2013-2019 Nissan Sentra Brake Fluid Type and Flush Interval

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

The 2013-2019 Nissan Sentra calls for Genuine NISSAN Brake Fluid or an equivalent DOT 3 fluid. For the 2014 through 2019 model years, Nissan's maintenance schedule says to replace it every 20,000 miles or 24 months under standard driving, and every 10,000 miles or 12 months under severe conditions. The 2013 schedule is longer: 30,000 miles or 24 months standard, 15,000 miles or 12 months severe.

What Brake Fluid the 2013-2019 Sentra Uses

The owner's manual for this generation of Sentra is specific: when the level is below the MIN line, or the brake warning light comes on, add Genuine NISSAN Brake Fluid or equivalent DOT 3 fluid up to the MAX line. The same manual warns to use only new fluid from a sealed container, because old or contaminated fluid can damage the brake system.

DOT 3 is a glycol-based fluid. So are DOT 4 and DOT 5.1, and the trade publication Brake and Front End notes that all DOT 3, 4 and 5.1 fluids are compatible with each other. What you must never add is DOT 5, which is silicone based. Silicone fluid does not mix with glycol fluid and will separate and collect inside the system.

The federal standard that defines these grades, FMVSS 116, sets minimum boiling points for each one. That is the real difference between them:

"Wet" boiling point is measured after the fluid has absorbed water, and it is the number that matters on a car that has gone years without a flush.

Flush Intervals by Model Year

Nissan publishes the intervals per model year on its maintenance schedule site. These are the figures for this generation:

For 2015 and 2018, look up your exact year on Nissan's schedule tool before you plan the service; the model years around them all list the 20,000-mile / 24-month standard interval. Whichever comes first, miles or months, is the one that counts. A Sentra that sits and only covers a few thousand miles a year still needs fresh fluid on the calendar interval, because moisture gets in whether the car moves or not.

Severe conditions generally mean a lot of short trips, stop-and-go city driving, hilly or mountain driving, dusty roads and very hot or humid climates. Plenty of commuter Sentras fit that description, so be honest about how your car is used.

Why Old Brake Fluid Is a Problem

Nissan's own explanation is simple. Brake fluid transfers the force from your foot to the calipers and has to resist compression. As it ages it becomes contaminated and absorbs moisture. That water can boil into vapor under hard braking, and vapor compresses, so the pedal goes soft. Moisture also causes corrosion inside the system.

Corrosion is the expensive part. Glycol fluid carries an additive package that protects metal parts. Brake and Front End points out that rising copper content in used fluid is a sign that package is depleted and corrosion is likely happening in the system. On a Sentra, the parts at risk are the caliper pistons and bores, the master cylinder and the ABS hydraulic unit. A flush is far cheaper than any of those.

Symptoms That Your Sentra's Fluid Needs Attention

• Soft or spongy pedal, especially after repeated stops or a long downhill stretch.
• Brake warning light on with the parking brake released. The manual ties this light to low fluid. Low fluid usually means worn pads or a leak, not evaporation, so check both.
• Dark, cloudy fluid in the reservoir. Fresh DOT 3 is clear to light amber.
• Sticking caliper, which shows up as a pull to one side, a hot wheel or uneven pad wear. Corroded pistons are a common result of neglected fluid.
• No record of a flush within the interval above. Most people never feel the change because it happens gradually.

Fluid test strips or an electronic boiling-point tester give a quick read on condition, but on a car past its interval, just do the flush.

How to Flush the Fluid and What to Do at the Same Time

A flush pushes fresh DOT 3 through every line until clean fluid comes out of each bleeder screw, rather than just topping up the reservoir. It is a two-person job with a pedal and a wrench, or a one-person job with a pressure or vacuum bleeder. Tips that save headaches on this car:

• Use a fresh, sealed bottle. Opened fluid pulls moisture from the air in storage.
• Never let the reservoir run dry during bleeding, or you can draw air into the master cylinder and ABS unit, which may then need a scan-tool bleed procedure from the factory service manual.
• Follow the bleed sequence in the factory service manual, and tighten bleeder screws to the value it specifies.
• Wipe up spills right away. The owner's manual warns that the fluid damages paint, and it is poisonous, so store it capped and out of reach.

The best time to flush is during a brake job, because the system is already open and you are pushing pistons back anyway. If your pads are low, a set of 2013-2019 Nissan Sentra front ceramic brake pads goes in at the same service. Look at the rotors too; our brake rotor collection covers replacements if yours are scored or under the minimum thickness cast on the rotor. If a bleeder screw is seized or a caliper is sticking from corrosion, replace the caliper rather than fight it - see our brake calipers. Cracked or swollen rubber hoses should also be replaced while the fluid is out; find them in brake hoses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use DOT 4 in my 2013-2019 Sentra?

DOT 4 is a glycol fluid that is compatible with DOT 3 and exceeds DOT 3's minimum boiling points. Nissan specifies DOT 3, so DOT 3 is the safe default. If you choose DOT 4, do a full flush so the system holds one fluid, not a partial mix.

Is it OK to just top off instead of flushing?

Topping off restores the level but leaves the old, water-laden fluid in the calipers and lines where heat and corrosion do their damage. It does not replace the scheduled flush.

Why is my 2013 Sentra's interval different from a 2016?

Nissan's published schedule for the 2013 model year lists 30,000 miles or 24 months standard, while 2014 and later list 20,000 miles or 24 months. Follow the schedule for your exact year.

Can I use DOT 5 brake fluid?

No. DOT 5 is silicone based and does not mix with the glycol fluid in your Sentra. It separates inside the system. DOT 5.1 is a different, glycol-based fluid, but stick with the factory DOT 3 spec.

My brake warning light came on and the fluid is low. Should I just add fluid?

Add DOT 3 to the MAX line to be safe, then find out why it dropped. The level falls as pads wear, so check pad thickness, and look for wet spots at each wheel and along the lines for a leak.

Sources

1. Nissan Sentra (B17) Owner's Manual - Brake fluid - Genuine NISSAN Brake Fluid or equivalent DOT 3; MIN/MAX, warning light, paint and sealed-container warnings
2. Nissan USA - 2013 Sentra brake fluid maintenance schedule - 30,000 miles/24 months standard, 15,000 miles/12 months severe
3. Nissan USA - 2014 Sentra brake fluid maintenance schedule - 20,000 miles/24 months standard, 10,000 miles/12 months severe
4. Nissan USA - 2016 Sentra brake fluid maintenance schedule - intervals and why moisture reduces braking efficiency
5. Nissan USA - 2017 Sentra brake fluid maintenance schedule - 20,000 miles/24 months standard, 10,000 miles/12 months severe
6. Nissan USA - 2019 Sentra brake fluid maintenance schedule - 20,000 miles/24 months standard, 10,000 miles/12 months severe
7. 49 CFR 571.116 (FMVSS 116) - Motor vehicle brake fluids - minimum dry and wet boiling points for DOT 3, 4 and 5
8. Brake and Front End - Brake Fluid DOT 3, 4, 5 and 5.1 FAQ - glycol fluid compatibility, DOT 5 silicone incompatibility, copper as a corrosion indicator