What kinda brake fluid for street driving?
11-16-2001, 10:57 AM
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What kinda brake fluid for street driving? Okay, what's the recommended kind of brake fluid if I'm going to be doing exclusively street driving, and leaving it in there for a long time?
Helms Manual says DOT-3 fluid, is that right? I don't have my owners manual right here, and there are sometimes discrepancies between the Helms and the Owners Manual on maintenance issues.
I know to buy the fluid in the metal container since the plastic ones can let moisture and air seep in.
Helms Manual says DOT-3 fluid, is that right? I don't have my owners manual right here, and there are sometimes discrepancies between the Helms and the Owners Manual on maintenance issues.
I know to buy the fluid in the metal container since the plastic ones can let moisture and air seep in.
11-20-2001, 01:00 AM
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Re: What kinda brake fluid for street driving? I just ordered some MOTUL 5.1 from http://www.carbotecheng.com/prod-ct-brakefluid.htm
It's kinda pricey so far as brake fluid goes but in the whole scheme of things it's pretty cheap...less than $7 per bottle(500ml I believe). For a full flush, you should need less than 2 bottles if I'm not mistaken.
There is also an RBF 600 made more for racing but you'd be changing fluids probably every few months. The 5.1 is meant for street use. DO NOT GET ANY 5.0 as it will screw up the seals on our braking systems.
The D.O.T. 3, 4, 5.1 for the most part is just a progression in higher wet and dry boiling points. Granted every manufacturer is different and may exceed those ratings, but they still have to meet a minimum for each rating.
Another popular brand is Ate (ah tay) Super Blue. I believe it's a DOT 4 fluid and also Valvoline Synpower. One nice thing about the Ate is they make it in blue and gold so that if you change your fluid you can switch between the two and make it easier to tell when new fluid is coming out.
Boiling points are:
Performance Friction..550* dry/ 284* wet
Ford HD DOT 3..........550* dry/ 290* wet
Valvoline Synpower is 502* dry/ 343* wet
ATE is.....................536* dry/ 392* wet
Motul 5.1 is..............585* dry/ 365* wet
Minimum DOT requirements:
DOT 3......401*/284*
DOT 4......446*/311*
DOT 5.1...500*/365*
The ford fluid dry mark qualifies it as a 5.1 but the wet mark forces it to be labeled a DOT 3.
The wet rating is the more important of the two. Brake fluid is highly hygroscopic, meaning it will absorb moisture. The dry boiling point is for fresh fluid. The wet rating is for fluid that has absorbed moisture.
Moisture reduces the boiling point of the fluid. If the fluid gets hot enough to boil it creates gases or "air bubbles". New fluid is created to not be easily compressed. Once enough gases are present in the fluid, you start getting that spongey feel in the brake pedal because of the compression of those gases in the system.
The Perf. Friction and Ate both come in metal containers. I think the others are all plastic. I've heard the same about air and plastic but I think as long as it hasn't been sitting on the shelf collecting dust, then it's just as safe in the plastic bottle as it is in your car.
Well...did I come close to answering your questions? Sorry I got carried away there. I think the Ate Super Blue or the MOTUL 5.1 are about the best choices for street use. Just my 2 cents. <img src="images/icons/grin.gif" border="0">
<img src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" />
[ November 20, 2001: Message edited by: WEASEL ]</p>
It's kinda pricey so far as brake fluid goes but in the whole scheme of things it's pretty cheap...less than $7 per bottle(500ml I believe). For a full flush, you should need less than 2 bottles if I'm not mistaken.
There is also an RBF 600 made more for racing but you'd be changing fluids probably every few months. The 5.1 is meant for street use. DO NOT GET ANY 5.0 as it will screw up the seals on our braking systems.
The D.O.T. 3, 4, 5.1 for the most part is just a progression in higher wet and dry boiling points. Granted every manufacturer is different and may exceed those ratings, but they still have to meet a minimum for each rating.
Another popular brand is Ate (ah tay) Super Blue. I believe it's a DOT 4 fluid and also Valvoline Synpower. One nice thing about the Ate is they make it in blue and gold so that if you change your fluid you can switch between the two and make it easier to tell when new fluid is coming out.
Boiling points are:
Performance Friction..550* dry/ 284* wet
Ford HD DOT 3..........550* dry/ 290* wet
Valvoline Synpower is 502* dry/ 343* wet
ATE is.....................536* dry/ 392* wet
Motul 5.1 is..............585* dry/ 365* wet
Minimum DOT requirements:
DOT 3......401*/284*
DOT 4......446*/311*
DOT 5.1...500*/365*
The ford fluid dry mark qualifies it as a 5.1 but the wet mark forces it to be labeled a DOT 3.
The wet rating is the more important of the two. Brake fluid is highly hygroscopic, meaning it will absorb moisture. The dry boiling point is for fresh fluid. The wet rating is for fluid that has absorbed moisture.
Moisture reduces the boiling point of the fluid. If the fluid gets hot enough to boil it creates gases or "air bubbles". New fluid is created to not be easily compressed. Once enough gases are present in the fluid, you start getting that spongey feel in the brake pedal because of the compression of those gases in the system.
The Perf. Friction and Ate both come in metal containers. I think the others are all plastic. I've heard the same about air and plastic but I think as long as it hasn't been sitting on the shelf collecting dust, then it's just as safe in the plastic bottle as it is in your car.
Well...did I come close to answering your questions? Sorry I got carried away there. I think the Ate Super Blue or the MOTUL 5.1 are about the best choices for street use. Just my 2 cents. <img src="images/icons/grin.gif" border="0">
<img src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" />
[ November 20, 2001: Message edited by: WEASEL ]</p>
11-21-2001, 05:48 PM
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Re: What kinda brake fluid for street driving? I ended up going with Valvoline Synpower DOT3/DOT4.
Thanks for all that info, that's a good brake fluid reference post.
Thanks for all that info, that's a good brake fluid reference post.
11-22-2001, 11:15 AM
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Re: What kinda brake fluid for street driving? [quote]Originally posted by CJP63:
<strong>Why will the RBF 600 only last for a few months?</strong><hr></blockquote>
From my understanding, it absorbs moisture alot quicker than most other fluids and is generally used by people that road race. In reality, with street driving, it would probably last long enough for most peoples taste in driving but braking would deteriorate quicker than with other fluids.
On top of that, I don't know Carbotech's price but a local motorcycle shop wanted $12 for one bottle!
<strong>Why will the RBF 600 only last for a few months?</strong><hr></blockquote>
From my understanding, it absorbs moisture alot quicker than most other fluids and is generally used by people that road race. In reality, with street driving, it would probably last long enough for most peoples taste in driving but braking would deteriorate quicker than with other fluids.
On top of that, I don't know Carbotech's price but a local motorcycle shop wanted $12 for one bottle!
