2008-2017 Mitsubishi Lancer Brake Fluid Type and Flush Interval

By Core Brake Parts Tech Team — Circleville, OH warehouse

The 2008-2017 Mitsubishi Lancer takes glycol-based brake fluid that meets DOT 3 or DOT 4, poured from a sealed container. That is the only fluid spec the owner's manual gives. On the interval, Mitsubishi's US maintenance schedule is unusual: the "change brake fluid" line item specifically excludes the Lancer, so there is no fixed factory mileage for a flush. The practical answer is to test the fluid whenever the brakes are inspected and replace it when it has absorbed moisture or turned dark.

What Fluid the Lancer Uses

The Lancer owner's manual calls for brake fluid conforming to DOT 3 or DOT 4, taken from a sealed container. Both are glycol-ether fluids, and both are defined by the federal brake fluid standard, FMVSS 116. The difference between them is heat tolerance. DOT 4 has to meet higher minimum boiling points, both fresh (dry) and after it has picked up water (wet).

For a daily-driven Lancer, DOT 3 does the job. DOT 4 is a sensible upgrade if you tow a small trailer, live in hill country, or drive a Ralliart or GTS hard, because its higher boiling point gives more margin before the pedal goes soft on a long downhill. Whichever you pick, a few rules from the manual matter:

• Use a sealed container. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning it pulls moisture out of the air. A half-used bottle that has sat open on a shelf is already partly contaminated.
• Do not mix brands. The manual warns against mixing or topping up with a different brand of fluid. If you do not know what is in the system, a full flush with one fluid is the clean fix.
• Never use petroleum-based fluid. Mineral oil, power steering fluid or engine oil will swell and destroy the rubber seals in the master cylinder and calipers.
• Protect the paint. Brake fluid irritates skin and eyes and damages painted surfaces. Wipe up drips on the fender right away.

Why There Is No Factory Flush Interval

Mitsubishi's US Warranty and Maintenance Manual lists two schedules. Schedule 1 is for severe use: dusty or salted roads, towing, lots of idling, short trips in freezing weather, extended brake use, and heavy city traffic in hot weather. Schedule 2 is for everything else. In both schedules, the "Change brake fluid" item is written as applying to every model except the Lancer, Lancer Sportback and Outlander Sport. So if you are hunting for a Lancer flush mileage in the US book, it is not there.

That does not mean the fluid lasts forever. It means the factory leaves the call to inspection. What the schedule does specify for brakes:

Our advice: use those brake inspections as the moment to test the fluid. It costs nothing extra to dip a moisture test strip or put a boiling-point tester in the reservoir while the wheels are already off. On a Lancer that is 8 to 17 years old and has never had a flush, the fluid is almost certainly overdue.

Signs Your Lancer Needs a Brake Fluid Flush

• Dark fluid. Fresh DOT 3 and DOT 4 are clear to light amber. Brown or black fluid has broken down and picked up debris from rubber seals.
• A failed moisture or boiling-point test. Water in the fluid lowers its boiling point toward the wet figures in the table above, and it corrodes steel brake lines, caliper pistons and the ABS unit from the inside.
• Soft or sinking pedal after hard use. If the pedal gets long after a steep descent and firms up once the brakes cool, the fluid is boiling in the calipers.
• Clutch feel changes on a manual car. On the Lancer, the brake and clutch hydraulics share one reservoir. Wet, old fluid affects both, so a spongy or inconsistent clutch pedal can point to the same fluid problem.

A low level is a different story. The manual notes that the level drops slightly as the pads wear, and that is normal. If it drops markedly in a short time, that points to a leak, not old fluid. Check the calipers, the flexible hoses and the lines before just topping it up. Worn parts are available in our replacement brake hoses and brake calipers collections.

How to Check the Level and Condition

1. Park on level ground with the engine off. The reservoir sits on top of the master cylinder, mounted to the brake booster at the back of the engine bay.
2. Wipe the cap and the area around it clean before you open it, so no dirt falls in.
3. Confirm the level is between the MAX and MIN marks on the reservoir. Do not overfill; when new, thicker pads go on, the pistons push fluid back up.
4. Look at the color, then test with a strip or a boiling-point tester.
5. Close the cap right away. The manual says to keep it closed except when servicing, because the fluid absorbs moisture whenever it is exposed to air.

Doing the Flush: Difficulty and What to Replace With It

A brake fluid flush on a Lancer is a moderate home job. It is a conventional bleed: two people with the pump-and-hold method, or one person with a one-way bleeder or a pressure bleeder. Work from the wheel farthest from the master cylinder toward the closest, keep the reservoir from running low so no air reaches the ABS unit, and keep going at each bleeder until clean, bubble-free fluid comes out. On a manual-transmission car, also bleed the clutch slave cylinder, since it draws from the same reservoir. If air does get into the ABS hydraulic unit, a scan tool may be needed to cycle the valves, and that is a shop job. Tighten the bleeder screws to the value in the factory service manual; they are small and snap easily.

A flush is the right time to handle other brake work, because the system is going to be bled anyway:

• Pads and rotors. If the inspection shows thin pads or scored rotors, do them in the same visit. Our 2008-2017 Mitsubishi Lancer front and rear brake kit covers pads and rotors on both axles, and you can browse more options in our brake pads and brake rotors collections.
• Rubber hoses. Cracked or bulging flexible hoses should come out while the system is open. See our brake lines for replacements.
• Hardware. Fresh clips and slide pins keep new pads from dragging. Check our brake hardware kits.

Buy fluid in small sealed bottles rather than one big one that will sit open after the job, and have enough on hand to flush the clutch circuit too on a manual car.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put DOT 4 in a Lancer that has DOT 3 in it?

The Lancer is rated for either, and both are glycol-based, so they are chemically compatible. Mitsubishi's manual still advises against mixing brands, so the cleanest approach is a full flush to DOT 4 rather than topping up.

Does the Lancer use DOT 5?

No. The owner's manual only lists DOT 3 and DOT 4. Never use DOT 5, which is silicone-based and not interchangeable with glycol fluid.

How often should I flush the brake fluid on my Lancer?

Mitsubishi's US maintenance schedule does not give the Lancer a fixed interval. Test the fluid at every brake inspection, which the schedule sets at 15,000 miles or 12 months for normal driving, and flush when the test fails or the fluid is dark.

Is the clutch fluid the same as the brake fluid on a manual Lancer?

Yes. The manual states the brake and clutch share one reservoir, so both use the same DOT 3 or DOT 4 fluid, and both circuits should be bled during a full flush.

My brake fluid level is a little low. Should I top it off?

A slight drop is normal as the pads wear. Check your pad thickness first. If the pads are worn, replacing them pushes the level back up. A fast drop means a leak that needs finding before you drive.

Sources

1. Mitsubishi Lancer Owner's Manual - Brake fluid type - DOT 3 or DOT 4 from a sealed container, hygroscopic warning, do not mix brands, no petroleum fluid, paint damage
2. Mitsubishi Lancer Owner's Manual - Checking the fluid level - MAX and MIN marks, normal drop with pad wear, rapid drop indicates a leak
3. Mitsubishi Motors North America 2017 Warranty and Maintenance Manual - Schedule 1 and 2 conditions, brake inspection intervals, brake fluid change item excluding Lancer
4. 49 CFR 571.116 (FMVSS 116), Cornell Legal Information Institute - DOT 3 and DOT 4 minimum dry and wet boiling points