2009-2013 Toyota Matrix Brake Fluid Type and Flush Interval

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

The 2009-2013 Toyota Matrix uses a glycol-based DOT 3 brake fluid, the same grade Toyota sells as its genuine brake fluid. Toyota's printed maintenance schedule for these cars calls for regular brake inspections rather than a fixed fluid-change mileage, so the right flush interval depends on the fluid's condition. On a Matrix this old, a flush every couple of years or whenever a test shows moisture is a sensible plan.

What brake system the 2009-2013 Matrix actually has

It helps to know what the fluid is feeding before you service it. Toyota's 2010 model-year announcement for the Matrix says four-wheel disc brakes are standard on every Matrix, and it lists ABS, Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist as standard equipment. For 2010, Toyota also made Vehicle Stability Control with traction control standard.

Brake hardware size depends on the engine:

Configurations can change over a model run, so before you buy parts, look behind the rear wheel of your own car and confirm you have a caliper and rotor at each corner. That matters for bleeding, too: every caliper has its own bleeder screw, and old fluid has to be pushed out at all four.

The ABS modulator sits between the master cylinder and the calipers. Its valves and pump have small passages and tight clearances, which is one more reason to keep the fluid clean and dry instead of letting it go for the life of the car.

The correct fluid: DOT 3, and what that number means

Toyota's genuine brake fluid for this generation is sold as DOT 3. DOT 3 is a glycol-based fluid, and the DOT rating is a minimum performance standard under FMVSS 116. A DOT 3 fluid must have a minimum dry boiling point of 401 F (205 C) and a minimum wet boiling point of 284 F (140 C).

"Dry" means fresh fluid from a sealed bottle. "Wet" is the boiling point after the fluid has absorbed about 3.7 percent water by volume, the point at which the fluid is considered saturated and due for replacement.

Fluid makers state that DOT 3, DOT 4 and DOT 5.1 glycol fluids can be mixed without damaging the system, so a DOT 4 fluid is an acceptable upgrade if that is what you have. DOT 5 is a different product. It is silicone-based, not glycol, and it is not what Toyota specifies for this car. Do not put it in a Matrix.

Always check the label on the reservoir cap and the owner's manual for your exact car, and use fluid from a sealed container. An opened bottle that has sat on a shelf keeps pulling moisture out of the air.

How often to flush a Matrix's brake fluid

Published Toyota Matrix schedules list brake pad, disc, drum and lining inspections at regular mileage points but do not give a fixed brake fluid replacement mileage. That leaves you to judge by age and condition. The general industry guidance is that most manufacturers call for new brake fluid somewhere between 20,000 and 40,000 miles or every two years. ADVICS, a Toyota-group brake maker, states that DOT 3 takes on moisture faster than DOT 4 and that replacement should follow the owner's manual.

Time matters more than miles. Glycol fluid is hygroscopic, which means it draws water from the air through hoses and seals whether the car is driven or not. Fluid makers put DOT 3 moisture pickup at roughly 1 to 2 percent per year. A 2009-2013 Matrix still on its original fluid is well past any reasonable replacement point.

Shops use these condition limits to decide when fluid should be replaced:

• Moisture content of 3.5 percent or more
• Copper content of 200 parts per million or more, a sign that corrosion inhibitors are used up and metal parts inside the system are being attacked
• Fluid that is dark, cloudy or has debris in it

Test strips and electronic testers are cheap, and any shop can check your fluid in a couple of minutes. If you tow a small trailer, drive in the mountains or brake hard in traffic, flush on the early side.

Symptoms of old or contaminated fluid

• Soft or spongy pedal, especially after repeated stops or a long downhill. Water in the fluid boils at a lower temperature, and the vapor compresses.
• Pedal that sinks slowly under steady pressure at a light. This can point to a worn master cylinder, and moisture speeds up internal corrosion.
• Dark or murky fluid in the translucent reservoir under the hood.
• Low fluid level. As pads wear, the caliper pistons move out and the level drops a little, which is normal. A sudden drop or a level below the minimum line means a leak or badly worn pads. Find the cause before you top it off.
• Brake warning light on the dash, which comes on when the reservoir float drops.

Doing the flush: what it involves on a Matrix

A fluid flush on a Matrix is a driveway job for someone with basic tools. Most people do it with a helper pumping the pedal or with a one-person vacuum or pressure bleeder.

1. Draw most of the old fluid out of the reservoir with a clean syringe and refill it with fresh DOT 3. This keeps old fluid from being pushed back through the lines.
2. Bleed each corner, starting with the one farthest from the master cylinder and ending closest to it. The factory service manual gives the exact sequence for the ABS-equipped Matrix. Follow it.
3. At each bleeder, keep pushing fluid until it runs clear and bubble-free, and never let the reservoir run low. If air gets into the ABS modulator, the shop may need a scan tool to cycle the unit and bleed it out.
4. Tighten the bleeder screws to the torque in the factory service manual. Do not overtighten them, because they break easily in a corroded caliper.
5. Fill to the MAX line, pump the pedal until it is firm before moving the car, and test the brakes at low speed.

Brake fluid removes paint. Wipe up spills right away and rinse with water.

What to check or replace at the same time

With the wheels off for bleeding, you have a good chance to inspect the rest of the system:

• Bleeder screws and calipers. A bleeder that is seized or snaps off usually means the caliper should be replaced. Sticking slide pins or a torn piston boot also point to a caliper replacement. See our replacement brake calipers.
• Rubber hoses. Look for cracks, bulges or chafing at each wheel. Hoses on a car this age are often due. Shop brake hoses.
• Pads and rotors. If the pads are near their wear indicators, doing pads and rotors at the same time as the flush saves labor. For a complete refresh, see this 2009-2013 Toyota Matrix front and rear rotor and ceramic pad kit, or browse ceramic brake pads and brake rotors.
• Master cylinder. If the pedal still sinks after a proper bleed, the master cylinder seals are likely worn. See master cylinders.

One more item for 2009-2010 owners in cold climates: Toyota recall 09V338000 covered some 2009-2010 Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Pontiac Vibe models with the 1.8L engine. In extreme cold, condensation could freeze the intake manifold's brake-vacuum port and increase stopping distance. The fix was a redesigned intake air connector. Check your VIN on the NHTSA recall site to confirm it was done.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use DOT 4 in my 2009-2013 Toyota Matrix?

Yes. DOT 4 is glycol-based like DOT 3, has higher minimum boiling points, and fluid makers state that the two can be mixed without harming the system. For a full flush, stick to one fluid so you know what is in the car.

Can I use DOT 5 brake fluid?

No. DOT 5 is silicone-based, and the Matrix is designed for glycol fluid. Do not confuse it with DOT 5.1, which is a glycol-type fluid.

Does Toyota say how often to change the Matrix's brake fluid?

The published Matrix maintenance schedules list regular brake inspections but no fixed fluid replacement mileage. Replace the fluid when a test shows moisture or copper over the limits, or about every two years as a practical rule.

Is a brake fluid flush the same as bleeding the brakes?

Both use the bleeder screws. Bleeding removes air, usually with only a small amount of fluid. A flush pushes all the old fluid out of every line and caliper and replaces it with new fluid.

Why is my Matrix's brake fluid level low?

The level drops a little as pads wear, because the caliper pistons sit farther out. If the level is below MIN or keeps dropping, check the pads, look for wet spots at the calipers and hoses, and check the master cylinder before adding fluid.

Sources

1. Toyota USA Newsroom - 2010 Matrix - four-wheel discs standard, rotor sizes by engine, ABS/EBD/Brake Assist, VSC with TRAC
2. Genuine Toyota Brake Fluid DOT 3 - Toyota's genuine brake fluid is a DOT 3 grade
3. Torque Brake Fluid - The ABCs of Brake Fluid - DOT 3/4/5.1 minimum boiling points, chemistry, mixing, annual moisture pickup
4. ADVICS - Brake Fluid Boiling Points - dry vs wet definition (3.7 percent water), DOT 3 moisture rate, follow owner's manual
5. Kelley Blue Book - 2013 Toyota Matrix maintenance schedule - brake inspections listed, no fixed fluid replacement mileage
6. Panama City Toyota - How often to change brake fluid - 20,000-40,000 miles or two years industry range; 3.5 percent moisture and 200 ppm copper limits
7. NHTSA - 2009 Toyota Corolla Matrix recalls - recall 09V338000 brake vacuum port freezing, 1.8L