Re: [Amc-list] brake fluids

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

Don't know where you got that bogus info from! I ran silicone fluid in my Rambler for a while, and my motorcycle. You just have to make sure the system is completely clear of one type of fluid before using another. Regular mineral oil based fluid will cause silicone fluid to jell. It doesn't matter which gets into which, you end up with a jelled plug in a line somewhere. Don't ask how I know! 

I had to ditch silicone in the bike because it expands slightly with heat. The front master cylinder on a bike moves very little fluid. The exposed calipers would get hot enough on a hot summer day in a parking lot to cause the brakes to all but lock up. I had to pop the bleeder to drive away. 

Expansion isn't a problem on a street car. The fluid doesn't expand enough to effect braking. When Formula 1 and CART racers tried to use it they had expansion problems, but you aren't dragging a car down from 100-200 mph speeds constantly. Even F1 only had problems after a couple laps. I ended up pulling it from the Rambler because it was to easy to put the wrong fluid in. Everything else used regular fluid, and I didn't have to top off often. After a year or so it's easy to forget and start with the wrong thing. Just a few drops is enough to cause a jell plug in one brake line, then the whole system has to be flushed. The second time I flushed it I put regular fluid in.

With silicone the pedal feels a little softer because the fluid will compress slightly. It's not dangerous, just feels "funny", but you get used to it. The only benefit is it doesn't draw moisture. For a car that's regularly driven there's enough heat in the brake system with use to prevent any serious moisture build up. If the car is stored for long periods silicone is a very worthwhile investment. Otherwise, it's really not. 

---------------------
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 12:57:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: d stohler <das24rules@xxxxxxxxx>

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. 

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)

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