| Owning a car entails for great responsibility as well as | | | | cylinder reservoir to record the fluid’s boiling point. |
| setting aside funds for additional expenses that goes | | | | Volkswagen, the Company Volkswagen is considered |
| on maintenance and repairs. The car contains at least | | | | to be an icon of the 20th century due to the countless |
| six types of fluids which need to be periodically | | | | legendary cars it has produced. Volkswagen is a |
| replenished or replaced namely engine oil, transmission | | | | German word for people’s car. It started as a |
| fluid, anti-freeze/coolant, windshield washer solvent and | | | | concept formed by Ferdinand Porsche in 1934. He |
| fuel. The number six on the list is brake fluid which is | | | | wants to produce quality but affordable transport for |
| often the neglected one. You’ve known about | | | | the German people. He produced a working prototype |
| topping off brake fluid but changing it may be new to | | | | in just a year. Ferdinand Porsche has created a |
| most car owners. | | | | masterpiece in the form of a beetle-shaped sedan |
| According to Car Care Council, the brake fluid of a | | | | that was later on called the Volkswagen. The Beetle |
| typical vehicle is prone to contamination in two years | | | | because of its unique design and aesthetic appeal has |
| time or less. This is because the fluid absorbs moisture | | | | become very popular as a fact it has become the |
| which finds its way through the hydraulic system. | | | | best selling car of all time. |
| During heavy braking conditions such as those | | | | Volkswagen was born in an era that is said to be |
| encountered when driving in mountainous or hilly roads | | | | designed for the privilege few and the vehicle has |
| or when towing a trailer, the moisture in the | | | | provided the German people would something to look |
| overheated fluid vaporizes resulting to reduction on the | | | | forward to. |
| braking efficiency. | | | | By the year 1942, 70,000 Volkswagens were |
| Such condition can also happen even under normal | | | | produced. Three years after in a swift recovery after |
| driving circumstances especially if the brake fluid is | | | | the war, Volkswagen was able to produce 2,000 |
| seriously contaminated. There are actually two things | | | | vehicles but this time it was not for public sale but |
| that can happen. The first one is for the contaminated | | | | especially manufactured for the Allied Forces and the |
| fluid to vaporize and second it has the ability to also | | | | new German Post Office. The next production of |
| freeze up either way the result is the same which is | | | | Volkswagen was after three years again, 1948, |
| reduced braking efficiency. | | | | wherein it produced a total of 25,000 vehicles from its |
| Brake fluid must maintain a stable viscosity throughout | | | | production lines in Wolfsburg. It was also during that |
| its operating temperature range. If it’s too thick or | | | | time when Beetles for export to the US was built. The |
| too thin; it would impaired the braking action of the | | | | following year 1949 and additional 25,000 Volkswagens |
| vehicle. Beyond the vaporization hazard moisture | | | | were built including the Karmann convertible which |
| creates an additional problem for owners of vehicles | | | | became the best selling convertible in the world. |
| especially those equipped with anti-lock braking | | | | The year 1955 signaled the growth of Volkswagen |
| systems (ABS) since ABS components often get | | | | into a world corporation when it produced a million |
| rusted. A rusted and corroded ABS components is | | | | Volkswagens. It was also on that year when the |
| never good news since it’s very expensive to | | | | automaker started building factories and working |
| replace. | | | | communities in United States, Brazil, and Canada. The |
| So how would a car owner know when its time to | | | | German automaker has not forgotten to also help its |
| change their car’s brake fluid? Car Care Council | | | | fellow countrymen; it has built working communities in |
| recommends changing brake fluid every two years or | | | | major centers in Western Europe. |
| for every 24,000 miles traveled. Plus, the Council also | | | | Less than two decades later The Beetle which was a |
| suggests a change in brake pads or shoe | | | | people’s car was able to overtake Ford’s |
| replacement. The brake system to choose would | | | | famous Model T. For the last fifteen years of the |
| depend on your car make say if you own a | | | | millennium Volkswagen has emerged as a true global |
| Volkswagen then it is only sensible that you purchase | | | | force in the auto industry. Its acquisition and |
| Volkswagen brakes system. And in between as | | | | redevelopment of popular brands like the Audi, SEAT, |
| preventive measure, a professional brake technician | | | | Skoda, and Lamborghini has strengthen further its |
| should check the condition of the fluid with an accurate | | | | standing as one of the largest automaker in the world. |
| fluid test safety meter that is inserted into the master | | | | |