AW: [DML] Re: Clutch fluid

["Elvis Nocita" <elvisnocita@xxxxxx>]

I still don?t get that GTLMABCD stuff.

is it because on the continent over here this DOT4 
stuff is a bit different ?
I don't know. I never have seen or heard of special DOT4 
brake stuff. DOT4 is always DOT4 over here as far as I know.
I'm not an expert but never ever did I hear of anything 
different, I always only read it here on the DML.
If anybody knows facts about differences from here to 
there - please let me know. 

BUUUT !
there is DOT5 
and 
DOT5.1

DOT5 is silicon based and can not be mixed.

DOT5.1 is NOT silicone based and can be mixed 
with lower grades.

DOT = Departement Of Transportation -> why do we 
use that over here if it is different ?

this took me like 5 minutes by Google to find out.

The rest about DOT5 is the same as I read on other 
forums. People often see a higher number and think 
they need to have that. The result wasn't always positive.

I own 6548. cool number, had to have that :-)

Elvis



  
According to the manufacturers you can mix a higher DOT # with lower ones
but you end up with the lower # fluid as far as boiling points is concerned.
IMHO I would not EVER mix DOT 5 with anything. In fact if you wanted to
convert to DOT 5 I recomend complete disassembly of ALL parts and a flush
with alcohol and brushes before putting DOT 5 in. Same deal if you ever had
DOT 5 in the system and you want to go back to DOT 4. A lot of antique cars
tried DOT 5 silicone because it was not hygroscopic figuring the fluid would
not rot the systems. Most discovered two big problems. One, DOT 5 contains
tiny air bubbles that you cannot remove. They make it slightly compressable
which increases pedal travel. On many older cars, especially with drum
brakes, it means you have to pump the pedal to stop the car. The other
problem is since water will not mix into the silicone, it builds up into
globules and goes to the lowest points in the system. Bleeding will not get
it out, the bleeders are at the high points. It lays in the low spots and
rots the metal parts. Dot 4 Castrol GTLMA is fine for street driving. If you
change it every 2 years you will never have a problem with corrosion or
boiling. There are many things that are done to cars that go on a race
track, putting silicone DOT 5 brkae fluid into them is one, mainly for the
very high boiling point. Not everything in race cars can be used directly in
street cars.
David Teitelbaum
vin 10757





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