C6 Brake Fluid - Type & System Capacity
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Originally Posted by scrannel
I use DOT 5 whenever I change a system -- always for my motorcycles.
DOT 5 is a SILICONE BASE product. It does not absorbe water, which sound like a good thing. However, Silicone base fluids do not lubracate eh PBR brake caliper ABS system. If you brake hard and over heat a silicone fluid it will foam, not boil. Plus WHEN not IF, but when water gets into the brake system it will bead up in the silicone fluid and again cause the fluid to foam.
when DOT 5 foams it will not work, i.e. your brakes are screwed and wont stop the car.
The Motcycle brake system may require or work with the DOT 5, but ABS car and truck brakes dont.
May want to consider changing out the DOT 5 fo a good DOT 4.
Last edited by AU N EGL; Feb 4, 2006 at 01:44 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,213
Likes: 0
From: Malibu California
Originally Posted by AU N EGL
DOT 5 or DOT5.1 ?? Motorcycles are different.
DOT is a SILICONE BASE product. It does not absorbe water, which sound like a good thing. However, Silicone base fluids do not lubracate eh PBR brake caliper ABS system. If you brake hard and over heat a silicone fluid it will foam, not boil. Plus WHEN not IF, but when water gets into the brake system it will bead up in the silicone fluid and again cause the fluid to foam.
when DOT 5 foams it will not work, i.e. your brakes are screwed and wont stop the car.
The Motcycle brake system may require or work with the DOT 5, but ABS car and truck brakes dont.
May want to consider changing out the DOT 5 fo a good DOT 4.
DOT is a SILICONE BASE product. It does not absorbe water, which sound like a good thing. However, Silicone base fluids do not lubracate eh PBR brake caliper ABS system. If you brake hard and over heat a silicone fluid it will foam, not boil. Plus WHEN not IF, but when water gets into the brake system it will bead up in the silicone fluid and again cause the fluid to foam.
when DOT 5 foams it will not work, i.e. your brakes are screwed and wont stop the car.
The Motcycle brake system may require or work with the DOT 5, but ABS car and truck brakes dont.
May want to consider changing out the DOT 5 fo a good DOT 4.
Thanks for the info -- have never had a problem with my bikes on DOT 5. Have not touched my Vette. What is 5.1?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Originally Posted by scrannel
Thanks for the info -- have never had a problem with my bikes on DOT 5. Have not touched my Vette. What is 5.1?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,588
Likes: 7
From: Port St Lucie Florida
Originally Posted by Gearhead Jim
Ford brake fluid actually rates pretty well and it's cheap, I used it on my C5 for track weekends with no problems.
As previously posted, you will do fine with flushing once per year for most street driving, but flush it the day before for a road course.
As previously posted, you will do fine with flushing once per year for most street driving, but flush it the day before for a road course.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,529
Likes: 1,941
From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by scrannel
Thanks for the info -- have never had a problem with my bikes on DOT 5. Have not touched my Vette. What is 5.1?
There are 2 problems with DOT 5 in automobiles. 1) it is a bitch to get the fluid in without tons of microscopic air bubbles which will destroy the firm pedal feel. 2) it is incompatible with the ABS function.
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If you aren't doing track events (or even if you are, really), I'd got with something like Valvoline Synpower. It is readily available, and with 6% of the boiling points of SuperBlue.
Racing fluids have awesome dry boiling points, but they absorb moisture really quickly, and lose several hundred degrees of boild points when "wet". Unless you plan on bleeding your brakes every weekend (like racers do), then you won't really gain anything with a racing fluid.
Racing fluids have awesome dry boiling points, but they absorb moisture really quickly, and lose several hundred degrees of boild points when "wet". Unless you plan on bleeding your brakes every weekend (like racers do), then you won't really gain anything with a racing fluid.
