Mondeo Brake Fluid Level

ope126 · 06-07-2012, 10:53 PM

Hi All,

After a bit of assistance.

Can anyone please let me know what level to "top up" the brake fluid resivoir too. The owners book is not specific enough and as for the resivoir it clearly displays MAX with an arrow pointing up. How ever is the MAX point the bottom of the lettering (base of the arrow), or is it the top of the lettering (point of arrow)?

Owners manual states it uses "Super DOT 4" / Ford Approval ESD-M6C57-A brake fluid. This is the factory fill brake fluid which is clear / amber in colour.

After going to my local Ford Parts I was given a bottle of Ford Brake Fluid Part No. R1 39 (500ml), however after closer inspection it like all other local (Australian) spec Brake Fluids have a Ford Approval of ESZ-M6C55-A so does not meet EU Ford minimum specs. Plus it is a Blue / Green dyed colour.

After talking with Ford Service / Parts, they advised that at the 2yr / 30,000km service they drop the factory filled brake fluid and just replace with the local stuff.

For my top up purposes, I have purchased a bottle of Ford Super DOT 4 Brake Fluid Part No. 1135516 (500ml) which meets Fords own approval code ESD-M6C57-A. I sourced this from a Ford Dealership in the UK.

After speaking to some local companies Tech Lines (Castrol / Penrite / Nulon etc) I have found that the Ford Approval code refers to a lower temperature and as such that is not required in the AU Domestic Market.

So now back to my original question of where the actual MAX fill line is.

Riksta · 07-07-2012, 02:57 PM

I would be of the opinion that it would be the top of the arrow, wouldn't make sense to be the bottom of it if its pointing up?

ope126 · 07-07-2012, 05:28 PM

Very true, will now look to top up that little bit extra.

ope126 · 07-07-2012, 10:52 PM

Filled to the top of the arrow now, all good!

foxtrot3 · 07-07-2012, 11:17 PM

Hi. One should always be careful of filling brake fluid reservoirs as the reason the fluid drops is that as the pads wear the fluid from the master cylinder fills the space behind the piston in the calliper, if you fill the reservoir, when the pads are changed and the pistons are pushed back into the callipers brake fluid will be pushed from the master cylinder making a mess of corrosive brake fluid and possibly damaging seals in the brake system. Cheers MD

ope126 · 08-07-2012, 12:08 AM

Thanks MD for your information. I will certainly keep this info in mind for the future as pads start to loose bite. As my car is less than 12mths old with less than 10,000kms I am just probably being a little over excited about where my fluid levels are / or should be. The brake fluid was only a little down, I really just wanted to get it back up to the magic line.