DOT 5.1 question?

[MGaz]

Can I use dot 5.1 brake fluid in my car?

I seem to remember someone telling me it would fook up my brakes but acording to the link below it says:

Very high-performance synthetic brake fluid. Silicon-free fluid provides optimum safety for all braking systems. Miscible with all other chemical synthetic fluids of the DOT 3, DOT 4 and DOT 5.1 type with the exception of silicon DOT 5 fluids and special fluids of the LHM type.

http://webshop.cp-service.se/product.php?id_product=45

[Pirvu Eugen]

I understood that 5.1 fluid is not good for street use because is siliconic and is not oiling the pistons and valves inside the abs unit and other brakes components.
For racing purposes only!

[driftin jo]

I understood that 5.1 fluid is not good for street use because is siliconic and is not oiling the pistons and valves inside the abs unit and other brakes components.
For racing purposes only!

No you are mistaken, it is dot 5 that is no good dot 5.1 is fine.

[driftin jo]

It is also good to understand that although DOT 5.1 has a higher minimum requirement specification boiling point than DOT 4 this is only a minimum specification .
There are a few DOT 4 labelled high performance brake fluids that far exceed the minimum boiling point for DOT 5.1 , such as MOTUL RBF 600 .

[Colesy]

I used Halfords own brand dot 5.1 when I put my 996's on which is quite highly rated and quite cheap and I've had no problems. It is fine to mix with dot 4.

I would have gone for Castrol Super Dot4 which is supposed to be the best value for money, but I couldn't find anywhere selling it at short notice.

Steer well clear of dot5.

[Error404]

Yup, DOT5.1 minimum spec is higher than DOT4 so unless you are using a specialist DOT4 fluid, DOT5.1 is perfectly fine to use and a superior fluid

[caterpillar]

dot 5,0 and 5,1 doesnt take up the water from the air.... i ALWAYS use this..dot 4 havee the lower boilingpoint; and take the up the water...and you you have to change dot 4 sometime

[GazzaG60]

i thought the higher the fluid levels the more hydroscopic they are?

[dubmeister]

Yeah, the higher spec fluids are more hydroscopic, ideally change yearly with DOT 5.1 for a road car.
ATE Super Blue is another good choice for high spec fluid (DOT 4) if you do a few track days

[dubmeister]

I use one of these in work
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12V-ELECTRONIC...item2c51aa509b

Very good, gives you the current boiling point in DOT spec of the fluid, bit expensive for occasional use tho......

[urS6Tom]

I've been looking for some DOT 5.1 fluid for the brakes on my mountain bike. It seems you can buy 5.1 for cars, motorbikes and bicycles. Is this just a marketing thing and all the fluid is the same? Hope so because I ended up with 500ml of Shell motorcycle DOT 5.1 that i found on eBay for about £2.50

[driftin jo]

i thought the higher the fluid levels the more hydroscopic they are?

Yeah, the higher spec fluids are more hydroscopic, ideally change yearly with DOT 5.1 for a road car.
ATE Super Blue is another good choice for high spec fluid (DOT 4) if you do a few track days

Guys , the word you are looking for is “ hygroscopic “ NOT “hydroscopic” , this is a common mistake so don't feel to bad .