Quarter of UK cars' brakes 'could fail without warning'

MORE THAN a third of all cars in Europe have brakes that could fail without warning, according to a new report.

Research carried out for Cosan Lubricants’ Mobil Car Care range, at independent service garages across the UK found that 26.5% of UK motorists had defective brake fluid, with nearly one in 10 unintentionally risking their lives every time they drove.

The research tested the quality of brake fluid – the liquid that allows the modern braking system to work. Overall across Europe, 41% of vehicles are operating with sub-standard brake fluid, making the UK an above average performer.

Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the atmosphere, which reduces its effectiveness by lowering the boiling point.

In a press release Mobil Car Care said: “Once the boiling point dips beneath 180 degrees Celsius, brake fluid becomes all but useless, potentially causing sudden and inexplicable brake failure.”

Some of the vehicles tested had brake fluid that boiled at 130 degrees.

The research found that the age and mileage of a vehicle is not necessarily linked to the quality of its brake fluid. One in seven vehicles with less than 80,000 miles on the clock had fluid showing a boiling point of less than 200 degrees.

More than a third (34%) had not changed their brake fluid for two years or more.

Mike Bewsey, of Cosan Lubricants, said: “The poor quality of fluid that controls such a safety-critical vehicle component in the UK is alarming, as is the general lack of understanding about how it works.

“Unfortunately, once your brake fluid is contaminated, there’s no going back and there is a much greater risk that your fluid will boil. This can happen in stop-start conditions, under heavy braking or if you are towing something.”

Bewsey continued: “Many drivers mistakenly believe that, if their car has passed its MOT, all of the lubricants and chemicals within it are up to scratch. But testing the boiling point temperature is the only way to check the quality of brake fluid. As that is not part of the MOT, the onus is clearly on motorists to make sure that their car is safe.”

By Press Association reporter