Advice on Swap to Dot 5 - New MC
Jos51700
My post says Dot 5 synthetic won't mix with water.
Watch any of Bud Lindemanns' Mopar Road Tests....I didn't see any
mopar lock it's rear brakes first
Both fluids work,I wouldn't give an advantage to either other than the boiling point. Just pick your poison
Neat-o. Mine says it won't mix with water, too.
One road test on the internet does not years of empirical observation make. They'll swap ends. Or maybe Lindemann should road test my Dart.
Wrong. DOT 5 is NOT compatible with the others. From Wikipedia:
DOT 5 is a silicone-based fluid and is separate from the series of DOT 2, 3, 4, 5.1. It is immiscible with water, and with other brake fluids, and must not be mixed with them. Systems can change fluid only after a complete system changeover, such as a total restoration.
DOT 5 brake fluid is not compatible with anti-lock braking systems. DOT 5 fluid can aerate when the anti-lock brake system is activated. DOT 5 brake fluid absorbs a small amount of air requiring care when bleeding the system of air.[6]
It's all right here, in the federal standard for brake fluid:
49 CFR 571.116 - Standard No. 116; Motor vehicle brake fluids.
Specifically:
S5.1.10 Compatibility.
(a) At low temperature. When brake fluid is tested according to S6.10.3(a), the test specimen shall show no sludging, sedimentation, or crystallization. In addition, fluids, except DOT 5 SBBF, shall show no stratification.
(b) At 60 °C. (140 °F.). When brake fluid is tested according to S6.10.3(b) -
(1) Sedimentation shall not exceed 0.05 percent by volume after centrifuging; and
(2) Fluids, except DOT 5 SBBF, shall show no stratification.
They can't talk about stratification if they're not mixing them, and they
specifically state that DOT 5 is exempted from non-stratification requirements. They wouldn't be talking about stratification if it wasn't mixed!
Additionally, it is stated:
S5.2.2 Certification, marking, and labeling.
S5.2.2.1 Each manufacturer of a DOT grade brake fluid shall furnish to each packager, distributor, or dealer to whom he delivers brake fluid, the following information:
(a) A serial number identifying the production lot and the date of manufacture of the brake fluid.
(b) The grade (DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5) of the brake fluid. If DOT 5 grade brake fluid , it shall be further distinguished as “DOT 5 SILICONE BASE” or “DOT 5.1 NON-SILICONE BASE.”
(c) The minimum wet boiling point in Fahrenheit of the brake fluid.
(d) Certification that the brake fluid conforms to § 571.116.
S5.2.2.2 Each packager of brake fluid shall furnish the information specified in paragraphs (a) through (g) of this S5.2.2.2 by clearly marking it on each brake fluid container or on a label (labels) permanently affixed to the container, in any location except a removable part such as a lid. After being subjected to the operations and conditions specified in S6.14, the information required by this section shall be legible to an observer having corrected visual acuity of 20/40 (Snellen ratio) at a distance of 305 mm, and any label affixed to the container in compliance with this section shall not be removable without its being destroyed or defaced.
(a) Certification that the brake fluid conforms to § 571.116.
(b) The name of the packager of the brake fluid, which may be in code form.
(c) The name and complete mailing address of the distributor.
(d) A serial number identifying the packaged lot and date of packaging.
(e) Designation of the contents as “DOT - MOTOR VEHICLE BRAKE FLUID” (Fill in DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5 SILICONE BASE, or DOT 5.1 NON-SILICONE BASE as applicable).
(f) The minimum wet boiling point in Fahrenheit of the DOT brake fluid in the container.
(g) The following safety warnings in capital and lower case letters as indicated:
(1) FOLLOW VEHICLE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN ADDING BRAKE FLUID.
(2) KEEP BRAKE FLUID CLEAN AND DRY. Contamination with dirt, water, petroleum products or other materials may result in brake failure or costly repairs.
(3) STORE BRAKE FLUID ONLY IN ITS ORIGINAL CONTAINER. KEEP CONTAINER CLEAN AND TIGHTLY CLOSED TO PREVENT ABSORPTION OF MOISTURE.
(4) CAUTION: DO NOT REFILL CONTAINER, AND DO NOT USE FOR OTHER LIQUIDS. (Not required for containers with a capacity in excess of 19 L.)
Please note that nowhere is it stated that the fluids should not be mixed.
The rest of the regulation is all about testing and guaranteeing that DOT5 won't ruin your soft parts, won't clog your lines, etc.
Sorry, Wikipedia, and you, are flat-out wrong.
