Brake Fluid

[Richard Beels]

 From the Valvoline website....
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High Performance Synthetic Brake Fluid

Recommended for all ABS, hydraulic drum and disc braking systems and 
hydraulic clutches requiring DOT 3 and DOT 4 fluids. Its premium, 
synthetic, low moisture formulation provides superior anti-vapor lock 
protection. SynPower High Performance Brake Fluid has a high dry-boiling 
point of 513°F that reduces the risk of fluid vaporization and possible 
brake failure. Wet boiling point is 333°F. Meets and exceeds specifications 
SAE J1703, FMVSS No. 116. Surpasses Federal Motor Vehicle DOT 4 
requirements. Mixes with conventional brake fluids.

Exceeds DOT 3 & DOT 4 specifications
High boiling point exceeds 500°F
For all ABS, disc or drum brakes
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Also, from the TLA FAQ that will someday be posted on the audifans.com site 
(I wrote these entries):
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DOT3:   Brake Fluid Grade - Min dry boiling pt=205degC or 401degF. Min wet 
boiling pt = 140degC or 284degF. Aliphatic polyether-based. Can be mixed 
with DOT4 and if so, characteristics will be (linearly) in between 
DOT3/DOT4 parameters. Cheap, most widely used, eats paint, absorbs water 
easily, eats natural rubber seals (this is bad).
DOT4:   Brake Fluid Grade - Min dry boiling pt=230degC or 446degF. Min wet 
boiling pt = 155degC or 311degF. Borate ester-based.  Can be mixed with 
DOT3 and if so, characteristics will be (linearly) in between DOT3/DOT4 
parameters, 50% more expensive than DOT3, eats paint, significantly 
increased resistance to moisture absorption compared to DOT3 (but still 
absorbs water), does not eat natural rubber seals (this is good).
DOT5:   Brake Fluid Grade - Min dry boiling pt=260degC or 500degF. Min wet 
boiling pt = 180degC or 356degF. Silicone-based. Cannot mix with other 
fluids, turns to jelly if done so; colored purple. Used mostly for antique 
cars and some motorcycles. Is more compressible than DOT3/4. Twice as 
expensive as DOT4 (and thus 3 times as expensive as DOT3) and has limited 
availability. Does not damage paint.  Isn't really suitable for a car that 
actually gets driven, definitely not suitable for a car that gets driven 
hard or raced.  Has low lubricity, which increases the wear on sliding 
surfaces and may cause galling. Becomes corrosive toward brake seals when 
hot, more specifically, leaches the plasticizers out of nitrile rubber 
seals (which are very common in brake systems) and causes them to become 
brittle. Doesn't absorb water but also, doesn't stop it from getting into 
the system.  It then collects in the low points of the brake 
system.  Absorbs air the way other brake fluids absorb water, and releases 
the air at temps well below the rated boiling point (fluid itself isn't 
boiling, but it's giving off air bubbles and giving you a spongy pedal just 
the same). Viscosity at room temperature causes it to entrain air when you 
pour it, which means you're going to be pouring air bubbles into your brake 
system.  See SRF.
DOT5.1: Brake Fluid Grade - Min dry boiling pt=260degC or 500degF. Min wet 
boiling pt = 180degC or 356degF. It's a stupid name (the 5.x bit) as it's 
synthetic & glycol-based (borate ester) like DOT3/4 but has NO silicone. 
Named in the 5.x series as it beats the DOT5 performance criteria. Absorbs 
water, eats paint, more expensive than DOT4, difficult to locate.
SRF: Silicone Racing Fluid.  Castrol SRF, costs about $100/qt. Don't 
confuse it with DOT 5 silicone fluids. Boiling point around 932degF or 
500degC. Doesn't absorb water, doesn't trap air but eats seals, even 
viton.  It's mainly used by well-funded racing teams who can afford to 
rebuild the brake system and replace all the seals frequently. See DOT5.
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 From the castrol website....
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CASTROL SYNTEC FULL SYNTHETIC
The Active Lubricant!

The unique, active formula of Castrol Syntec Full Synthetic Motor Oil is 
engineered to provide the ultimate in engine protection and performance.

Syntec provides far superior protection against deposits. Corrosive 
particles such as rust, acid, soot and oxidized fuel fragments can cause 
costly damage to critical engine parts. Syntec neutralizes these particles, 
suspending them away from engine sufaces.
Now with even better protection against engine wear, Syntec can help extend 
the life of your engine .
Syntec delivers the ultimate performance under high-temperature conditions: 
unsurpassed protection against volatility burn-off and viscosity increase. 
click here to check definitions of volatility burn-off, and viscosity.
Syntec has been tested under the severest possible conditions to prove its 
outstanding durability. The result? Excellent performance in essential 
functions such as thermal stability, low oil consumption, resistance to 
oxidation, soot control, engine cleanliness and wear protection.
Syntec meets the world's toughest engine protection requirements, including 
European gasoline torture tests.
Helps prevent sludge from forming in your engine.
Neutralizes acids in your engine that can cause rust and corrosion on vital 
engine parts such as cylinders, bearings and hydraulic valve lifters.
SYNTEC can be used with confidence in every gasoline engine passenger car, 
new or old, regardless of oil previously used.
SYNTEC is fully compatible with all conventional and synthetic oils.
Available Grades

SAE 0W-30: is for winter conditions where low temperature pumpability is 
required. A unique, low-temperature formulation provides exceptional 
pumpability in cold weather and allows for unaided engine starts down to 
-40°F. Exceeds all car and light truck manufacturer's warranty requirements 
for the protection of gasoline, diesel and turbocharged engines where API 
SJ, SH, CD or CF is recommended. Exceeds European ACEA: A1 and all 
requirements of ILSAC GF-2 for API Certified Gasoline Engine Oils and meets 
Energy Conserving Standards.
SAE 5W-30: is the most recommended grade in today's new cars. Exceeds all 
car and light truck manufacturer's warranty requirements for the protection 
of gasoline, diesel and turbocharged engines where API SJ, SH, CD or CF is 
recommended. Exceeds European ACEA: A1, ACEA :B1, Corvette GM 4718M, VW T4 
and all requirements of ILSAC GF-2 for API Certified Gasoline Engine Oils 
and meets Energy Conserving Standards. . Also meets Japanese valve train 
wear and engine protection requirements for Porsche, Volvo, BMW and 
Mercedes Benz.
SAE 10W-30: is the leading consumer grade. Exceeds all car and light truck 
manufacturer's warranty requirements for the protection of gasoline, diesel 
and turbocharged engines where API SJ, SH, CD or CF is recommended. Exceeds 
European ACEA: A1, ACEA: B1, Corvette GM 4718M, VW T4 and all requirements 
of ILSAC GF-2 for API Certified Gasoline Engine Oils and meets Energy 
Conserving Standards. . Also meets Japanese valve train wear and engine 
protection requirements for Porsche, Volvo, BMW and Mercedes Benz.
SAE 10W-40: is the second most popular consumer grade, often used with 
older cars. Exceeds all car and light truck manufacturer's warranty 
requirements for the protection of gasoline, diesel and turbocharged 
engines where API SJ, SH,CD or CF is recommended. Exceeds European ACEA: 
A3,, ACEA B3, meets Japanese valve train wear, VW T4 and the engine 
protection requirements of of GM 4718M, ILSAC GF-2 for API Certified 
Gasoline Engine Oils, as well as Porsche, Volvo, BMW and Mercedes Benz.
SAE 5W-50: provides the widest range of protection available. SAE 5W-50 
delivers exceptional cold temperature pumpability for rapid oil circulation 
at start-up and provides a thick oil film for ultimate wear protection. 
Exceeds all car and light truck manufacturer's warranty requirements for 
the protection of gasoline, diesel and turbocharged engines where API SJ, 
SH , CD or CF is recommended. Exceeds European ACEA: A3, ACEA B3, meets 
Japanese valve train wear and the engine protection requirements of ILSAC 
GF-2 for API Certified Gasoline Engine Oilsas well as Porsche, Volvo, BMW 
and Mercedes Benz.
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Maybe you're thinking of the "Syntec Blend" oils.  Plain "Syntec" in the 
black can is what I was referring to.  There are lots of companies that 
market full-synthetics, more than just Pennzoil & Mobil.  In fact, Pennzoil 
is very late to the synthetic game.  I have about a dozen quarts of Syntec 
and about a dozen gallons of Mobil 1 on the shelf in the garage.  Like I 
said, I buy it on sale and refuse to pay more than $2.00 - $2.50 for a 
quart of oil.  I've never noticed a problem with Syntec but in the immortal 
words: YMMV.


At 17:08 12/6/2000,  Ameer Antar was inspired to say:
>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




Cheers!