[Millenium Falcon]

My '14 Volt's manual indicates that the brake fluid should be changed every 10 years or 150K miles. However, the online manual on the mychevrolet app indicates every 3 years or 45K miles.

Which is correct? I'd think that GM would have provided a new owner's manual or at least an addendum to correct the maintenance schedule interval information.

Has anyone followed the 3 year/45K interval?

 

[AZ EV Driver]

What makes you think anything found on the internet is accurate? Information found in your owner's manual has been reviewed several times before it goes to the printer. My bet is on the owner's manual.

VIN # B0985

 

[Millenium Falcon]

The 3 year/45K brake fluid change interval for the Volt came from the downloadable "virtual owners manual" on the mychevrolet app. This is from GM's own app.

But I agree--if this was important to GM, I'd think they would send out a revised owners manual or an addendum to all owners. I've received a revised owner's manual from Nissan when I had the LEAF, and I also received revised addendum to the owner's manual when I had my Toyota Sienna.

 

[Upper5Percent]

Sounds like the dealerships whined to GM and it changed the online manual...

 

[Tomt]

When in doubt, test it.

 

[Raymondjram]

As a GM owner since 1976, and doing my own servicing since 1969 (on my Dad's 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme), I always follow the printed owner manuals. Don't follow the dealer's "recommendations" or the newer online manuals. GM writes their owner manuals after the development and testing (both "alpha" and "beta" tests) of their new models and check out all needed maintenance, so the owner manual is written and published at the time the regular production begins. If GM discovers any problems after the model's first year, they will edit the manual and publish a new version (sometimes they offer the updated manuals for free).

So if your 2014 Chevy Volt owner manual has a schedule for maintenance and servicing, follow it. In some cases, you can delay the service as you learn more about the vehicle model, but doing it ahead of the schedule is a waste of time and money. My last two vehicles have given me many years (over twenty) of great trouble-free service even when I skipped some of the steps. And as a present 2009 Chevy Equinox owner, I only follow the schedule in the manual, although the dealer has tried calling and sending emails to do otherwise (to make more money). I change the engine oil once a year with synthetic (as I have done will all my previous cars since 1981) and its engine coolant only once. Yet it still runs like it was new!

As more EVs are produced, the schedule will be easier and have less steps. I bought the 2015 Chevy Spark EV Owner Manual, and I have posted about it here (search for it). The 2017 Chevy Bolt EV Owner Manual is already online for free, so read it and see ahead how simpler your schedule will become.

 

[obermd]

When you have the same car for several model years I've found it useful to download the most recent version of the car's owners manual for the service schedule. The reason for this is that each year this schedule will get changed to more accurately reflect real world usage based on warranty repairs. For the Gen 1 Volt this means I would use the "tighter" of the severe service schedules between the model year I owned and the 2015 (last) model year. The Gen 2 Volt is a different car for service purposes.

Also, unless you know 100% that you don't fall into the severe service schedule, use it.

 

[hellsop]

Also, unless you know 100% that you don't fall into the severe service schedule, use it.

. Mainly driven in hilly or
mountainous terrain.
. Frequently towing a trailer.
. Used for high speed or
competitive driving.
. Used for taxi, police, or delivery
service.

Seems pretty unambiguous to me, but I'm not a Service Manager. I'd even question the last one since that's a copy/paste from the ICE manuals that presume a boatload of engine-turning at idle. Which the Volt doesn't even do.

 

[kgvickers]

I just bought my first Volt, a 2013 with 74K miles. The brakes were fine, but the brake fluid in the underhood reservoir was a bit on the dark side so I flushed it myself yesterday. Not sure it was worth it, the fluid coming from the calipers was a lot better looking than the fluid in the reservoir. At any rate it's done now and one less thing for me to fret about.

Cheers.