Low Viscosity Brake Fluid

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I'm looking at brake fluid because my car is due for a flush. I will be replacing ATE Super Blue with something else, possibly ATE Type 200. While looking at the various specifications, I noticed that there are low viscosity DOT 4 fluids, in addition to regular DOT 4 fluids as well as DOT 5.1 fluids which I understand are all low viscosity. I was initially going to go with ATE Type 200 because it has the same specifications as Super Blue, but now I'm not sure whether to go with DOT 4, DOT 4 low viscosity or DOT 5.1. Since low viscosity brake fluids are relatively recent, are there any issues or trade-offs using them in older vehicles, such as my 2002 M3? According to the manufacturers such as ATE, Pentosin and Motul, apparently not, but I thought I'd ask about this here, since there hasn't been much discussion about brake fluid.
 
Nope, no tradeoffs at all, and low-visc brake fluids are totally backwards-compatible with regular brake fluid.

In fact, the low-visc fluid will actually make your ABS work better
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Wagner Severe Duty DOT 5.1 is my brake fluid of choice. Other good options are Castrol DOT 4 (viscosity not as low as DOT 5.1, but lower than most brake fluids) and Pentosin LV.

If you flush brake fluid frequently and/or have a lot of cars, the Castrol stuff is cheap in bulk on Amazon. There is also Ravenol DOT 5.1 on eBay at $45 for six 1L cans.

All the cars in your sig will love low-visc brake fluid. Use it with confidence in any car that calls for DOT 3, 4, or 5.1
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I've been using ATE SL.6 low viscosity fluid in my 2005 Subaru for the last 4 years. No problems with it.

Compared to the Type200 and SuperBlue, boiling point is a little lower, and change interval is 2 years instead of 3 years
 
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I have used it in a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer, and 2011 Honda CRV. All cars call for DOT3, but I am using Pentosin DOT4LV.

I haven't had a problem in any car.
 
So - my car has a DOT 4 - LV spec recommended WSS-M6C65- A2 / ISO 4925 class 6 low viscosity. I assume Dot 5.1 works fine for this spec?

thanks
-srs

2014 Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCI (Mobil F1 5w30 A5/B5 Ford WSS-M2C-913D) | 2014 Mahindra Scorpio 2.2 mHawk (Amsoil CK4 Turbo Truck)
 
Originally Posted by SureshR
So - my car has a DOT 4 - LV spec recommended WSS-M6C65- A2 / ISO 4925 class 6 low viscosity. I assume Dot 5.1 works fine for this spec?

thanks
-srs

2014 Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCI (Mobil F1 5w30 A5/B5 Ford WSS-M2C-913D) | 2014 Mahindra Scorpio 2.2 mHawk (Amsoil CK4 Turbo Truck)


Correct. DOT 5.1 will work fine
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Originally Posted by slacktide_bitog
Originally Posted by SureshR
So - my car has a DOT 4 - LV spec recommended WSS-M6C65- A2 / ISO 4925 class 6 low viscosity. I assume Dot 5.1 works fine for this spec?

thanks
-srs

2014 Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCI (Mobil F1 5w30 A5/B5 Ford WSS-M2C-913D) | 2014 Mahindra Scorpio 2.2 mHawk (Amsoil CK4 Turbo Truck)


Correct. DOT 5.1 will work fine
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I would not be so sure about this.

DOT 5.1 fluids have a max spec of 900 cST at -40C, DOT 4LV requires 700 cST at -40C, max.

https://www.bremboparts.com/america/en/products/hydraulics/brake-fluid

So, while it is possible for a DOT5.1 fluid to meet the low temperature requirements for a DOT4LV, this cannot be assumed.
 
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Originally Posted by The Critic
Originally Posted by slacktide_bitog
Originally Posted by SureshR
So - my car has a DOT 4 - LV spec recommended WSS-M6C65- A2 / ISO 4925 class 6 low viscosity. I assume Dot 5.1 works fine for this spec?

thanks
-srs

2014 Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCI (Mobil F1 5w30 A5/B5 Ford WSS-M2C-913D) | 2014 Mahindra Scorpio 2.2 mHawk (Amsoil CK4 Turbo Truck)


Correct. DOT 5.1 will work fine
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No, it will not. DOT 5.1 does not meet the low temperature requirements of DOT4-LV.


Yes, it does.

The max visc for 5.1 is 900 mm/s**2
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I'm not in a location where the temperature hits -40 C. +40 sure, thats a relatively mild summer out here in the tropics.

The reason for my asking all this is that the nearest Ford dealers are at least a hour and a half from my apartment after one of their dealers nearer my place went out of business. So I'm left with diy and what I can get done at local garages.
 
This seems ok then. Says 5.1, says low viscosity. I've seen similar claims from Shell Brake Fluid - DOT 4 all right, but the blurb has "low viscosity for ABS" - though all said and done, neither claims DOT 4 LV. I've only seen Pentosin and a couple other non OEM brands actually come out and say DOT 4 LV.

WhatsApp Image 2018-10-16 at 8.03.25 PM.jpeg
 
Originally Posted by SureshR
This seems ok then. Says 5.1, says low viscosity. I've seen similar claims from Shell Brake Fluid - DOT 4 all right, but the blurb has "low viscosity for ABS" - though all said and done, neither claims DOT 4 LV. I've only seen Pentosin and a couple other non OEM brands actually come out and say DOT 4 LV.


That stuff will be fine
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Originally Posted by slacktide_bitog
Originally Posted by The Critic
Originally Posted by slacktide_bitog
Originally Posted by SureshR
So - my car has a DOT 4 - LV spec recommended WSS-M6C65- A2 / ISO 4925 class 6 low viscosity. I assume Dot 5.1 works fine for this spec?

thanks
-srs

2014 Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCI (Mobil F1 5w30 A5/B5 Ford WSS-M2C-913D) | 2014 Mahindra Scorpio 2.2 mHawk (Amsoil CK4 Turbo Truck)


Correct. DOT 5.1 will work fine
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No, it will not. DOT 5.1 does not meet the low temperature requirements of DOT4-LV.


Yes, it does.

The max visc for 5.1 is 900 mm/s**2
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I guess you missed my revised post. 4LV limits the max viscosity at -40C to 700.
 
In Europe Low viscosity DOT 4 is becoming the norm as all cars have had ABS for some time. One additional advantage is it makes gravity bleeding a more realistic proposition.
 
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