Best brake fluid? (DD content)

I use the Valvoline 3/4 "synthetic" (in deference to Mr 73) because they carry it at the Autozone I can walk to from my house.

In reply to Knurled:

SAY WHAT?? Petroleum based fluids will cause internal brake seals to soften and swell. I have repaired many cars because some un/under educated person topped up M/cylinder w/ petroleum based fluids.

In reply to jimbbski:

1970s Jeep off road handbook stated you could urinate in master cylinder in an emergency and drove slowly until proper repairs were made.

spitfirebill wrote:

Keith Tanner wrote: If the intent is to find a fluid that will last as long as possible, I'd look for one with a wet boiling point closest to the dry boiling point. Castrol LMA (Low Moisture Absorption/Activity/Avidity) is built for this.

And is getting hard to find. I have to mail order it now.

And? It's a street car, it's not like you're bleeding the brakes every month after a track weekend.

Order a few bottles, the ones you don't open will be good for a LONG time.

outasite wrote: In reply to Knurled: SAY WHAT?? Petroleum based fluids will cause internal brake seals to soften and swell. I have repaired many cars because some un/under educated person topped up M/cylinder w/ petroleum based fluids.

I don't think either of us were talking about actually using them in real life. We were simply stating that as far as fluid and its lack of compressibility (and how it would affect brake pedal feel) it doesn't matter if you use brake fluid or vodka.

Jerry From LA wrote: I use the Valvoline 3/4 "synthetic" (in deference to Mr 73) because they carry it at the Autozone I can walk to from my house.

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with it, its just that they put "synthetic" on the bottle to charge you more. Its all synthetic. Saying "synthetic brake fluid" is redundant.

curtis73 wrote:

Jerry From LA wrote: I use the Valvoline 3/4 "synthetic" (in deference to Mr 73) because they carry it at the Autozone I can walk to from my house.

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with it, its just that they put "synthetic" on the bottle to charge you more. Its all synthetic. Saying "synthetic brake fluid" is redundant.

Yeah, I know. It happens to be a decent product, doesn't cost a fortune, and it's right here. By the way. Saw your buddy Steve at Burbank Radiator last weekend as he serviced my wife's minivan. With this heat, Steve's a busy man these days.

Jerry From LA wrote:

curtis73 wrote:

Jerry From LA wrote: I use the Valvoline 3/4 "synthetic" (in deference to Mr 73) because they carry it at the Autozone I can walk to from my house.

I'm not saying there is anything wrong with it, its just that they put "synthetic" on the bottle to charge you more. Its all synthetic. Saying "synthetic brake fluid" is redundant.

Yeah, I know. It happens to be a decent product, doesn't cost a fortune, and it's right here. By the way. Saw your buddy Steve at Burbank Radiator last weekend as he serviced my wife's minivan. With this heat, Steve's a busy man these days.

I'll bet. What a great guy he is.

curtis73 wrote:

outasite wrote: In reply to Knurled: SAY WHAT?? Petroleum based fluids will cause internal brake seals to soften and swell. I have repaired many cars because some un/under educated person topped up M/cylinder w/ petroleum based fluids.

I don't think either of us were talking about actually using them in real life. We were simply stating that as far as fluid and its lack of compressibility (and how it would affect brake pedal feel) it doesn't matter if you use brake fluid or vodka.

Except, I actually did it. Went two years with 75W90 in my clutch hydraulics. The master went from "works fine" to complete dead mode in the way Mazdas tend to do. As a temporary, emergency hack, I blew out the brake fluid, installed the gear oil, and the master stopped bypassing.

I left it that way to see how long it would last.

After two years, everything still worked fine, but I was tired of waiting for the clutch pedal to come off the floor when it was cold outside.

oldeskewltoy wrote: What in particular is wrong with the "feel" of the pedal? Sometimes there is an adjustable rod between the master and the pedal assembly, you may need to adjust it here... if you need an adjustment.......

That, and possibly rubber hoses that have deteriorated/swollen internally.

Speaking of ATE, has anyone heard anything official about tech inspections not passing a car if it has ATE Super Blue? I heard a rumor that some especially anal places are refusing to pass cars with Super Blue, under the logic that since it hasn't been sold for a while, it MUST be too old.

haven't heard of it being turned down … it's only illegal for street use … and as far as I know it's still available .. just hard to find

and old doesn't matter … if stored, unopened, how has it aged out ?