Re: [Amc-list] brake fluids

[Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 2007-07-19 at 12:57 -0700, d stohler wrote:
> i have heard that if you use the dot 4 (i beleive)
> silicone brake fluid in a regular dot 2 or 3 system,
> it will eat out all the rubber seals. i dont want to
> use the silicone fluid. but what about the other way
> around. i have a master cylinder from a military
> hummer. brand new. not rebuilt. we use the silicone
> fluid. does anyone know if there are problems using
> regular dot 3 fluid in a silicone suited m/c?? i hope
> not cause i didnt even think about that till after i
> blead the brakes and have had it on for about 3 days
> now.... oops, shoulda thunk a that earlier?? lol. 

DOT5 is the silicone stuff. DOT3 is the old stuff, DOT4 some new-fangled
replacement for DOT3 and is compatible.

DOT5 (silicone) is NOT compatible. It turns into a gel when mixed,
though I knew one person in Tucson who ran tem mixed and claims to never
have had a problem.

I run DOT5 in my 63 Classic, but it's a total waste, possibly. It
doesn't absorb water (good) but it tends to absorb a tiny bit of air
(bad). 

But I bleed my brakes completely once per year, eg. I run a whole pint
through after emptying the resevoirs first. 

I guess if you did that with crappy DOT3, your brake system would last a
long time anyways. I suppose it depends on how much moisture you expect
to get into the resevoir (weather) and how long you own the car....

I put a new master cyl, wheel cyls in the Classic in 1989 or 1990, and
they are still there in good condition, no leaks, no rust. (Calipers got
changed once I forget why, they were used when I first did the swap). So
I'm making no changes to brake fluid; I just carry a pint in the car
should I need it. It's $10/pint!


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