Self-service

Q My 2013 Ford Fiesta Studio 1.25 60PS has 37,000 miles and is due for its two-year renewal of the brake fluid. Given that the brake and clutch hydraulics use the same reservoir, is it necessary to bleed both of them when renewing the brake fluid? This is assuming that the fluid level doesn’t drop below the minimum level and that the proportion of brake fluid in the clutch pipework is only a small proportion of the total length of the pipework and reservoir, etc.

John Osley

A I wouldn’t bleed the clutch system as this fluid will remain in the clutch pipe and is not introduced into the brake circuit. As you say, if the reservoir does not drop below the minimum then the fluid in the clutch system will not be disturbed. The clutch system does use the brake master cylinder reservoir to feed the clutch circuit, but it does not suffer from the arduous conditions of the braking system. In separate circuit systems you will find that the clutch fluid specification is normally much lower than the brake fluid, due to the easier life the clutch fluid enjoys. Given that the concentric slave cylinders used in the clutch operation can be both difficult to bleed and can overthrow if the clutch is worn, I wouldn’t attempt to bleed that section of the system out until a replacement clutch is required.