I bought my car (2012 Mazda3 2.0L manual) about 2 weeks ago. Today I checked the fluid levels and noticed that my clutch / brake fluid is not quite at max. I have attached a file showing where my fluid level is at now. Is this level ok or should I top it off to the top off the max arrow tip?

Also, does having the emergency brake up effect the fluid level at all? When I took this picture I had the emergency brake up and the car parked in second gear with the engine off. I don't know if it makes a difference, but the car was fairly cold when I took the picture. I let it idle for a few minutes before shutting it off and checking the motor oil.

I blackened the max level triangle and text in order to make it easier to see.

 

In a word, no. Its better to have the level a little low rather than a too high... just like the engine oil. My '04 came the same way and has not needed to be topped off in 7 yrs, though I did do a fluid change about 3 yrs ago. Whoops!! Time to do that again.

And in another one word answer, no. The e/parking brake works on a separate shoe inside the "hat" of the rear rotors. It uses cables to do that and has no affect on fluid or fluid levels.

 

Also NEVER top up your brake fluid, when you have a mechanic change your brake pads/shoes they compress the pistons back into the calipers/wheel cylinders which forces the fluid back into the reservoir and overflow if you topped it up, brake fluid loves to eat paint.

 

2012 2.0? really, check again

parking brake is not controlled by by brake fluid; but by a cable. In case your brakes fail or if you park on a hill

 

Why should he check again? Most 2012 Mazda3s have a 2.0 liter engine in them.

 

Yes sir. In this country all the 3i and SkyActiv models come with a 2.0L engine.
In many other countries, the 2.0L is the biggest engine offered.

 

Exactly, he doesnt have to check again IMO, but for some info Japan still uses the 1.4L, Europe has two 1.6Ls in the lineup along with diesels (2.2L 185hp and 300lb-ft@1800 nice ) but every market(Japan, Europe, US/CAN, Australia) has the 2.0L so I dont know why he said look again I guess most people assume that the engines offered where you live are the ones offered everywhere and sometimes its hard to explain to a person that my 3 has a 1.6L when all they know is a 2.0L. Personally I would not own a 3 with more than the 1.6L gasoline here in Austria, would be just too damn expensive in insurance (insurance here is based on horsepower, anything more than 90hp and the curve climbs fast, had a 185hp Saab 900II for 6 months and it cost me $160 a month in insurance alone, and that was just liability, my 3 with 104hp is $92 a month full coverage). Back on track, any update on the brakes Smoops, hope nothing is wrong with them other than some wear.

 

My mistake

 

Hey I hope I didn't make you feel bad, it was not my intention the way I wrote it to make you seem ummmmmmm whats the word........stupid? Only word I can think of this late but that is not and will never be my intention to do that to anyone, we all learn things on these forums. Just want to clear that up if anyone thought I may have implied my reply that way, it was never intended to be like that.

 

Very well said, and I agree completely.
We are not here to make others feel inferior, unless they are SPAMMERS of course, and we can all learn from each other.
No offense intended, Big Money.