break fluid

[HWright]

For my ,new to me, 2002 ,3500 auto. ,4x4 with the camper and tow pkg. carying a Lance 1030; I'm wondering if I should flush the break system and be sure the fluid is 4 dot. Or is the recommended 3 dot ok . I have no idea if its been done before although the truck did carry a camper before I got it. Any way to tell what fluid is in it now?

 

[Fireman Dave]

Go ahead and do it - it's an easy job that doesn't cost much or take much time. I don't know if there's a way to know what's in there now.

 

[Rman]

DOT 3 and 4 are compatible so it really doesn't matter. Just don't put DOT 5 in there! I change my brake fluid often so I use the cheaper stuff... MOTUL makes some really awesome brake fluid, but it's pricey. I have a 2004 Lance 1030, love it.

 

[MLee]

As a suggestion, Geno's has 5. 1, brake fluid. a article was done last year on this fluid in the TDR, it has a higher boiling point than any of the other fluids on the market. Is more moister resistant and lasts longer, and is not a synthetic. Why is it not on the retailers selves??? who knows.

Just my penny's worth

Marv.

 

[Eric_77]

A fluid that does not absorb fluid is only sort of good as the fluid absorbing water prevents it from forming pockets that boil more easily.



You know how to tell when fluid needs to be changed right? it is brown rather than clear amber color.



I like the Valvoline DOT4. cheap and generally easy to find.

 

[Rman]

I looked this up to make sure, 5. 1 fluid has better numbers across the board, even it's wet boiling point. I was wrong before.



Be sure is switching to DOT 5 fluid it's done properly. It has it's advantages, but really not adviseable to for road use. I know guys that use it in their collector cars though. DOT 5 has no water absorbtion, that's its primary advantage.

 

[Froadin]

Thing is, you WANT your brake fluid to absorb water. That is one of it's required purposes. It helps to keep the brake system from rusting from the inside.

The only problem with is that by and large, most people don't keep up with their brake system and flush it often enough (as in, most people NEVER flush the brake system).

The DOT 5 is synthetic and doesn't absorb water, it isn't compatible with the other fluids, and it doesn't have the same compression characteristics.

The DOT 5. 1 is NOT synthetic, but it has the same boiling points at DOT 5, both wet and dry. This is good stuff.

But the question of whether it's worth it or not, well, do you ride your brakes a LOT when hauling heavy?

You can actually find a good number of DOT 4 fluids on the market with almost the same boiling points that DOT 5 or 5. 1 has.

 

[HWright]

thanks for the info!