DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5 fluids - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

slam33 · 09-27-2002, 02:46 PM

Wanted to find something special for my 1000th post, so here it is. I'm a big F1 fan and while I'm watching the coverage of the US Grand Prix practice session I saw something . Mine you these are the best of the best in automotive technology. The budgets for these teams is in the 200 million dollar range per season. I think these guys know what there doing. While the interviewer was in the Jaguar garage the team was filling the brake resevior. In there hands was a can of Castrol LMA fluid, dot 3/4. I know the sillicon stuff is great for paint but when I used it the stuff seemed spongy. This is just some info to think about when you guys are trying to decide what fluid to run. The 5 may protect your paint but the 3/4 seems to have a better heat rating which means better brakes.

Dutch · 09-27-2002, 03:39 PM

..I think another advantage to the DOT 5 besides the paint issue is it isn't as prone to pick up moisture during periods of inactivity as the 3/4.

I know all of the autocrossers in the MG club I used to be in ran the LMA

**ThreeQuarter** · 09-27-2002, 04:37 PM

I know, it's a ferd site but I picked up on this link at some point, looked good, so I saved it:

http://www.shotimes.com/SHO3brakefluid.html

slam33 · 09-27-2002, 06:34 PM

Interesting artical, maybe they were using the SRT fluid

chevy72402 · 09-27-2002, 06:54 PM

the reason it feels spongy is because it is not made for your application. I think from my schooling I remember them saying that there is a different lining used on brake hoses that use silicon and they only used it like 2 years in production vehicles.

RON WOODGEARD · 09-27-2002, 09:00 PM

I've used DOT-5 for around twenty years. It's high heat,it doesn't absorb moisture,it doesn't hurt the paint, and it's a lot more expensive.

You can use DOT-5 in our trucks with NO PROBLEMS. But you can't change the other way.(in other words you can't use DOT-3-4 in a DOT-5 system) If/when you change your sytem over just bleed it very well,and purge the old Fliud out. There is some DOT-5 that will MIX with 3-4 and there's some that won't.

RON

*Fast68Chevy* · 09-30-2002, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RON WOODGEARD
I've used DOT-5 for around twenty years. It's high heat,it doesn't absorb moisture,it doesn't hurt the paint, and it's a lot more expensive.

You can use DOT-5 in our trucks with NO PROBLEMS. But you can't change the other way.(in other words you can't use DOT-3-4 in a DOT-5 system) If/when you change your sytem over just bleed it very well,and purge the old Fliud out. There is some DOT-5 that will MIX with 3-4 and there's some that won't.

RON

makes it all sound risky..

where can you even find dot5 anyways ? i never see it at napa or auto zone or wal mart...

tom hand · 09-30-2002, 05:54 PM

Napa carries DOT 5, maybe the store you were in was out. I have used it in several different things with no problems. That is all that modern Harleys use. I could never tell the difference as far as the spondgeness thing, but I have heard that the higher the altitude the worse it is. If you have trick paint or a vehicle that sits in the garage more than it goes down the road it is the only way to go.

09-27-2002, 02:46 PM	#1
slam33 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Long Beach, Ca Posts: 1,432	DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5 fluids Wanted to find something special for my 1000th post, so here it is. I'm a big F1 fan and while I'm watching the coverage of the US Grand Prix practice session I saw something . Mine you these are the best of the best in automotive technology. The budgets for these teams is in the 200 million dollar range per season. I think these guys know what there doing. While the interviewer was in the Jaguar garage the team was filling the brake resevior. In there hands was a can of Castrol LMA fluid, dot 3/4. I know the sillicon stuff is great for paint but when I used it the stuff seemed spongy. This is just some info to think about when you guys are trying to decide what fluid to run. The 5 may protect your paint but the 3/4 seems to have a better heat rating which means better brakes. __________________ 71 LWB 350/350still working on it but it's going tp be sweet. www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html " TARGET=_blank>http://www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html?1004806705410 </A>

09-27-2002, 03:39 PM	#2
Dutch Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Leipsic, OH Posts: 81	That castrol LMA 3/4 is good stuff.... ..I think another advantage to the DOT 5 besides the paint issue is it isn't as prone to pick up moisture during periods of inactivity as the 3/4. I know all of the autocrossers in the MG club I used to be in ran the LMA __________________ Dutch 1972 Super Cheyenne K20 1976 MGB 1950 Harley FL 1997 Arctic Cat ZR580 "Maybe if I had a couple less hobbies, I'd have time to enjoy one!"

09-27-2002, 04:37 PM	#3
ThreeQuarter Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Texan in Iowa Posts: 2,517	I know, it's a ferd site but I picked up on this link at some point, looked good, so I saved it: http://www.shotimes.com/SHO3brakefluid.html __________________ Ben '68 Chevy C10 Custom LWB 327/TH400 2nd owner '16 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE Dblcab 4wd 5.3

09-27-2002, 06:34 PM	#4
slam33 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Long Beach, Ca Posts: 1,432	Interesting artical, maybe they were using the SRT fluid __________________ 71 LWB 350/350still working on it but it's going tp be sweet. www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html " TARGET=_blank>http://www.geocities.com/stevemau/slam33page.html?1004806705410 </A>

09-27-2002, 06:54 PM	#5
chevy72402 FARMER/RANCHER Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: SD Posts: 597	the reason it feels spongy is because it is not made for your application. I think from my schooling I remember them saying that there is a different lining used on brake hoses that use silicon and they only used it like 2 years in production vehicles. __________________ 1972 chevy super, long box, 402 big block (2,000 miles on rebuild) 2wd tach, tilt, tool box on bedside, a/c, sliding rear window, orange and white. 1972 Chevy Blazer 2wd, tach, tilt, a/c, my first engine overhauling experience, Orange, with white top 2006 Gmc Sierra, XM, Z-71, dark blue, onstar, leather, rear entertainment (audio only) heated seats, (the wife loves that feature) upgraded tires immediately after purchase to Goodyear Wrangler AT/S (hate those rock throwers that come from the factory) BWC

09-27-2002, 09:00 PM	#6
RON WOODGEARD Resident Young Old Dude ! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 1,948	I've used DOT-5 for around twenty years. It's high heat,it doesn't absorb moisture,it doesn't hurt the paint, and it's a lot more expensive. You can use DOT-5 in our trucks with NO PROBLEMS. But you can't change the other way.(in other words you can't use DOT-3-4 in a DOT-5 system) If/when you change your sytem over just bleed it very well,and purge the old Fliud out. There is some DOT-5 that will MIX with 3-4 and there's some that won't. RON

09-30-2002, 05:54 PM	#8
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	Napa carries DOT 5, maybe the store you were in was out. I have used it in several different things with no problems. That is all that modern Harleys use. I could never tell the difference as far as the spondgeness thing, but I have heard that the higher the altitude the worse it is. If you have trick paint or a vehicle that sits in the garage more than it goes down the road it is the only way to go. __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS



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