DOT 5 Brake Fluids
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 406
Likes: 5
From: Miami FL
DOT 5 Brake Fluids
Is there a difference between them…..I mean is there a brand that is better than another. All I can find at the local stores is packaged by Gunk and is a clear blue color, and online they are all brands I have never hear of.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Southeast Missouri
I started out with a MIL Spec Dot 5 used by the military, since then I've added different brands over the years, still Dot 5, and have never had a problem. The MIL Spec I initially used was clear, in recent years most if not all of what I've bought has been the light blue color.My experience.
Safety Car
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From: Georgetown TX
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I have GUNK DOT-5 in my 62 with no problems.
John
John
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Beverly Hills (Pine Ridge) Florida
When I started using Silicone Brake fluid in the late 70's, I purchased it from the Avanti Motor Corp. (yes, it was still in business), and came in a pint can, and was yellow tinted.
Later they switched to a purple tinted fluid, but they said it was the same formula.
Stuff I have now (purchased a gallon back in the 90's and still have some of it) is marked North American Oil Co., and also is purple.
Never had any problems with any of my silicone systems (and I am sure I mixed the various DOT 5 fluids).
Plasticman
Later they switched to a purple tinted fluid, but they said it was the same formula.
Stuff I have now (purchased a gallon back in the 90's and still have some of it) is marked North American Oil Co., and also is purple.
Never had any problems with any of my silicone systems (and I am sure I mixed the various DOT 5 fluids).
Plasticman
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Cartoon Character
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From: Can't be more than 114... Arizona
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: northern california
C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Best brake fluid in the world:
http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pro...p?Product=3343
http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pro...p?Product=3343
Too rich for me. I'll stick with DOT 5, even in my vintage racer.
Jim
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
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From: Greenville, Indiana
Best brake fluid in the world:
http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pro...p?Product=3343
http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pro...p?Product=3343
Cartoon Character
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,440
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From: Can't be more than 114... Arizona
Best for consistency, stability and durability. I have bought hundreds of litres of this stuff and used it in all of the cars I raced over the years (like 30 od cars). You can buy cheap brake fluid and it can boil and you can whack your race car into the wall if you wish. It is good to save $80 and spend $50K or $100K or more.. 
It is the best that there is, sometimes that is worth the price...
The question in the thread was "I mean is there a brand that is better than another" . I am merely supplying an answer. Feel free to supply your own answer to the question, but why be contrary with the person who has done so?
It is the best that there is, sometimes that is worth the price...
The question in the thread was "I mean is there a brand that is better than another" . I am merely supplying an answer. Feel free to supply your own answer to the question, but why be contrary with the person who has done so?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,000
Likes: 659
From: Puget Sound
Best brake fluid in the world:
http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pro...p?Product=3343
http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/pro...p?Product=3343
Jim
P. S. There are several fluids that have a dry boiling point very close to what you use but are a fraction of the price. Make sure you have fresh fluid and save a bunch of money.
Last edited by 1snake; Jun 5, 2009 at 09:12 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
The question was about Dot 5 brake fluid, not Dot 4 as you are recommending. You're correct, you're a little confused.
I also have a suspicion he wasn't talking about racing either, just street driving.
Contrary
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: northern california
C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Best for consistency, stability and durability. I have bought hundreds of litres of this stuff and used it in all of the cars I raced over the years (like 30 od cars). You can buy cheap brake fluid and it can boil and you can whack your race car into the wall if you wish. It is good to save $80 and spend $50K or $100K or more..
My bride and I have two track cars. Both use DOT 5 fluid. Between the two cars in 10 years we haven't used two full quarts of the stuff.
DOT 5 is sufficiently durable and stable for me. And I can pick it up at my local NAPA store for $20 - $25/quart.
Jim
Cartoon Character
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From: Can't be more than 114... Arizona
If the stuff is durable and stable, it would seem to me it wouldn't be necessary to buy hundreds of litres of the stuff, even for 30 odd race cars.
My bride and I have two track cars. Both use DOT 5 fluid. Between the two cars in 10 years we haven't used two full quarts of the stuff.
DOT 5 is sufficiently durable and stable for me. And I can pick it up at my local NAPA store for $20 - $25/quart.
Jim
My bride and I have two track cars. Both use DOT 5 fluid. Between the two cars in 10 years we haven't used two full quarts of the stuff.
DOT 5 is sufficiently durable and stable for me. And I can pick it up at my local NAPA store for $20 - $25/quart.
Jim
I guess you never bleed your brakes? Most of the cars I raced held at least 3 litres of fluid and we drained it every race.. what can I say, try answering the question asked instead of worrying about my answer...
Race Director
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From: northern california
C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 269
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Brake fluid
Say, that pegius brake fluid by Castrol is DOT 4, NOT DOT 5 and costs $79.99 per liter. You got to be kidding!!:o
When you switch from Dot 3 (I don't know Dot4) it is EXTREMELY inportant to thoroughly flush the entire system (best several times) before using DOT 5, or you will have big time pulling problems. DOT 5 is great stuff, you have to prepare the system first--just like painting.
When you switch from Dot 3 (I don't know Dot4) it is EXTREMELY inportant to thoroughly flush the entire system (best several times) before using DOT 5, or you will have big time pulling problems. DOT 5 is great stuff, you have to prepare the system first--just like painting.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 406
Likes: 5
From: Miami FL
Thank You for the opinions....I was aware of the Castrol SRF fluid, I'm involved with a race team that runs a GT-1 on SCCA and that is what they use, but it is DOT-4 and it will hold moisture, which is apparently is a good thing for racing, this is how it was explained to me.......
Since DOT-5 does not suspend moisture within the liquid, any water in the system if it ends up in the caliper during a racing scenario will boil quickly becoming steam this will pressurize the system and will cause serious problems during the race, this is why DOT5 is not widely used for racing, in the other hand, DOT4 will hold the water increasing its boiling point, a good thing for racing but really bad for a car that spends some time parked.......
Since DOT-5 does not suspend moisture within the liquid, any water in the system if it ends up in the caliper during a racing scenario will boil quickly becoming steam this will pressurize the system and will cause serious problems during the race, this is why DOT5 is not widely used for racing, in the other hand, DOT4 will hold the water increasing its boiling point, a good thing for racing but really bad for a car that spends some time parked.......
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15,478
Likes: 8,957
From: northern california
C2 of Year Finalist (track prepared) 2019
Since DOT-5 does not suspend moisture within the liquid, any water in the system if it ends up in the caliper during a racing scenario will boil quickly becoming steam this will pressurize the system and will cause serious problems during the race, this is why DOT5 is not widely used for racing,
In any event, that certainly doesn't mesh well with my experience racing with DOT 5 (actually it doesn't mesh at all.....). In 9 seasons of racing, I've had zip-point-zero problems.
in the other hand, DOT4 will hold the water increasing its boiling point, a good thing for racing but really bad for a car that spends some time parked.......
It is precisely this property of the DOT 3 & 4 fluids that makes it necessary to bleed the brakes prior to a race.
Jim