Types of Brake Fluid Discussion With Raybestos Brakes

Visit our website for more resources geared towards technicians, DIYers and automobile enthusiasts: bit.ly/2pzelbU. Do you know what type of brake fluid to put in your car? There are four different types of brake fluid: DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5 and DOT 5.1. Depending on what your vehicle calls for, you need to make sure you put the right fluid in your master cylinder.
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There are four types of brake fluid: DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5 and DOT 5.1. DOT 3, DOT 4 and DOT 5.1 are glycol-based fluids. Glycol-based fluids are hygroscopic, meaning they absorb moisture over time. DOT 5 is a silicone-based fluid and is hydrophobic, meaning it repels water.
All four fluids have different boiling points. Boiling points are important to know. Your brake fluid heats up to high temperatures as you drive your car and apply the brakes. If your brake fluid gets too hot, it will boil. Boiling fluid causes air bubbles to form in brake fluid, which can lead to a loss of braking completely.
There are two different types of boiling points: dry boiling points and wet boiling points. Wet boiling point is defined as brake fluid with 3.7% moisture content in the fluid. Here are the boiling points for each of the four brake fluids:
DRY BOILING POINTS: WET BOILING POINTS:
DOT 3 - 401°F (205°C) DOT 3 - 284°F (140°C)
DOT 4 - 446°F (230°C) DOT 4 - 311°F (155°C)
DOT 5 - 500°F (260°C) DOT 5 - 500°F (260°C)
DOT 5.1 - 518° F (270°C) DOT 5.1 - 374°F (190°C)
What should you put in your car? Whatever it says on the cap of your master cylinder. If the cap doesn't specify, use DOT 3.

[@stevedrake1861]

I've been using DOT-5 fluid in my 1962 Ford Falcon station wagon for over 30 years and have been very happy with it.

[@marshmower]

Switching to dot 5. Tired of rust. Thanks for the "no open container" tech tip.

[@orboakin8074]

Thanks for this video. I'm a new driver and just bought my first car (a Pontiac g3 2010) and I am gonna be changing the brakes and need all the info I can get on car stuff. Thanks. My dad has a bottle of DOT3 brake fluid for his old Hyundai I used to drive and I think I can use that for my Pontiac but I wanna be sure first.

[@HiFiInsider]

my honda brake MC has quite a bit of black residue. the fluid is still relatively clean looking

[@benkanobe7500]

You guys are the best! Thanks for this fast and easy to understand lesson!

[@stevehallesy]

exactly everything i wanted to know thank you great video

[@DKSOOHOO1]

Great explanation. You mentioned DOT 3 brake fluid lasts longer than DOT 4 but how does DOT 5.1 compare? Why wouldn't we use DOT 5.1 since it has the highest boiling points of all? Especially if the additives last even longer than DOT 3 or 4.
Thanks.

[@averyalexander2303]

DOT 5.1 can be used in systems that call for DOT 3 or 4 fluid, it just usually isn't because it is more expensive and not required. The DOT number doesn't have anything to do with how long the fluid lasts except for the fact that a fluid with a higher boiling point will tolerate more water contamination before the fluid's boiling point drops to a dangerously low level. But other than that, the DOT number doesn't tell you how long the fluid will last, how much water it will absorb, or how high quality it is, it's just a spec for minimum boiling points, nothing more. With all else being equal, a higher boiling point is always better because it will give you more of a safety margin since the brakes will need to get hotter before the fluid will boil and cause fade. This isn't much of a benefit for most people though, you would have to try pretty hard to get the brakes hot enough to boil the fluid in normal driving conditions or do something seriously wrong, like riding the brakes or driving with the parking brake on or something.

[@oliverkhoo]

Great content. Thank you.

[@skylinefever]

Don't forget that there is DOT4 Low Viscosity. If your car calls for it, use it. The lower viscosity lets the ABS components cycle more quickly. Using DOT4LV to replace regular DOT4 won't cause any problems. I use it in all ABS equipped cars whether it calls for standard viscosity DOT3 or standard viscosity DOT4.

[@kalani1987]

What are some brands that make Dot 4LV?

[@skylinefever]

@@kalani1987 Pentiosin is all I know about and can find.

[@mdev8846]

Can I use DOT 4 instead of DOT 3 ?. Specs my Japanese car show DOT 3...

[@skylinefever]

@@mdev8846 You can. In fact, I always replace DOT3 with DOT4 or DOT4LV.

[@jethroalfonzo1833]

Thanks excellent explination

[@miragairjet7436]

good explanition, thank you.

[@vr___46]

Awesome

[@punitgoyal5322]

Can we fill dot 4 instead of dot3 Oil in car

[@kalani1987]

Yes. But going to Dot 4 from Dot 3 will lower your boiling point protection

[@chadi6536]

It is possible to use dot4 brake fluid instead of dot3 my car use dot3 corolla s 2013

[@renujaykishor2469]

What is dot 3 full name

[@averyalexander2303]

Dot stands for department of transportation if that's what you are asking.

[@punitgoyal5322]

@@averyalexander2303 Bro can we fill for 4 instead of dot3

[@averyalexander2303]

@@punitgoyal5322 Yup, I use DOT 4 in my Civic that calls for DOT 3 no problem

[@Tigerfire75]

Stop putting water and moisture in your brake system. Then you can use DOT 5