Brake Fluid

[Ameer Antar]

I think there is some confusion here:

DOT1,2,3,4 can't be synthetic. DOT5 is the only synthetic and it's made of 
silicone, totally different and totally incompatible w/ the other types. 
DOT5's advantage is it doesn't absorb water or harm paint as DOT1-4 do. 
DOT4 is perfect for yer car. DOT5 would require you to flush the whole 
system, and even then there will still be old DOT4 which is incompatible in 
the system. It's not recommended to go to DOT5, unless yer changing or 
overhauling all the parts in the system. On an Audi this would be a 
monumentous task. Others might disagree about DOT5, but the fact is that 
DOT5 will not work right w/ DOT4 in there too. I wouldn't worry too much 
about getting the best possible DOT level, b/c the best thing you can do 
for the brake fluid is to keep it clean [by changing it every 2 yrs] and 
keeping it bled. After replacing the calipers and flushing the system w/ 
DOT4 on my 5kT, the pedal is rock solid...best brakes I've ever used. 
That's brake fluid.

Now as for motor oil [M1 or Castrol], you have 3 different major 
groups...conventional, blend, and full synthetic. Mobil1 used to be the 
only mass-market full synthetic motor oil. Now Penzoil has one. Castrol 
syntec is a blend...not full synthetic. And it really should be a sin to 
use it. I've tried it on my car and was very unimpressed w/ it. In fact 
another guy just posted a little something about oils here:
http://mansell.stucen.gatech.edu/wwwboard/messages/3254.html

-ameer


At 04:37 PM 12/6/2000 , you wrote:
>M1 is full synthetic.  Castrol Syntec is a full synthetic as well.  I use 
>whichever is on sale.  M1 is usually cheaper for me so.....
>
>DOT4 is what you want.  Valvoline makes a "synthetic" DOT3/DOT4 fluid that 
>works fine and is $5 for a big can at Wally world.   Remember that brake 
>fluid sucks moisture out of the air like crazy so get a couple small cans 
>and a couple big cans.  Use a small can first and then the big can, 
>transferring the remainder in the big can to the small can.  Fill the 
>small can to as near the rim as possible, cover with a few layers of saran 
>wrap and then screw the cap on.
>
>
>At 15:32 12/6/2000,  Theron J. Bliss was inspired to say:
>>      I have to pick up brake fluid tonight.  The manual says to use DOT
>>4.  Is that good, or should I get anything specific?  I also want to put
>>in Mobil one.  One shop only had a partial synthetic.  Is that any good,
>>or should I stick to the Mobil 1?  Thanks for the input.
>
>
>Cheers!