What to keep my eye on? Preventative Maintenance

[Shadow121111]

Thanks for an awesome post, has helped me so much, Cheers

[Tas GQ]

Thanks for the post Tony, I just got a GQ yesterday and want to give it a thorough service. This information is invaluable. Cheers

[Badball]

Great post Tony, valuable information that money cant buy.

[NP99]

Coolant is coolant. Just don't go for the el cheapo premixed stuff. Concentrate is the key.

I used to work in a taxi base and all we ever used on our own taxis was tap water, no coolant. This was under the owner's instruction and strangely enough the cars held up fine.

A leaking head gasket could be due to a number of reasons, the incorrect type of coolant being used is one of the less likely.

Some contain silica and can do damage....

[The Viking]

I bled my brakes with new fluid every 12 mths or after going through deep water a job that can be done with mates over a beer cheaper than brakes parts.

I used to think it was a load of crap when they recommended changing brake fluid on especially new cars, with service intervals of 2 years or 40K and had the impression that it was just an excuse to make a buck or two on car owners. I even heard stories that they just sucked the resouair empty and claimed to have changed fluid.
I have changed my mind and taken the foil hat off and must admit it makes a lot of sense to flush and renew the brake fluid on intervals especially on 4WD and not only when you have done a lot of creek crossings. I had to give up on getting my brakes working on my GU and send it to a professional.
Before that I renovated the calibers and just couldn’t get it to bleed and brake probably, problem shifted around between front and back axle and drove me crazy. As I renovated the calibers I was surprised with the amount of dirt that migrated behind the brake pistons and must have come from all the dirt road driving and worn calibers. The brake specialist flushed the system several times and kept getting blockages, and the master cylinder had to be changed as well, probably as a result of dirty and moisture polluted brake fluid.
/Erik

http://www.autolabusa.com/car-care-t...Flush_AE7.html

[The Viking]

This was an awesome thread as it started and [photo to be added later] sounded great, Tony can you get back with your wisdom?

There is a lot of information to put in here so this post/thread will keep growing over time, I'll add photos as I can.

[Shaunous]

It'd be cheaper and easier to buy a brake fluid meter and just measure the water in brake fluid ratio, save changing the fluid and wasting money when you don't need to.

I f@&kin hate bleeding brakes, and I get free brake fluid, I still wouldn't do it annually. Every 2 years I do. Unless you don't have many hobbies and plenty of time, go ahead

Some mechanics do just vac the main reservoir and replace the fluid, but some also just wipe your filter clean and tell you they serviced it, in both instances it shouldn't happen.

[P4trol]

Depends on your general climate/humidity and how you use the brakes. I use a one man bleeder, and it works well. You can feel the difference in the pedal. A bottle of fluid is less than $20.

[ahimz]

very useful info.thanks mate! (Y)

[chipppa]

This is the most helpfull thread i have come across. Comforting even.