What brake fluid to choose for the car?

If you have any type of vehicle, you should be fully aware that if you want to ensure your safety on the road, you must provide the brake system of your car with the best possible brake fluid.

What brake fluid to choose

You should know that this fluid is the basis for the correct operation of the brakes and largely depends on whether your car can stop in time when you apply the brakes.

However, sometimes, especially for drivers who do not yet have much experience in servicing cars, it is difficult to make the best choice of brake fluid for the model of car they own.

To bring a little clarity to this issue, we have prepared this material, hoping that we will be able to benefit both novice and experienced drivers.

What brake fluid to choose for the car?

Before we talk about the brands of brake fluids available on the market, you need to know something about this working fluid.

What is brake fluid?

This fluid can easily be called a hydraulic fluid, which in practice means that it is a fluid that, thanks to its movement, supports the operation of hydraulic systems.

The brake fluid is very special, as it works under very difficult operating conditions and must meet certain conditions, such as withstanding high temperatures, no corrosion, good viscosity, etc.

DOT rated fluid types

All brake fluids are classified according to the specifications of the DOT (Department of Transportation), and this is where you should start by choosing the brake fluid for your vehicle.

According to these specifications, there are basically four types of brake fluids. Some of them have similar characteristics, others are completely different.

DOT 3

This type of hydraulic brake fluid is made from polyglycol. Its wet boiling point is about 140 degrees Celsius, and the dry boiling point is 205 degrees. DOT 3 absorbs moisture at a rate of 2% for approximately one year.

This type of brake fluid is mainly used in low performance cars. (For old cars, for drum brakes and other standard vehicles).

DOT 4

This fluid is also based on polyglycol, like the previous version. DOT 4 has a wet boiling point of 155 degrees Celsius and a dry boiling point of up to 230 degrees. Like DOT 3, this fluid absorbs about 2% moisture throughout the year, but has one significant advantage over it, namely a higher boiling point, making it more suitable for large cars and high performance/power SUVs.

DOT 5.1

This is the last type of brake fluid that is made from polyglycols. Compared to the other two types of liquids, DOT 5.1 has the highest wet and dry boiling point (wet - 180 degrees C, dry - 260 degrees C). Like other species, it absorbs about 2% of moisture during the year.

DOT 5.1 is mainly used for cars with ABS systems or for racing cars.

DOT 5

Unlike all other types of brake fluids, DOT 5 is based on a silicone and synthetic blend. The liquid has a wet boiling point of 180 degrees C and a dry boiling point of 260, making it the best synthetic fluid. DOT 5 is hydrophobic (does not absorb moisture) and protects the brake system from corrosion. Unfortunately, this liquid cannot be mixed with any other types, its price is several times higher than the price of glycol liquids, which makes it very hard to sell.

The fact that this fluid can only be used for cars in the manufacture of which manufacturers have explicitly indicated its use also severely limits the models and brands of cars in which it can be used. DOT 5 is commonly used in modern high-performance vehicles, in vehicles with anti-lock braking systems and in race car models.

What brake fluid to choose for the car?
We come to the most important issue. The truth is that manufacturers indicate the type of fluid that is suitable for the model and make of the car, but do not indicate the make that needs to be used.

Various factors influence the choice of the right brake fluid for your car, for example, how old your car is, what size it is, whether it is equipped with ABS or traction control, which is recommended by the manufacturer, etc.

And yet, what to consider when choosing a brake fluid for your car.

Goal
As already mentioned, some types of brake fluids are designed for low performance, others for high performance, and still others for sports or military vehicles. Therefore, when choosing a working fluid for your car model, choose the one specified by the manufacturer.

Composition
Typically brake fluid is 60-90% polyglycol, 5-30% lubricant and 2-3% additives. Polyglycol is the main component of the hydraulic fluid, thanks to which the fluid can work without problems in any temperature conditions.

Lubricants are used in brake fluid to reduce friction and improve fluid condition.

Supplements usually contain antioxidants and corrosion inhibitors. They are present in the brake fluid because they reduce the oxidative decomposition of polyglycols, prevent and reduce the rate of acid destruction of the fluid, and prevent fluid thickening.

Dry and wet boiling point
We have already indicated the dry and wet boiling points of all types of brake fluids, but to make it even more understandable ... The dry boiling point means the boiling point of a fluid that is completely fresh (not added to the brake system of the car) and does not contain moisture). Wet boiling point means the boiling point of a liquid that has absorbed a certain percentage of moisture.

Water absorption
Polyglycol brake fluids are hygroscopic and after some time of operation begin to absorb moisture. The more moisture gets into them, the more their properties deteriorate and, accordingly, their effectiveness decreases.

Therefore, choosing a working fluid for your car, pay attention to the% water absorption of the brake fluid. Always choose a fluid with a lower%, as this will mean that it will better protect your car's brake system from corrosion.

Size
Believe it or not, size matters. We talk about this because there are many brands of brake fluids that are quite small in size / volume, which means that you will have to buy several bottles if you need to top up or completely replace the brake fluid. And it is not financially beneficial for you.

Popular brands of brake fluids

Total HBF4
This brand is extremely popular in our country. Recommended for hydraulic systems of all types of vehicles using a DOT 4 synthetic fluid level.

Total HBF 4 has very high boiling points in the dry and wet state, has high corrosion resistance, is resistant to moisture absorption and has a viscosity suitable for both negative and very high positive temperatures.

Total HBF 4 brake fluid is available in large volumes, 500 ml. bottle, and its price is more than acceptable. It can be mixed with all other synthetic brake fluids of the same quality. Do not mix with mineral fluids and silicone fluids.

The motto is DOT 4
This brake fluid has a very high performance and provides sufficient power for the brake system. It is available in 500 ml bottles, a volume that you can use several times. The product is suitable for all types of makes and models of cars.

Castrol 12614 DOT 4
Castrol is a popular brand offering high quality products. Castrol DOT 4 is a brake fluid made from polyglycols. The fluid protects against corrosion, can operate at high temperatures and has a rich fluid composition. The disadvantage of Castrol DOT 4 is that it is not very suitable for standard vehicles, as it is designed for more powerful vehicles and works most effectively in high performance vehicles.

Motul RBF600 DOT 4
Motul brake fluid far exceeds the standards of many DOT 3 and DOT 4 products. There are many parameters that distinguish this brake fluid from others. Motul RBF600 DOT 4 is rich in nitrogen, so it has a longer life and is more resistant to pollution. In addition, it has a very high boiling point, both wet and dry, which makes the fluid ideal for racing and high-performance cars. The disadvantages of this model and brand of brake fluid are the higher price and smaller size of the bottles in which it is offered.

Prestone AS401 – DOT 3
Like DOT 3, Prestone has a lower boiling point than DOT 4 products, but when compared to other products in the class, this brake fluid has much better specifications and is well above the minimum boiling points. determined by DOT. If your vehicle is running on DOT 3 fluid and you want to improve the performance of your brake fluid, Prestone AS401 is the fluid for you.

The brands and models of brake fluids that we have presented to you represent only a small fraction of the hydraulic fluids available on the market, and you can choose another brand that you like best.

In this case, it is more important not what brand you prefer, but what brand of brake fluid you need to choose for your particular car.

Questions and answers:

What's the best brake fluid? According to many motorists, the best brake fluid is Liqui Moly Bremsenflussigkeit DOT4. It has a high boiling point (155-230 degrees).

What brake fluids are compatible? Professionals do not recommend mixing different types of technical fluids. But as an exception, you can combine DOT3, DOT4, DOT5.1. DOT5 fluid is not compatible.

What color is DOT 4 brake fluid? In addition to the markings, brake fluids differ in color. For DOT4, DOT1, DOT3 it is yellow (different shades). DOT5 red or pink.