking your brake fluid every time you get your oil changed and changing the fluid once per year. The best idea is to read your manual and check your fluids according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Signs You Need To Change Your Brake Fluid
If you haven’t checked your brake fluid in a while, you may begin to notice signs that it’s dirty and no longer helping your car the way it should be. The most obvious sign that you need to check your fluid is the ABS warning light coming on. If you notice this, check your fluid as soon as possible.
You might also notice a lot of noise when you’re braking if your fluid is bad. You’ll also likely be able to feel when the brake fluid needs to be changed because your brake pads will rub together and cause the car to vibrate as you come to a stop. Finally, if you notice you need to push harder on the brake pedal to get a response, it’s time to change your fluid.
Remember, you should always use products that are compatible with your vehicle. If you aren’t sure if something is compatible, you can use a VIN number lookup to find a list of products that you can use with your car.