Brake Fluid

[Richard Beels]

I don't think it's parafin anymore.  That's 20-30 year old "technology". 
Current recipes (for all major brands, I'm sure) include polymer chains 
that curl up under temperature to thicken the oil.  When cold, the chains 
"relax" and straighten out to give a lower viscosity.

Regardless of the method used to manage viscosity, going with a smaller 
stated range is better (less additives to worry about in that regard).

At 20:33 12/6/2000,  ricematthews was inspired to say:

>Interesting web page about oils.  I don't quite buy into the Syntec,
>myself - 5w50 seems like a wide range, do anything oil and I think that's
>all they have available in full syn.  I also got soured on Castrol
>conventional oil - seems to create a lot of varnish and also burns more than
>others.  I have heard that they use parafin (sp?) as their secret ingredient
>to prevent "thermal-viscosity breakdown".  Problem is it also (guess what)
>burns off and creates varnish.


Cheers!