1997 Chevrolet S10 Pickup Owner's Manual - Page 268

Brakes Brake Fluid I your brake system fixed, since a leak means that so.oner or later your brakes won't work. well, or won't work at all. So, it isn't a good i d e a to "top off' your brczke fl.uid. Adding brake fluid won't correct :a leak. If-youadd fluid when your linings are.worn: then you'll have too snucl.1 fluid when you. get new brake linings. You should add (or remove) b1-ake fluid, as necessary, only when work is done on the brake hydraulic system. i I Your brake master cylinder reservoir is ha-e. It is filled with DOT-3 brake fluid. There .are only tw.0 reasons why the brake fluid level in the reservoir might go down. The first is that, the brak.e fluid goes. down to an acceptable level.:during normal brake lining wear. When new lin-ingsare put-in,the fluid level goes back up. The other leason is that fluid is leaking o.ut of the'brakesystem. If it is, you should lwve If you have too much brake fluid, it can spin on the engine. The .fluid will burn if the-engine. is hot enough. You or others could be burned, and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake fluid only when work is done on the brake hydraulic @em. Refel' to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when t.o check your brake fluid. See "Periodic M.aintenance Tnspection-s'" n the Index. i