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What break fluid to use?

prplcar

prplcar

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I am changing out the brake hoses on my 62 Savoy manual drum brakes. Since I have no idea how old the fluid is I am going to flush the whole system and start fresh. I do not know what fluid to use, the part store said the DOT 4 synthetic I have from my caravan should be safe. Hoping for input leading to will be safe. Thank you for your input. DOT 4 is unopened from a fluid flush on daily driver, bought more than needed.
 
The DOT 4 is fine, totally compatible with DOT 3 but has a higher boiling point and better additives to fight corrosion from moisture. Use it.
 
I'd use the cheaper DOT 3 to flush and once the flush was finished, install the 4...... flush until clean.....
 
Last edited:
DOT 3 or DOT 4 are compatible and either one should be fine for your Savoy. I'm not a big fan of DOT 5 unless it is used in an all new brake system. Like the article that HEMI-ITIS linked says, even if it's been flushed, any tiny bit of contamination left in an old system will be turned to gooey crud by DOT 5 fluid.
 
i've been using dot 5 for 20+yrs with no issues. in fact i took the brake system apart on one of my cars to see if there was any problems with the silicone; no issues. any will work but 3-4 cannot be mixed with 5 and 5 needs a clean flushed system.
 
69a100 said:
To bad not many people know how to use it, that, or their too lazy.
Click to expand...

Easy does it. It's not laziness; it's respect for the members here at FBBO. Remember, the interweb is full of idiots, and we are strangely free of them.
 
I have had good luck flushing out the system with denatured alcohol and cleaning up the calipers and/or wheel cylinders and running DOT 5 all over in all kinds of weather. Ten years and no issues from Wisconsin to Oregon. In fact, I have yet to have an problems with any of my cars that have DOT 5 but a few DOT 3 users started leaking, hence the change to DOT 5.
 
I am glad to see some positive reactions to DOT 5 I have heard so much negative about it that makes me wonder what people are doing with it. A lot of things are human error. I have used DOT 5 for nine years with no issues ( all new clean componets to start with) My current build is with DOT 5. I like it because it doesn't damage paint.........MO
 
Whenever I take a BREAK, I drink a Coke, maybe a Gatorade.
 
I've been using 5 for over 20 years. Do you like the paint in your engine compartment? If you do you'll use 5 as well. Never an issue.
Doug
 
69a100 said:
To bad not many people know how to use it, that, or their too lazy.
Click to expand...

Some just may prefer hearing from fello Mopar fanatics that more than likely actually work on their own cars instead of relying on who knows who? I've googled many things and found answers that I knew to not be true so sometimes it's better to ask people who do? This sight is full of good knowledge including yourself.

- - - Updated - - -

If I had asked this question when I built my car I probably would have learned about the safer alternative and not have a blemish in my paint right now because of a leaking cap so....
 
Since you are in an area with a high moisture content, compared to me in somewhat desert conditions, flush and replace your fluid[dot 3/4] every year. Brake fluid is hydroscopic, except 5 which is silicone, which in laymen terms means it absorbs moisture from the air. This cuts down the temperature it can withstand before boiling and leads to corrosion in the system. This really applies to ABS systems too. Corrosion leads to stuck pistons, servos etc. Bad and expensive news. Something you can do with the old fluid: it makes a KILLER weed killer. Sucks the moisture right out of the stuff. And its biodegradable too.
 
I converted to dot5 about 15 years ago and no problems whatsoever, I do a quick bleed every two or three years for the hell of it, but that's it.
 
69a100 said:
To bad not many people know how to use it, that, or their too lazy.
Click to expand...

I see this ALL the time on the forum.

For instance:
Someone will post: "I need a69 big Block 440 exhaust manifold"

AND: In the For Sale forum there will be 3 or 4 of them posted for sale.

YES for me it's DOT 3
 
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