How to choose different brands of Brake Fluid

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: andrewp1998
Originally Posted By: Trav
A less expensive fluid in a properly maintained system and changed on a regular basis is better than expensive stuff that has been neglected and wet, maintenance is everything.
For most domestic and Japanese cars I use Valvoline DOT 3/4 and for Euro cars the Pentosin Dot 4, both seem to work fine.


I switched from the honda fluid to Valvoline back in Dec for my clutch and it turned an opaque grey color after a couple months, it did not do this when I had it changed out before .Clutch works fine.


You can flush it again but its probably only discolored from the rubber parts residue in the system that has been disturbed, its normal with older vehicles, I wouldn't loose any sleep over it.

 

[andrewp1998]

Ok will do, thanks!

 

[artificialist]

I use DOT4LV in anything that has ABS, not just in European cars. I figure that since many manufacturers make ABS modules for cars made both in and out of Europe, that means that any ABS module would benefit from DOT4LV. How often do you find an ATE, Bosch, or Lucas ABS module in an American or Japanese car?

 

[slacktide_bitog]

AAP/CQ has their house brand DOT4 on sale for only $4.99/qt

 

[nthach]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
I use DOT4LV in anything that has ABS, not just in European cars. I figure that since many manufacturers make ABS modules for cars made both in and out of Europe, that means that any ABS module would benefit from DOT4LV. How often do you find an ATE, Bosch, or Lucas ABS module in an American or Japanese car?

I did that on my parent's car - even though Advics(Denso/Aisin/Sumitomo) supplied the foundation brakes and ABS/TRAC/VSC system, the Japanese for the exception of Nissin did license out a lot of IP from Bosch. In the 1990s, Denso had on the labels of their ABS modules "Under license from Robert Bosch GmbH" and I recall seeing BENDIX LICENSE on a Toyota brake booster.

The Honda ABS system used just before Nissin started making Bosch clones(and installing ATE or real Bosch ABS) was an odd duck of an system.