Silicone fluids change
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Silicone fluids change
My 2003 will be 5 years old in June. I have fewer than 12,000 mi. but am considering changing the brake fluid and clutch fluid to dot 5 silicone. Has anyone had any experience with this and is it recommended for the clutch as well as the brakes?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,217
Likes: 5
From: Stark County Ohio
DOT-5 silicone should NOT be used in any car with antilock brakes.
The problem is that DOT-5 has an affinity for air. Tiny air bubbles form in the fluid under certain conditions such as a change in altitude or the rapid cycling that occurs when the anti-lock brake functions.
The problem is that DOT-5 has an affinity for air. Tiny air bubbles form in the fluid under certain conditions such as a change in altitude or the rapid cycling that occurs when the anti-lock brake functions.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,720
Likes: 3
From: East Hampton CT
Its too bad that Dot 5 isn't compatable. The idea of a non-hygroscopic fluid in the brake system is a great performance and reliability benefit. I changed over an older snowmobile that would boil the fluid under repeated high speed stops. I flushed it carefully and added Dot 5 and never had a problem again. Additionally, the brakes are easier to apply and modulate since silicone is more of a lubricant than normal Dot 3/4.
Since contaminated fluid is supposedly one of the big failure points for the C5 clutch....silicone sounds like it would be the best solution if it weren't for the air problem listed above. I know the boiling point of silicone far surpasses even racing dot3/4 fluid.
Since contaminated fluid is supposedly one of the big failure points for the C5 clutch....silicone sounds like it would be the best solution if it weren't for the air problem listed above. I know the boiling point of silicone far surpasses even racing dot3/4 fluid.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
DOT-5 silicone should NOT be used in any car with antilock brakes.
The problem is that DOT-5 has an affinity for air. Tiny air bubbles form in the fluid under certain conditions such as a change in altitude or the rapid cycling that occurs when the anti-lock brake functions.
The problem is that DOT-5 has an affinity for air. Tiny air bubbles form in the fluid under certain conditions such as a change in altitude or the rapid cycling that occurs when the anti-lock brake functions.
DOT 5.1 not Dot 5
Choose the highest WET boiling point brake fluid you can find. For the most part that would be Valvoline or Castrol LMA at Auto parts stores
BRAKE FLUID COMPARISON CHART
Brand Wet Boiling Point Dry Boiling Point
Castrol SRF 518°F 590°F
Motul RBF600 420°F 593°F
Wilwood EXP 600 417°F 626°F
AP-600 410°F 572°F
Brembo LCF 600 399°F 600°F
ATE-Super Blue 392°F 536°F
Valvoline 333°F 513°F
Castrol LMA 311°F 446°F
Ford HD 290°F 550°F
Wilwood 570 284°F 570°F
PFC-Z rated 284°F 550°F
AP-550 284°F 550°F