All Right I did the search and found one thread with the statement that said synthetic brake fliud was bad for the seals. Another said it was it was fine. I just bought some Valvoline Synpower and want to bleed and replace the brake fluid. Any better pros/cons? Also could I use it for clutch fluid? Plan on putting in Speed Bleeders and SS brake lines.
I have a 2000 coupe and just trying to update the fluids.

Thanks for any help
Kelly

 

 

I use the Valvoline Synpower all the time as it's safe for DOT3 and it has the highest wet boiling point of any easily-available OTC fluid I've found. I've probably run 5 gallons of the stuff through my two cars.

Yes, you can use it for the clutch hydraulics too.

 

Thank You Umrswimr

Kelly

 

I believe DOT 5 is bad for the seals.

 

Valvoline Synpower is what I use in both my brake and clutch systems....
It has been in my C4 for almost 3 years and my C5 for a year now...
NO issues.
The concern is with silicone based fluids the DOT 5.1 series .

 

Synpower is not DOT5- it's DOT3/4 compliant.

 

Compared to stock fluid it's better, but it still has a low wet boiling point around 370F. If you are tracking your car, you want something in the mid to high 400F.

 

I don't track my car, not that I wouldn't but just don't have one close by.
Thanks for all the input

Kelly

 

you can safely use either freakin' Dot 3 or freakin' Dot 4 fluid. You should NOT use freakin' Dot 5 fluid.

 

I think we covered that...

 

5.1 is DOT 3 and 4 compatible.

 

I just flushed my system with the freakin Valvoline for the 2nd time in as many years

 

Freakin' maroon.

 

Same here. BTW, I believe Valvoline Synpower is a synthetic blend. It is not 100% sythetic. Either way it's great stuff you can find in any auto parts store.

 

When tracking a car the only boiling point of concern should be the dry boiling point since you should put new fluid in before going to the track. A good DOT 3 will have a dry boiling point above 550 degrees.

Bill

 

Here is some good info about brake fluid. Sorry for all of the filler but overall there was some good info in the article. I was reading this last night while reading about stuff in Speed World Challenge stuff.

General Information about Brake Fluid
Brake fluid is hydroscopic (absorbs water). When fresh from the can, it can be considered "dry" with the higher boiling point. That's why racers and people doing driver's schools change the brake fluid just before events. Over time, brake fluid absorbs water lowering its boiling point to the "wet" level.
Brake fluids improperly packaged in a plastic bottle can take on moisture while still on the store shelf. Performance Friction offers two brake fluids, both packaged especially to protect the fluid from excess moisture while on the shelf.
For street cars, wet boiling point numbers are more important than dry because the fluid stays in your car for quite a while (one to two years). After a few months, with exposure to humid air, the brake fluid performance is probably closer to the wet than dry point.
Brake Fluid Recommendations
Brake fluid is one of the most overlooked aspects of brake system maintenance - but needs to be changed more frequently than most people think for two reasons, maintenance and performance. It generally takes about a quart to flush the system.
Changing old brake fluid removes water from the brake system. Brake fluid is hydroscopic, it absorbs water. Old brake fluid must be flushed out or water absorbed by the fluid eventually causes internal rust on the disk calipers and pistons.
Changing old brake fluid helps high temperature operation because fresh (dry) brake fluid has a higher boiling point than older (wet) brake fluid. If brake fluid boils, compressible gas bubbles form, resulting in a very spongy brake pedal.
Normal or Fleet Applications - Use a high quality fluid such as Z-Rated® that comes in a metal container and meets DOT requirements. Change with every brake job or every six months to one year - whichever comes first - to provide the maximimum stopping power and avoid that mushy pedal feel.
Competition (motorsport) Applications - Change your Z-Rated® or Castrol SRF before every race.

The DOT 3 and DOT 4 specifications are for glycol based (regular) brake fluid, while DOT 5 is for silicone.
Silicone DOT 5 is not compatible with the ABS hydraulic control unit because it doesn't lubricate the ABS pump like glycol based fluid. Silicone is slightly more compressible than glycol fluid. It has a higher wet boiling point because it doesn't absorb moisture like glycol fluid. This lack of moisture absorption causes problems when water gets in the brake system. Instead of mixing with the brake fluid (so it can be flushed out easily), the moisture gets trapped at low points in the system and causes rust.

 

DOT3 , DOT4 , and DOT 5.1 can be used or mixed together. 5.1 is thinner and made for ABS systems and has a higher boiling point. DOT 5.0 is silicone based and is what Harley motorcycles use, dont use this. Why they didnt call 5.1 -> 6.0 is just dumb and confusing to the general public.

 

I've been using the Valvoline SynPower in my C-5's brakes and clutch, and my wife's Jaguar's brakes for several years.

 

Well Freakin A Thanks for all the good info

This place is the Freakin Best



Kelly