Just curious as to everyone's opinions on brake fluid choices. I have complete faith in the OEM fluid, but I'd like to hear what you guys think about aftermarket fluids...
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Painfully said goodbye to my baby....
2001 A4
Silver with black leather, Symphony, sport package, S4 bumper and wheels -
Castrol SRF is the best.
It's also the most expensive.
And you need to change it annually.
ATE Super is probably next best. A neat trick is that it comes in two colours (Blue & Gold) for easy renewal bleeding...
PaulPaul Nugent
Webmaster http://S2central.net
Administrator http://S2forum.com
1994 S2 Coupe ABY - aka Project Lazarus
2001 A6 allroad 2.5TDi - family tank
2003 S4 Avant 4.2 V8 - daily burble
Purveyor of HomeFries and Exclusive agent for Samco hose kits (S2/RS2)
There are only 10 kinds of people that understand binary - those that do, and those that don't
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Use the best you can afford, like Paul said the Castrol SRF is the b8llocks!! But bloody dear. I use a standard DOT 5.1 fluid and get no boiling probs with it, even with my fried discs and pads
I do change mine every year tho so no moisture gets in. Dont use DOT 5 or DOT 4. DOT 5 will destroy ABS (if you keep it!). DOT 4 is just crap.sigpic
Tom C - www.rcmr.co.uk
Audi UR Quattro
Audi 100 C3 2.0 5 cyl 115ps
Audi S2 - 07k engine project aiming for 800ps
Audi B5 RS4 645ps 911nmComment
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Anyone know how much you'd need to do a full system flush & fill?
Thanks
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Most people aren't aware of a product called motul 600. Check its psecs agaisnt the castrol. It is very close. And here is the real kicker, its only $9 a bottle. It outperforms ATE Super in boiling point tests, but its hydorscopic rate is higher than ATE. Who care, i like to bleed brakes.Comment
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Brake fluid change will cost you anywhere between £27+VAT (@my work) up to about 50+VAT! Thats is using a standard DOT 4 fluid, which is fine for everyday cars and driving.sigpic
Tom C - www.rcmr.co.uk
Audi UR Quattro
Audi 100 C3 2.0 5 cyl 115ps
Audi S2 - 07k engine project aiming for 800ps
Audi B5 RS4 645ps 911nmComment
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.....errr OK thanks!
but I mean - i'm going to fit my new setup tomorrow & I wanna know how many bottles to buy - 1 litre? 2 litres?? 47 litres?
ta
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Thats why audi ownership is DIY. I paid $40 for my motive brake bleeder. It only takes on bottle of fluid if you are careful. So changing your fluid every 6 months or yearly is cheap, plus it keeps you clutch feel nice and firm since the cluthc cylinder is run off of brake fluid.Comment
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two bottles will do you with extra left over. You can do it one bottle, but it takes experience to know when to quit. You can easily go through 1.5l just being carfefull. You can stop bleeding when the fluid is bubble free, and clean.Comment
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Can anyone recommend a good supplier of ATE Super?
When people talk about "bottle" do they mean "litre"?
Alistair - what have you fitted as your new brake system? (jealous)Ex S2 owner, now running around in an A4 Avant quattro...
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Dan - to be honest - I've only done a temp job with the fluid - May yet change the hoses back to a 3 piece setup and even take the disks down a few mm.
Because of this, I didn't do a full flush - just bled it through with Halfords own 5.1
When I'm happy will prob give it a full flush with something basic but branded like ferodo 5.1 or Lockheed 5.1
For my type of driving I can't imagine SRF being worth 10 times the usual 5.1 cost.
The new 996 brakes & ferodo pads feel very good with whatever the fluid is!Comment
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Euro Car parts supply ATE Blue, which is DOT 4, for 20 quid for 1 litre.
You can bleed it with 1 litre as the capacity of the system is only 600 ml but it's cutting it a bit fine.Mike
http://www.s2-audi.co.ukComment
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Thanks Mike - can you tell what I'm trying to build myself up for
Ex S2 owner, now running around in an A4 Avant quattro...Comment
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Can I double check here before I go and buy myself 2 litres of new brake fluid...
Audi handbook says to use only Dot 4.
We mustn't use DOT 5 because it'll frag our ABS system and silicone-based fluids are pants?
Dot 5.1 is in theory "better" than Dot 4 (and not silicone-based)
Dot 5.1 is fine to use in the S2
An equivalent racing fluid is also fine to use in the S2 if you don't mind changing them more regularly due to water absorption/lower wet boiling point?
Wet boiling point for Dot 5.1 certification is to exceed 375F
Dry boiling point for Dot 5.1 is 518F
If I replace my fluid with Halfords own 5.1 (hey, it's not very expensive), is that going to be a better fluid than the Dot 4 rated "ATE Super blue/gold"?
Anyone know the specs of the Halfords cooking oil?
Am I needlessly pennypinching on such a highly stressed, and important, area of the car? I'm shortly to install a Porsche 4-pot/Audi A8 disc combo, want to get the fluid right!Ex S2 owner, now running around in an A4 Avant quattro...Comment
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I'm no authority on this, but just because one fluid is a 5.1 doesn't necessarily make it any better than a 4.
I've got a bottle of the Halfords 5.1 sat here besides me but there are no specs on it.- I guess most the people who buy this stuff wouldn't give 2 hoots....
...I think most racing fluid is DOT 4 isn't it? some isn't even rated.....Comment
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