[Muranothree]

Does a 3 year old Murano SL AWD with 30k miles need brake fluid exchange ($143) , throttle body service ($125) and fuel injection cleaned ($143)? My old one, 2014 AWD, never had them done and is still fine at 70k. My son has the 2014 and probably should get those services, it did get the trans fluid changed at 60k . How bad are the prices and should I try a regular shop? Is an established shop that I trust ok or is there something special about these services? We change the air filters at home, but don't want to mess with fluids. I'll take the 2020 to Nissan because it has the extended warrant, but happy to save $ on the '14.

 

[I need coffee]

Do you need it at 30k miles? No. Would it be nice to have done if money is no consideration, sure.

EDIT: The maintenance schedule in the 2020 owner's manual says to replace the brake fluid every 30k miles so you should follow the manufacturer's recommendation.

IMO, a reasonable maintenance schedule would be for the throttle body to be done every 50-60k miles, but I would point out that most people never have the throttle body cleaned unless there's a problem that can be traced directly to a dirty throttle body. BTW, Nissan has a voluntary service campaign to replace the brake fluid for 2010-2014 Muranos (DOT 3 to DOT 4) at no charge to the customer as there have been problems with the older DOT 3 fluid clogging up the ABS actuator so your son should look into that (see attached TSB).

The expensive fuel injection cleaning service that dealerships like to push is baloney. If this is a real concern for you then buy gas from Top Tier suppliers only and/or add a bottle of fuel injector cleaner to the tank periodically.

 

[Pilgrim]

ALL vehicles should have brake fluid flushed/replaced every 3-4 years. Brake fluid draws water (slowly) from the atmosphere and the water accumulates in the calipers. It causes corrosion and brakes start to hang up and drag. It also lowers the boiling point of brake fluid, which can become dangerous under heavy brake use.

This is one of the most neglected auto maintenance jobs, but it gets expensive if you neglect it. By all means have the brake fluid flushed every 3-4 years in every car you own.

EDIT: I can't comment on the throttle body service, but if it were me I'd pass. As for the injector cleaning, I have never needed to do it on any car and I won't unless a problem develops that indicates it's needed. Others may disagree. As they say on the Interwebz, YMMV.

 

[I need coffee]

ALL vehicles should have brake fluid flushed/replaced every 3-4 years. Brake fluid draws water (slowly) from the atmosphere and the water accumulates in the calipers. It causes corrosion and brakes start to hang up and drag. It also lowers the boiling point of brake fluid, which can become dangerous under heavy brake use.

This is one of the most neglected auto maintenance jobs, but it gets expensive if you neglect it. By all means have the brake fluid flushed every 3-4 years in every car you own.

I must confess that I've never actually paid attention to the specified mileage intervals because I always made it a point to flush the brake system whenever I do brake pads since I have the equipment and aside from a little extra time it only costs me the price of a quart of DOT 4--yeah, I ditched DOT 3 many years ago and well before Nissan figured out their ABS units weren't doing well with it. Between front and rear pad changes I do brake jobs on my 2nd gen probably every 2-3 years so mileage-wise I'm probably in the ball park.

Modern cars with ABS systems will need some kind of maintenance routine for the fluid as I can't see those going many years without a change and not have some problem eventually crop up with the ABS unit.

 

[Muranothree]

This is some of what pops up when I go online to schedule. Don't even know why because I don't think its correct. Seems kind of a lot of $ for that frequency. We don't tow anything. Should I just take them (2020 and 2014) to a traditional shop for these services? I have the extended warranty, so I'll still have Nissan do the oil changes and some minor things. I also have the Nissan gold preferred warranty. The 2014 is out of all warranty, but does need the brake fluid recall done. It had the trans fluid at 60k. Guess these 2 need to be done now? Is it possible they can check them and say they look fine? All I see about these fluids is to inspect them every 15k miles. I think I will not get this done yet on the 2020, maybe the 2014 needs it. Clearly I do't know a lot aout cars, but am always suspicious of shops. I'll always remember the brake shop that gave me a horrific quote, then the next one told me they were fine and still had a little while to go. If that first shop hadn't been so high I might have done it, they overplayed and lost.

Replace Differential Gear Oil Every 20,000 Miles/24 Months
This Maintenance includes 1 item:
Service Rear Differential
$0.00 - $137.65


Replace Transfer Case Oil Every 20,000 Miles/24 Months
This Maintenance includes 1 item:
Service Transfer Case
$0.00 - $139.75

 

[I need coffee]

This is some of what pops up when I go online to schedule. Don't even know why because I don't think its correct. Seems kind of a lot of $ for that frequency. We don't tow anything. Should I just take them (2020 and 2014) to a traditional shop for these services? I have the extended warranty, so I'll still have Nissan do the oil changes and some minor things. I also have the Nissan gold preferred warranty. The 2014 is out of all warranty, but does need the brake fluid recall done. It had the trans fluid at 60k. Guess these 2 need to be done now? Is it possible they can check them and say they look fine? All I see about these fluids is to inspect them every 15k miles. I think I will not get this done yet on the 2020, maybe the 2014 needs it. Clearly I do't know a lot aout cars, but am always suspicious of shops. I'll always remember the brake shop that gave me a horrific quote, then the next one told me they were fine and still had a little while to go. If that first shop hadn't been so high I might have done it, they overplayed and lost.

Replace Differential Gear Oil Every 20,000 Miles/24 Months
This Maintenance includes 1 item:
Service Rear Differential
$0.00 - $137.65


Replace Transfer Case Oil Every 20,000 Miles/24 Months
This Maintenance includes 1 item:
Service Transfer Case
$0.00 - $139.75

The maintenance intervals you cited are for severe operating conditions. Most people probably don't need to follow that schedule unless they tow things, drive off-road frequently, etc. (i.e. put greater than normal stress on those components than a typical driver would).

Is it possible they can check them and say they look fine?

Sure, but don't expect them to do it for free, but if you already have the car in a shop for other work they may do it free of charge if you ask them.

 

[mattski]

I asked my dealer about changing brake fluid at 30k and they said don't bother (my independent mechanic agrees). On my previous 2010 I changed brake fluid at 60k (5 years) and my mechanic said it was fine, but I agree with Pilgrim that water can potentially build up and better to change it than let it go more than 5 years even if it "looks fine"

 

[colocoug]

It's primarily related to time rather than mileage, as I understand it.

 

[MuranoSL2003]

And environmental conditions I would imagine. High humidity and/or parking outside would degrade it quicker than an indoor and/or less humid environment.

 

[colocoug]

And environmental conditions I would imagine. High humidity and/or parking outside would degrade it quicker than an indoor and/or less humid environment.

Absolutely. I lived in Texas 90 miles from the Gulf coast for 13 years, and the humidity cost me two clutch slave cylinders on my 280zx. I finally got around the problem by using DOT 5 brake fluid in the clutch circuit, since it does not accumulate moisture.

I live in Colorado now at 5000 feet, where humidity in the winter drops to less than 20 percent. Even in summer it's moderate. But I change brake fluid regardless. Even in Colorado I had a front brake caliper (on a car I bought used) develop a hung up brake from corrosion in a piston bore in the caliper.

 

[chascollc]

You can use your voltmeter (or a meter specifc to the task) to check the moisture content in your brake fluid. that will tell you if you need a flush. you can do a search for this process. For our daily drivers., i flush the fluid about every 3 years. for the 3 toys that are not driven much, i will test the fluid and do what is needed even if it looks clean.

 

[Philip]

Do you need it at 30k miles? No. Would it be nice to have done if money is no consideration, sure.

EDIT: The maintenance schedule in the 2020 owner's manual says to replace the brake fluid every 30k miles so you should follow the manufacturer's recommendation.

View attachment 56315

IMO, a reasonable maintenance schedule would be for the throttle body to be done every 50-60k miles, but I would point out that most people never have the throttle body cleaned unless there's a problem that can be traced directly to a dirty throttle body. BTW, Nissan has a voluntary service campaign to replace the brake fluid for 2010-2014 Muranos (DOT 3 to DOT 4) at no charge to the customer as there have been problems with the older DOT 3 fluid clogging up the ABS actuator so your son should look into that (see attached TSB).

The expensive fuel injection cleaning service that dealerships like to push is baloney. If this is a real concern for you then buy gas from Top Tier suppliers only and/or add a bottle of fuel injector cleaner to the tank periodically.

I received a brake fluid recall for my 09. Nissan said it was to resolve complaints about low brake pedal. I thought it was BS but it did make a slight improvement with the low pedal.

 

[Robotaz]

I never have been a brake flush guy. Since 2006 I’ve driven 1-yr or less old cars. Also never had any problems with brakes other than pads and a couple rotors.

However, I did just flush the brakes on my wife’s Murano at an oil change after debating this thread.

It’s cheap insurance. Her rotors were smooth as glass front and back at 80k. I haven’t seen that before.