A brake fluid cap is nothing more than a cap that is tightened onto the top of your brake fluid reservoir tank. When this cap is screwed on tightly in place, it will prevent spillage and help keep outside debris out of your brake lines. But is this all it does?
Can you safely drive without a brake fluid cap? The answer is no. You should not drive without having a brake fluid cap properly tightened on the brake fluid reservoir tank. Not only does the brake fluid cap prevent spillage and debris from getting inside your brake lines, but it also keeps moisture out.
The brake fluid cap is responsible for keeping the brake fluid system air tight by keeping debris out, and preventing spillage of brake fluid onto your other engines components. Brake fluid is acidic in nature and can start to corrode other parts of your vehicle that it comes into contact with.
Can You Drive a Car With No Brake Fluid Cap?
You can drive your car without a brake fluid cap, but it is not recommended. Although you may not run into problems right away, some drivers have said that they have had issues occur after several hundreds of miles of driving without a brake fluid cap.
One of the main concerns with driving without a brake fluid cap is moisture getting into the brake fluid lines. Over time, moisture will start to mix with your brake fluid.
When moisture is mixed with brake fluid, this can create a number of different problems. If you drive long enough without a brake fluid cap, eventually you can experience a loss of braking ability in your car.
How Far Can You Drive Without a Brake Fluid Cap?
It is not recommended to drive without a brake fluid cap at all, but there have been instances of drivers driving a few hundred miles with no known issues to their braking system or car. However, this does not justify driving without the proper cap on the fluid reservoir.
Over time, and the farther you drive your car, you may start to notice that your brakes will become spongy and less responsive. If left like this too long, your brakes will eventually fail. This will be due to the brake fluid being contaminated with moisture.
What Does a Brake Fluid Cap Do?
The brake fluid cap on a vehicle does exactly what it sounds like. It caps off the brake fluid system. When your brake fluid cap is properly tightened, the system will be air tight. This prevents outside foreign debris from entering your brake lines as well as keeps moisture out.
When brake fluid is exposed to air, it essentially pulls in moisture and humidity.
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Problems Caused by Driving Without a Brake Fluid Cap
Moisture In Brake Lines
The first and most dangerous problem driving without a brake fluid cap can cause is moisture in the brake fluid system. Once brake fluid and outside humidity/moisture have mixed, you run into a number of issues.
On top of possible corrosion, your brakes will eventually stop working properly. They may feel spongy when the brake pedal is pressed, or worse, begin to fail altogether.
Brake Fluid Spillage
One issue you will encounter when driving without a brake fluid cap is the spillage of brake fluid when you are driving. Brake fluid reservoirs are normally rectangular in shape and are quite small.
The constant motion and stopping of a vehicle will cause brake fluid to spill out of the top of where the cap is supposed to be and onto your vehicles engine components.
Corrosion of Brake Lines, Paint, and Engine Components
Brake fluid by itself is not corrosive to metals, but once it absorbs moisture or humidity, it now is part water which in turn will lead to rust or corrosion of your brake lines or other engine components that it has managed to spill onto.
Car paint that is exposed to brake fluid can also be damaged. Brake fluid will act like a paint thinner and eat away at the clear coat of your paint. If the brake fluid is left on long enough, it will eventually cause irreversible damage.
Requiring a Brake Fluid Flush
Driving without a brake fluid cap also has its financial disadvantages. The only way to properly fix your brake fluid once it is contaminated is to get a fluid flush.
This can be a costly endeavor, but is necessary to ensure that your brakes will work properly and your brake lines will not corrode in the long term.
What to Do If You’ve Been Driving Without a Brake Fluid Cap
If you have been driving without a brake fluid cap, then we highly recommend the first thing you do is get a replacement brake fluid cap and a brake fluid flush.
Getting a brake fluid flush will replace your vehicles brake fluid entirely. The existing fluid inside your brake lines will be “flushed” out, and then new brake fluid will be installed in its place.
This will ensure that your vehicles brake lines do not have debris or moisture in them due to the system being exposed during the time of use without a brake fluid cap installed.
How Much Does a Brake Fluid Flush Cost?
Expect to pay anywhere between $80 to $130 for a proper brake fluid flush. If you take your car into an independently owned shop or mechanic, you can expect to pay on the lower end.
Bringing your vehicle into a dealership will most likely have you paying a price in the upper range or even higher.
Final Thoughts
Your vehicle’s brake fluid cap is a very important component, especially if you want to have brakes that work properly.
They keep the system air tight, prevents spillage and corrosion, and most importantly, keeps your brakes from malfunctioning.
If you’ve intentionally or unintentionally been driving without a brake fluid cap, be sure to replace the cap as soon as possible. Then schedule an appointment with your local dealership or trusted mechanic to have the brakes flushed clean.