BILL WZOREK
Well-known member
How do you decide what type Brake fluid is in your car all ready?
Is there one that will Mix with all types?
THANKS AGAIN
Is there one that will Mix with all types?
THANKS AGAIN
How do you tell BRAKE FLUID ??
- Thread starter BILL WZOREK
- Start date
If you can't find out what type is in the system, I'd purge the system and install the brake fluid you want to use.
Bill, I think that synthetic fluids have a bluish tint to them. However, i would not swear that is always the case. Plus, if the fluid has been in the system for a length of time, it is most likely discolored due to contaminants in the lines, etc.
Dot 5 and Dot 3 are not homogenous.
DOT 3, 4 and 5.1 can be mixed with no issues. DOT 5 is silicone fluid and will not mix with the others, but it is the only one that has the benefit of not being hygroscopic. The simplest test would be to put a drop or two on paint, say on your chassis. If the brake fluid does not lift the paint it is DOT 5. D-5 is purple straight out of the bottle but will fade to amber over time.
hardtimes
Well-known member
Hey G.M.,
Good information, thanks
!Now assembling NEW system. In your opinion, is it a good idea to put dot 5 into new system ? I've heard some say yeah, while some say no..with 'leaking' as only reason not to do so. Need this help/advice at this juncture.
Make up your own mind.
Silicone fluid is harder to bleed than regular fluid and the pedal may be a little softer.
Silicone fluid will not collect water and rust your lines and cylinders from the inside.
Silicone fluid will not eat up your paint like glycol based fluids.
I have not had a leaking problem in the more than 30 years that my car has had silicone fluid in it.
The easiest way to bleed DOT 5 is gravity bleeding. Make sure that your master cylinder is above the wheel cylinders that you are bleeding and open the bleed screw and let the fluid drain until clear. On the pre-52 cars, you should jack the front of the car to do the back brakes and the rear of the car to do the front brakes.
If you use a glycol based brake fluid, use a new can every time you flush the system. It should be flushed every couple of years in a car that is used seasonally. Silicone fluid does not have to be flushed, because it does not attract water. Silicone fluid cannot be used in ABS systems.
Silicone fluid is harder to bleed than regular fluid and the pedal may be a little softer.
Silicone fluid will not collect water and rust your lines and cylinders from the inside.
Silicone fluid will not eat up your paint like glycol based fluids.
I have not had a leaking problem in the more than 30 years that my car has had silicone fluid in it.
The easiest way to bleed DOT 5 is gravity bleeding. Make sure that your master cylinder is above the wheel cylinders that you are bleeding and open the bleed screw and let the fluid drain until clear. On the pre-52 cars, you should jack the front of the car to do the back brakes and the rear of the car to do the front brakes.
If you use a glycol based brake fluid, use a new can every time you flush the system. It should be flushed every couple of years in a car that is used seasonally. Silicone fluid does not have to be flushed, because it does not attract water. Silicone fluid cannot be used in ABS systems.
zzlegend
Well-known member
Hardtimes i think you remember my green roadster. I put all new wheel cylinders and master cylinder and brake lines and went with dot 5 silicone. Just in case of anticipation of leaks on a new system. Don't like it when the paint gets removed from my errors. Anyway, they bleed out fine and stops great. Did have a couple of small weeps and went back and loosened and retightened and all is well. No sponge peddle. Nice and firm. Just my 2 cents.