Doe anyone have any experience with using Silicone brake fluid? Any complaints/advantages? Thanks.....
Is this straight up Dot 5 or 5.1? If I'm not mistaken, 5 won't mix with any of the other Dot's so you'd have to do a complete clean and flush if you have a system that is already on another weight. From what I remember in my MLR classes, the instructor told us to stay away from the stuff, not sure if I remember why. I think with it being pure synthetic though, it will not absorb water like the others.
Personally I don't use it in my car, but the question came up a few years ago so I asked around a bit. Pros/cons/compatibility are among the things I tried to find out: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?120286 Devon
I've had DOT 5 in my GS since 1992 when I started to restore it. The car sits mostly. And I liked the fact that it wouldn't harm my new paint.
I have used it a couple times. Like you I was curious. My experience was this. Works fine in a new system, I put front disc on a 66 and bought new stainless lines, new rear wheel cylinders, the entire system was replaced with new. That was 4 years back and all is well, only time will tell the rest of the story. I put it in another couple cars when I replaced everything EXCEPT the lines. Both times I had problems. One car was a drum brake car and the wheel cylinders started seeping fluid pretty quick. The other was a 66 Vette, 4 wheel disc, did stainless sleeved calipers, they started leaking after a year. Both had the same problem, fine particles attached to the lip of the seals causing leaks. I do not know why, I do not know how, but those are the facts. I know the particles came from within the system, I suppose rust from the steel lines. I later read that silicone will NOT mix with regular fluid, moisture will then collect in the low spots in the lines and rust, sometimes all the way through. So that would explain the/a source for the particles. Do an internet search and read some of what comes up, there is a lot of discussion about it. Mike
Used DOT 5 on my Riviera after my restoration - all the steel lines, wheel cylinders, flex hoses, and master cylinder had been replaced, so you were starting with a new braking system. I liked the fact that it didn't harm paint, didn't absorb moisture, and the car does go through prolonged periods of storage, with a long winter sleep in a non-heated garage - usually about 6 months of the year. To date, I have had no problems with it !! The master cylinder reservoir fluid level is checked every spring before the summer season begins, and has not changed since the DOT 5 was added to the car. The DOT 5 brake fluid topic has been covered in previous posts here, as Devon kindly pointed out, and there is also a lot of info available on the internet, if you take time to search it out :TU:
Thanks for the info, I read it was not compatible, so I will stick with the DOT 3 so I don't have to completely flush. My buddy put it in his car after putting on all new components and lines. I am not willing to go that far right now...
Years ago I used it in my '56 Chevy wagon when I went through the brakes- new master, wheel cylinders and flex hoses. Indeed, it is not hygroscopic like regular brake fluid. But that doesn't mean that the system won't still corrode. The "fluid" in my new master ended up looking pretty bad after a couple years. The stuff is really just tiny spheres, and agitating it during installation can introduce trapped air into the system when you fill it. I personally don't see an advantage. I flush my brake systems at no more than two year intervals on all my vehicles. This is how I found out about the DoT-5 fluid not protecting the system from corrosion. All this in low-humidity sunny Cal.
I used it in my 66 riv gs when I replaced the whole system. That was 28 years ago. Never had any problems. The same fluid is still in it. I just threw out the container that had a couple of ounces left in it.
I have used it on 3 different vehicles. All with GREAT results. One was a 65 ford F-100 that had ALL wheelcylinders , metal lines , master cylinder and rubber hoses replaced. The truck has sat for 15 years before I got it. It worked perfectly. #2 was a 69 Electra that all wheel cylinders and master cylinder and rubber hoses were replaced. The metal lines were left in the car. Worked Great. #3 is my GSX. All lines , rubber hoses , calipers and wheel cylinders were replaced. Works perfectly. The 69 electra was done around 1990 the Ford was done around 2003 The GSX was done around 2004
If changing to DOT 5 I would recommend flushing the system with denatured alcohol. I like knowing how clean the system seems to stay.
I second that. It seems to seep everywhere. lol I also had problems with master cylinder seals giving up.
I usually go with dot 4 since it has a higher boiling point and can take a bit more repeated abuse. I flush and refill so often that moisture isn't really a problem. The fluid is a little more expensive though.
I use it a lot. The pros: It Won't damage paint..Doesn't attract moisture The Cons: It's expensive, Doesn't mix with DOT 3&4 I've been using it successfully since 1999
