Brake Fluid Comparison
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 952
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From: Morgantown,WV USA
Brake Fluid Comparison
I found a very interesting chart on page 55 of the December, 2002 Vette magazine.
It's a comparison of several different brake fluids which focus on their DOT rating and their wet and dry boiling point.
I was surprised to see that the Ford HD fluid has a wet boiling point of only 284* F while some other Castrol LMA (311*) and Valvoline SynPower (343*) are much higher.
Being that I though that the wet bioling point is the most important I was really surprised to see the Valvoline at that temp.
Is wet boiling point more important than dry? What is the diff?
Dan
It's a comparison of several different brake fluids which focus on their DOT rating and their wet and dry boiling point.
I was surprised to see that the Ford HD fluid has a wet boiling point of only 284* F while some other Castrol LMA (311*) and Valvoline SynPower (343*) are much higher.
Being that I though that the wet bioling point is the most important I was really surprised to see the Valvoline at that temp.
Is wet boiling point more important than dry? What is the diff?
Dan
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 15,344
Likes: 4,009
From: Texas
Re: Brake Fluid Comparison (RedZR)
Dan,
Which figure is important depends on how often the brake fluid is changed. If frequent changes are the norm (i.e. for racing), then the dry boiling point is more important. For typical passenger car duty...i.e. potentially years between changes... then the wet boiling point is more important since the brake fluid will absorb moisture over time.
People (self included) have good luck with the Ford HD fluid because it has a dry boiling point of ~500*+ (going from memory) which is roughly equal to DOT5 specs Of course I flush my brakes before an event too :)
Which figure is important depends on how often the brake fluid is changed. If frequent changes are the norm (i.e. for racing), then the dry boiling point is more important. For typical passenger car duty...i.e. potentially years between changes... then the wet boiling point is more important since the brake fluid will absorb moisture over time.
People (self included) have good luck with the Ford HD fluid because it has a dry boiling point of ~500*+ (going from memory) which is roughly equal to DOT5 specs Of course I flush my brakes before an event too :)
