Would you top off with Dollar Tree brake fluid?

[y_p_w]

I don't think my wife's Civic has ever had its brake fluid flushed. I've actually got two bottles of Federal-Mogul DOT5.1 fluid that I'm going to have someone do the flush. I don't mess with brake fluid flushes myself and know someone who does good work at home cheap.

But in the meantime the reservoir is low and I figure I can at least top it off myself. I mean it's down to the bottom. I figure that adding fresh fluid to the max line might help a bit (esp with boiling point) until I can get the full flush done. But Dollar Tree has some fluid that is labeled as DOT3 in 6 oz bottles. That's about the perfect amount for our needs. Or would I be risking the lives of my family members just to save a buck or two? Other than this, I'm thinking whatever is cheapest at WM might work.

It's this stuff:

http://www.dollartree.com/SMB-Dot-3-Brake-Fluid-6-oz-/p296555/index.pro

 

[Kira]

Hello, I would if only to avoid introducing air into the system. Tell your friend to flush it liberally when he does the job. Kira

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: y_p_w
I don't think my wife's Civic has ever had its brake fluid flushed. I've actually got two bottles of Federal-Mogul DOT5.1 fluid that I'm going to have someone do the flush. I don't mess with brake fluid flushes myself and know someone who does good work at home cheap.

But in the meantime the reservoir is low and I figure I can at least top it off myself. I mean it's down to the bottom. I figure that adding fresh fluid to the max line might help a bit (esp with boiling point) until I can get the full flush done. But Dollar Tree has some fluid that is labeled as DOT3 in 6 oz bottles. That's about the perfect amount for our needs. Or would I be risking the lives of my family members just to save a buck or two? Other than this, I'm thinking whatever is cheapest at WM might work.

It's this stuff:

http://www.dollartree.com/SMB-Dot-3-Brake-Fluid-6-oz-/p296555/index.pro


Not sure why you are even asking this question about something from a dollar store that would go into the mechanical section of your car. An air freshener maybe.

I would get a name brand at Walmart. I think it makes sense to buy an extra one or two just to have. They are good for a long time unopened.

The more important questions is why is the brake fluid low? Thats actually one fluid that Jiffy Lube in NY will not fill. The brake fluid has no where to disappear to besides into the piston area for disc brakes as they wear. If its something besides that, you have a problem that needs to be addressed. Leaks in the caliper, or wheel cylinder or in the rust belt, rusted brake lines with pin hole leaks.

IMHO, any rusted brake line should be replaced with a copper-nickel brake line.

 

[Donald]

Also to help yourself and friend out, spray the bleeder screws a day before he works on your car with PB-Blaster or similar.

 

[fdcg27]

Don't put DOT 5 fluid in a system that uses DOT3/4 fluid, as I think this car does.
You can easily flush the brakes yourself.
As long as you avoid letting the master cylinder suck air, you'll have no problems.
If the brake fluid level is that low, I'd take a look at the front pads.
They're probably about due for replacement, another simple but important task.

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted By: Donald
Originally Posted By: y_p_w
I don't think my wife's Civic has ever had its brake fluid flushed. I've actually got two bottles of Federal-Mogul DOT5.1 fluid that I'm going to have someone do the flush. I don't mess with brake fluid flushes myself and know someone who does good work at home cheap.

But in the meantime the reservoir is low and I figure I can at least top it off myself. I mean it's down to the bottom. I figure that adding fresh fluid to the max line might help a bit (esp with boiling point) until I can get the full flush done. But Dollar Tree has some fluid that is labeled as DOT3 in 6 oz bottles. That's about the perfect amount for our needs. Or would I be risking the lives of my family members just to save a buck or two? Other than this, I'm thinking whatever is cheapest at WM might work.

It's this stuff:

http://www.dollartree.com/SMB-Dot-3-Brake-Fluid-6-oz-/p296555/index.pro


Not sure why you are even asking this question about something from a dollar store that would go into the mechanical section of your car. An air freshener maybe.

I would get a name brand at Walmart. I think it makes sense to buy an extra one or two just to have. They are good for a long time unopened.

The more important questions is why is the brake fluid low? Thats actually one fluid that Jiffy Lube in NY will not fill. The brake fluid has no where to disappear to besides into the piston area for disc brakes as they wear. If its something besides that, you have a problem that needs to be addressed. Leaks in the caliper, or wheel cylinder or in the rust belt, rusted brake lines with pin hole leaks.

IMHO, any rusted brake line should be replaced with a copper-nickel brake line.

65K on the car and it's never had the brake fluid changed in 11 years and is still on the original pads/drums. OTOH - I think my parents Camry has never had the brake fluid changed since they bought it in 2001, and it's not in the maintenance schedule. Now they might have had it done, but I haven't asked.

I do have brake fluid at home, but none that I'd think was worth using for a top off. It's 2 500 ml bottles of Motul DOT5.1 and the Wagner DOT5.1 (I did say it was "Federal-Mogul" which is the manufacturer but not the brand).

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted By: Donald

Not sure why you are even asking this question about something from a dollar store that would go into the mechanical section of your car. An air freshener maybe.

I remember Trop-Arctic semi-synthetic 10W-30 for $1 at Dollar Tree. I still have some. That used to be a big topic on BITOG. However, nobody doubted ConocoPhillips as an anonymous maker of discount store fluids and house brands.

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Don't put DOT 5 fluid in a system that uses DOT3/4 fluid, as I think this car does.
You can easily flush the brakes yourself.
As long as you avoid letting the master cylinder suck air, you'll have no problems.
If the brake fluid level is that low, I'd take a look at the front pads.
They're probably about due for replacement, another simple but important task.

It's DOT5.1 that I have. Fully compatible and not silicone. A bit hard to find though. The first time I bought any was from a motorcycle parts dealer. It was pretty cheap too back in 2005. When I ordered over the phone the guy asked me why the heck I needed so much brake fluid and gear oil. I guess one bottle of each is usually enough for a bike.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: y_p_w
Originally Posted By: Donald

Not sure why you are even asking this question about something from a dollar store that would go into the mechanical section of your car. An air freshener maybe.

I remember Trop-Arctic semi-synthetic 10W-30 for $1 at Dollar Tree. I still have some. That used to be a big topic on BITOG. However, nobody doubted ConocoPhillips as an anonymous maker of discount store fluids and house brands.


Some oil has to be bottom of the barrel!

Any decent oil blender can make a great oil or a poor oil. So who made it means nothing in my book.

 

[tommygunn]

Dollar Tree brake fluid is better than NO brake fluid at all.

Keep in mind, though, that brake fluid is not a top-off item. If you find the level low, it's because the pads are worn, or because there is a leak.

If there is no leak, don't worry about it. Just install new pads right before you actually have the fluid changed.

I've used that SMB stuff in a pinch, and I actually like the Wagner DOT 5.1 as well.

 

[artificialist]

I would want to see a dry and wet boiling point written somewhere on the bottle. That would show me the fluid was actually lab tested to properly do the job.

I would use it for top offs and other emergency situations, but I would always use premium brake fluids for fluid flushes because the premium stuff stays cleaner for a longer period of time.

 

[tommygunn]

It says wet point 284F on the back of the bottle.

 

[Rolla07]

Originally Posted By: tommygunn
Dollar Tree brake fluid is better than NO brake fluid at all.

Keep in mind, though, that brake fluid is not a top-off item. If you find the level low, it's because the pads are worn, or because there is a leak.

If there is no leak, don't worry about it. Just install new pads right before you actually have the fluid changed.

I've used that SMB stuff in a pinch, and I actually like the Wagner DOT 5.1 as well.


+1.

Your pads are worn. When you compress the caliper and put new pads in ur fluid will rise back to normal height. Check for leaks. If it asks for dot 3 use only dot 3 or 4. Quite sure dot 5 is not recommended. You can get prestone brand for 3-4$ at walmart. Your brakes can and do save your life..put a brand name fluid in there if you can. If not make sure its dot 3 compatible and do a liberal flush like Kira said.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
I would want to see a dry and wet boiling point written somewhere on the bottle. That would show me the fluid was actually lab tested to properly do the job.

I would use it for top offs and other emergency situations, but I would always use premium brake fluids for fluid flushes because the premium stuff stays cleaner for a longer period of time.


I agree with the first part, not sure I agree with the second. Some "premium" fluids may have higher dry/wet temperatures, but no guarantee at a parts store for their "premium" fluid.

IMO if the dollar tree fluid shows a decent temperature, and is in a heavy, sealed bottle, it would be usable.

Would I use it? No. Because Id probably try to buy from a place where I could compare temps and get the best one.

But if folks did a survey and found that this stuff did have a top notch temperature and was cheaper, Id consider it.

 

[Donald]

A container of Prestone brand brake fluid at Walmart is $3 and the DollarTree stuff is $1. We are talking about two dollars. The price of a large soda.

Who knows if everything on the $1 brake fluid label is made up? Its not like DollarTree buys in larger volume than Walmart and can sell it cheaper. Its junky stuff.

 

[tommygunn]

@Donald, not really, because the Dollar Tree stuff is only 6oz for $1, or $2 for 12oz. Compared to $2-3 for 12 oz at Walmart and other places sometimes it doesn't sound too out-of-line

 

[y_p_w]

In the end I went to WM and bought a 12 oz bottle of Prestone DOT3. I was sorely tempted to get the Super Tech DOT3 though, which was less than $2. Part of it was that any Dollar Tree would have been way out of the way.

I just cleaned up the outside of the reservoir and added maybe 2 oz to the max line. Maybe it helps a bit if some of the additives are depleted.

I'm not going to install brakes myself, but know someone who can do it cheap and do it well. He'll do the fluid flush at the same time. I'm thinking maybe Hawk HPS pads, but I'm not sure if there are any decent aftermarket drums.

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted By: Rolla07
Originally Posted By: tommygunn
Dollar Tree brake fluid is better than NO brake fluid at all.

Keep in mind, though, that brake fluid is not a top-off item. If you find the level low, it's because the pads are worn, or because there is a leak.

If there is no leak, don't worry about it. Just install new pads right before you actually have the fluid changed.

I've used that SMB stuff in a pinch, and I actually like the Wagner DOT 5.1 as well.


+1.

Your pads are worn. When you compress the caliper and put new pads in ur fluid will rise back to normal height. Check for leaks. If it asks for dot 3 use only dot 3 or 4. Quite sure dot 5 is not recommended. You can get prestone brand for 3-4$ at walmart. Your brakes can and do save your life..put a brand name fluid in there if you can. If not make sure its dot 3 compatible and do a liberal flush like Kira said.

I said DOT5.1. As in glycol based and readily miscible with any DOT3/DOT4 fluid.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT_5.1