At Meta Mechanics, we know that maintaining the performance of your Audi RS5 goes beyond just replacing brake pads and rotors. One critical yet often overlooked aspect of the braking system is the brake fluid, or brake oil. Whether you’re a performance enthusiast or just an everyday driver, ensuring that your brake fluid is clean and at the proper level is essential for maintaining the performance, safety, and reliability of your Audi RS5.
Recently, we had the opportunity to perform a brake oil change on an Audi RS5, and we’d like to share why brake fluid maintenance is so important and the steps we took to ensure the braking system is performing optimally.
Issue Identified:
1. Contaminated Brake Fluid
Problem: During our inspection, we noticed that the brake fluid was showing signs of moisture contamination and had turned dark in color, which is an indication that it had degraded over time. Moisture in the brake fluid can lower its boiling point, which is dangerous under high temperatures or heavy braking conditions.
Solution: We performed a full brake fluid flush to remove the old, contaminated fluid from the system. We then replaced it with fresh, high-quality brake fluid that is designed to handle the high demands of the Audi RS5’s braking system. This step is crucial for restoring the brake system’s performance and preventing brake fade.
2. Air Bubbles in the Brake System
Problem: The presence of air bubbles in the brake fluid can lead to a spongy brake pedal feel, reduced braking performance, and potentially dangerous situations when driving at high speeds or under emergency braking conditions. We found that air bubbles had formed due to a combination of old fluid and the moisture absorption.
Solution: After flushing out the contaminated brake fluid, we carefully bled the brakes to remove any air bubbles from the system. This step ensures that the brake fluid flows freely and the hydraulic pressure is consistent, restoring a firm, responsive brake pedal feel.
3. Brake System Performance
Problem: The degraded brake fluid can cause reduced braking power and might even cause the brake system to feel unresponsive, especially during high-performance driving. Given the Audi RS5’s power and performance capabilities, this could have led to dangerous consequences if left unaddressed.
Solution: With the new, fresh brake fluid in place, we tested the entire braking system to ensure that the fluid was circulating properly, and that the system was working at optimal efficiency. The result was smooth, responsive braking, allowing the RS5 to perform safely in all conditions.
Audi RS5 Inspection of Brake Fluid Level and Condition
Audi RS5 Check for Fluid Contamination (water, dirt, air bubbles)
Audi RS5 Removal of Old Brake Fluid
Audi RS5 Flushing of the Brake Fluid System (if necessary)
Audi RS5 Refill with New, Manufacturer-Specified Brake Fluid
Audi RS5 Bleeding the Brake Lines to Remove Air
Audi RS5 Inspection of Brake System for Leaks
Audi RS5 Test of Brake Pedal Feel and Response
Audi RS5 Check and Top-Up of Fluid Reservoir
Audi RS5 Final Brake Performance Test
