2010-2012 Ford Taurus Brake Fluid Type and Flush Interval

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

The 2010-2012 Ford Taurus takes DOT 3 brake fluid. Ford's owner's guide for these years calls for Motorcraft High Performance DOT 3 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluid, part number PM-1-C, or an equivalent that meets Ford specification WSS-M6C62-A or WSS-M6C65-A1. Ford does not print a fixed mileage for a fluid change on this car, so the practical answer is to flush it every two to three years, and sooner if the fluid is dark or the pedal has gone soft.

What Ford Specifies for the 2010-2012 Taurus

The maintenance product specifications table in both the 2010 and the 2012 Taurus owner's guides lists the same brake fluid entry, and the 2011 guide matches it. The capacity column does not give a volume; it simply says to keep the level between MAX and MIN on the reservoir.

Motorcraft PM-1-C is a glycol-ether based DOT 3 fluid. Ford's own safety data sheet for it lists triethylene glycol monobutyl ether as the main ingredient and an initial boiling point above 500 F (260 C). That same sheet rates it as able to cause serious eye damage, so wear safety glasses when you open the system.

Can you use DOT 4 in a 2010-2012 Taurus?

Yes, with the right product. Ford's later Motorcraft DOT 4 LV (Low Viscosity) fluid, PM-20, meets WSS-M6C65-A2, and Ford's product page states it is compatible with vehicles that specify WSS-M6C65-A1, which is one of the two specs listed for this Taurus. Ford lists its equilibrium reflux boiling point at 260 C (500 F) and its wet boiling point at 170 C (338 F). What you should not do is use PM-20 in place of a fluid meeting WSS-M6C65-A3 (DOT 5.1), which Ford warns against, and never use silicone DOT 5 in this system. When in doubt, match the spec printed in the owner's guide or on the reservoir cap.

Why Brake Fluid Wears Out

DOT 3, DOT 4 and DOT 5.1 fluids are glycol based, and glycol fluids pull moisture out of the air. Brembo explains that fluid absorbs moisture over time through the porosity of the brake lines, and that the boiling point of a three-year-old fluid can be significantly lower than new. When wet fluid gets hot, it boils into vapor bubbles. Vapor compresses where liquid does not, so the pedal goes soft or sinks right when you need it most.

The federal brake fluid standard, FMVSS No. 116, shows how big that drop can be. It sets two boiling point minimums for each grade: one for fresh fluid (ERBP) and one after the fluid has absorbed a controlled amount of water (wet ERBP).

Moisture also attacks the metal inside the system. The Taurus has four-wheel ABS with a brake assist function that uses the ABS unit to build maximum pressure in a panic stop, and that hydraulic unit, the master cylinder and the caliper bores all live in the fluid. Wagner notes that clean, fresh fluid protects the master cylinder and ABS for long, trouble-free operation.

How Often to Flush a 2010-2012 Taurus

The 2012 Taurus normal maintenance schedule has no time or mileage line for a passenger-car brake fluid change. The only brake fluid interval printed in that section is for Class A motorhomes (every two years). For the Taurus, Ford asks for a fluid level check and a brake inspection at every oil change.

Fluid makers fill that gap. Brembo generally recommends replacing brake fluid every two to three years, and Ford's Motorcraft page for DOT 4 LV gives a recommended change-out interval of every three years. For a Taurus that is now well over a decade old, a flush every two to three years is a sensible rule, and do it right away if any of these apply:

• The fluid in the reservoir has turned dark brown instead of clear to amber (FMVSS 116 requires DOT 3 and DOT 4 to be colorless to amber when new).
• The pedal feels soft, spongy or sinks lower than it used to.
• You are replacing a caliper, hose or master cylinder, which opens the system anyway.
• You do not know when the fluid was last changed on a used car.

Reading the Reservoir and the Warning Lights

The owner's guide explains that the fluid level drops slowly as the pads wear and rises back when new brake components are installed. A level anywhere between MIN and MAX is normal and needs nothing added. A level below MIN usually means one of two things: the pads are worn thin, or there is a leak. Topping it off hides both problems, so find the cause first.

The Taurus gives you two warnings. The message center shows BRAKE FLUID LEVEL LOW when the level drops, and the red BRAKE warning lamp lights if the fluid is low or the system has a fault once the parking brake is released. Ford is blunt about it: driving with the brake warning light on is dangerous and can make stopping distances longer. Have it checked before you drive further.

Doing the Flush and What to Replace With It

Flushing this car is a two-person bleed or a pressure-bleeder job with a few details to watch:

1. Use a sealed, fresh bottle of DOT 3 that meets WSS-M6C62-A or WSS-M6C65-A1. Brake fluid picks up moisture once opened, so do not use a bottle that has sat half full on a shelf.
2. Pull the old fluid out of the reservoir first, refill, and never let it run dry during the bleed. Air in the ABS unit is much harder to purge.
3. Bleed each wheel until clean fluid comes out with no bubbles, working in the order the factory service manual gives for this car.
4. Tighten bleeder screws to the value in the factory service manual; overtightening cracks them.
5. Glycol fluid strips paint. Cover the fenders and rinse any drips with water immediately.

A flush is the right time to look at parts that sit in the fluid. The 2010-2012 Taurus uses disc brakes at all four wheels with a foot-pedal parking brake. If a rear caliper is seized, leaking at the piston seal or has a stuck slide, replacing it now saves a second bleed. We carry a pair of rear brake calipers with brackets for the 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, and our brake calipers collection covers other units as well. Cracked or swollen rubber lines belong in the brake hose category, and a pedal that slowly sinks with the car stopped and no external leak points toward the master cylinder. If the pads are near their limit, pair the job with new brake pads and, where needed, brake rotors.

Frequently Asked Questions

What brake fluid does a 2011 Ford Taurus take?

DOT 3. The 2011 owner's guide lists Motorcraft High Performance DOT 3 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluid, part PM-1-C, or an equivalent meeting WSS-M6C62-A or WSS-M6C65-A1, the same as the 2010 and 2012 models.

How much brake fluid does the Taurus hold?

Ford does not publish a volume in the owner's guide; it lists the capacity as between MAX and MIN on the reservoir. For a full flush, buy more than one bottle so you never run the reservoir dry mid-bleed.

Can I mix DOT 3 and DOT 4 in my Taurus?

Ford rates its DOT 4 LV fluid as compatible with vehicles that specify WSS-M6C65-A1, which covers this Taurus. The better practice is still a complete flush to one fluid rather than topping off with a mix. Never add silicone DOT 5.

Is brake fluid part of the Taurus maintenance schedule?

Only as an inspection. The schedule calls for checking fluid levels and inspecting pads, rotors, hoses and the parking brake at every oil change, but it gives no fixed replacement mileage for this car. Brake fluid makers recommend replacement every two to three years.

Why is my brake fluid low if there is no leak?

As the pads wear, the caliper pistons move out and more fluid sits in the calipers, so the reservoir level drops. Ford notes the level rises again when brake components are replaced. If it is below MIN, inspect the pads and lines before adding fluid.

Sources

1. 2012 Ford Taurus Owner's Guide - DOT 3 PM-1-C, WSS-M6C62-A or WSS-M6C65-A1, MAX/MIN capacity, maintenance schedule, warning messages, foot parking brake, ABS and brake assist
2. 2010 Ford Taurus Owner's Guide - same brake fluid specification for the 2010 model
3. Motorcraft DOT 4 LV High Performance Brake Fluid (Ford) - PM-20 spec, boiling points, compatibility with WSS-M6C65-A1, three-year change-out interval
4. Ford Safety Data Sheet, High Performance DOT 3 Brake Fluid - glycol ether composition, boiling point above 500 F, eye hazard
5. 49 CFR 571.116, FMVSS No. 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids - dry and wet boiling point minimums, viscosity limits, color requirement
6. Brembo brake fluid for cars - moisture absorption, vapor lock, two to three year replacement
7. Wagner: causes of a spongy or low brake pedal - old fluid boiling, flushing protects master cylinder and ABS