Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Brakes Where to get good brake fluid?

I know I can pick-up the Ford fluid at my local Ford parts/service garage, but what about the Castrol fluid? I was in Advance Auto today and didn't see anything that looked like a quality fluid. Brands such as Weaver, STP, Gunk/Stop Leak,and a few others and most were DOT 3 fluids. They did have a couple of 12oz Castrol bottles, but they were labled DOT 3/4.

It would suck to have to start ordering fluids online. Where do your guys get yours?

- B

Of the DOT 3 fluids, the Ford fluid is one of the best. I don't know why it is not rated as a DOT 4 fluid. I have heard some Ford engineers claim that it meets DOT 4 specs although I doubt it. For a DOT 3 fluid it has one of the highest dry boiling points (550 F).

Of the DOT 4 fluids, two of the best of the commonly available fluids are Castrol LMA and Valvoline's synthetic. Dot 4 fluid has a higher affinity to absorbe moisture than DOT 3 and as a result must be changed at least every two years. The LMA in the Castrol LMA fluid means low moisture absorbption. Castrol claims it is more stable than some other DOT 4 fluids. Valvoline also claims to have a superior fluid.

You may ask why is moisture a problem when the brake fluid is contained in a sealed system. There is no such thing as a perfectly sealed system. In normal operation with large changes in temperature and pressure, some minute amount of air with whatever moisture is in the air will get past the seals. In time the added moisture causes the fluid to degrade. That is why the specs you may find on the container provides both wet and dry boiling points. The wet boiling point is when the fluid is saturated with moisture.

Besides lowering the boiling point, the moisture in the fluid can cause damage to brake parts. It will allow internal parts to corrode and cause the metal to become pitted. It will also cause a sludgy build up that will eventually interfear with the operation of cylinders and calipers. It will also wreak havoc with ABS hydraulic controls which have very small orfices to function the ABS system.

With all that said, I use Valvoline's synthetic DOT 4 fluid and I change it once a year. By using a premium fluid (and any of the three I mentioned are premium fluids) and changing it often I expect the hydraulic parts in my brake system to last at least 200,000 miles if not more.

By the way, Ford has no maintenance interval for brake fluid changes with DOT 3 fluid. In my opinion even Ford's DOT 3 fluid should be changed at least every two to three years. Like I said, though, I change mine every year.

Jim Johnson
98 SVT

Thanks Jim, Where do you buy your Valvoline fluid?

Thanks,
Brian

Good reply BigJim
Think I'll save to my hard drive. I used LMA last year, flushed the whole system with old dot 3 just to do it, then put in the LMA until bleed out. (it has a just a touch different color. Anyhow last month bleed the fronts just to look at the fluid still looks as clean as it was out of the can.
I thought synthetic brake fluid was a no no,or was that Dot 5 silicon????
Paul

Valvoline SynPower brake fluid is available just about anywhere including Pep Boys, Kragen, and AutoZone.

Silicon based brake fluid is the one to avoid. It is great for museum pieces that don't get driven much but has too many problems for everyday street use. It was very popular among the racing set 10 to 20 years ago, but has largly fallen out of favor today.

Valvoline SynPower...

Great Stuff...

Mobil 1 ATF in the Power Steering

You'll thanks us...

Castrol LMA, Valvoline SynPower, both at PepBoys. Ford HD DOT3, available at your local Ford dealer.

Thanks guys, after 3 different stops at various auto parts stores today I found what I needed. I don't know what it is about this area, but most of the parts places had the shelves marked for the Castrol or Synpower, but didn't have it in stock. Finally I found some 32oz bottles for $4.90 at Pep Boys. I got 2

- Brian

Don't use ATF in the power steering unit,ATF isn't designed for that.Use only power steering pump fluid.ATF and power steering fluid are different.

Actually Ford specifies Mercon spec ATF for Contique power steering systems, and Mobil 1 ATF meets Mercon spec. Some automakers do use a different fluid than ATF, but most don't. Honda is one of the big exceptions.

Jim Johnson
98 SVT