Can i use car rated Hydraulic fluid on my brakes

[Mongooser]

It's fighting how some ppls bikes are set up !! Bigger rotor needs to be up front ! Just use the correct fluid in your brakes !! If you running shimano use shimano fluid ! These things stop you , do you really want them failing because you cheaped out ?

im trying to start using the expensive stuff to to stop trees being my best mates

[PeterF]

This works great in Avid brakes, not too harsh on paint either.

 

[Capricorn]

OP: short answer is Yes. As others have pointed out, just note what the brake manufacturer uses first, then go have fun trying something slightly different. In that regard, I've used Motul RBF600 fully synthetic Dot 4 fluid in all my recent Avid/SRAM hydraulic brakes. No problems, and stellar performance. I went this way to limit chances of boiling.

[carbon29er]

Can i use car rated Hydraulic brake fluid on my brakes,have a decent.bottle of the stuff hanging around would it work or do i need a special type of hydraulic fluid

 

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If SRAM then no:

Brake fluid: Always use DOT 5.1 brake fluid. Don’t ever use mineral oil or DOT 5 brake fluid in a SRAM brake. They will destroy the brake’s seals, eventually causing brake failure and requiring replacement of the entire brake. Although DOT 3 and DOT 4 brake fluid are compatible with SRAM brakes, the brakes are designed around the highest performing DOT brake fluid available, DOT 5.1. This brake fluid has a higher boiling point than DOT 3 or DOT 4 for top performance on the most demanding descents.

https://www.sram.com/stories/sram-hydror-brake-service-tips-and-tricks

[Muzzarati]

No ! No ! No!

You will damage them.

Shimano uses Mineral oil and SRAM uses Dot fluid.

 Are you being serious? Any idea what Dot stands for?

[Muzzarati]

im trying to start using the expensive stuff to to stop trees being my best mates

Stop braking in corners!!!!

[V12man]

The larger the Dot number, the higher the temperature rating.

 

As the fluid gets old, it absorbs water, decreasing the temp rating significantly - I would guess that's your problem.

 

Flush the brakes while its being bled, and use the higher Dot rating.

The dot rating has NOTHING to do with the wet or dry boiling points of the brake fluid - it's what it's made of.

 

If you want high boiling points - use castrol srf fluid - dot 3+ - but racecard drivers favorite fluid - about r1000 a litre -.I use it in my brakes and my racecars brakes - overkill for town car brakes

[Pulse]

The dot rating has NOTHING to do with the wet or dry boiling points of the brake fluid - it's what it's made of.

 

If you want high boiling points - use castrol srf fluid - dot 3+ - but racecard drivers favorite fluid - about r1000 a litre -.I use it in my brakes and my racecars brakes - overkill for town car brakes

Interesting. Not what is typically indicated. Thanx

[Dubber]

As Carbon29er pointed out, there is a difference between dot5 and dot 5.1.  This is a composition difference and using Dot 5 will cause problems. 

 

If you have Sram elixrs then use Dot 5.1.  Not the most common fluid around, so might take a while to rack down.

[JXV]

i have avid elixers

you can use (freshly opened) automotive DOT4 fluid in your Avid Elixirs.

 

DOT4 has higher heat rating than DOT3 which can also be used. Bike brakes do not get as hot as car brakes. DO NOT use DOT5 which has higher temp rating but is a different type of fluid entirely

 

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[Capricorn]

That SRAM advice is iffy: highest performance brake fluid, Dot 5.1? Really? I think there are many DOT 4 brake fluids that will completely disagree.

So the answer, even for SRAM brakes is STILL YES.

To say no is nonsense in the face of reality out there.

[JXV]

The larger the Dot number, the higher the temperature rating.

 

As the fluid gets old, it absorbs water, decreasing the temp rating significantly - I would guess that's your problem.

 

Flush the brakes while its being bled, and use the higher Dot rating.

Not all DOT fluids are the same type of fluid. DOT5 is silicone based and requires different seals to those used in Dot3 and Dot4 systems. Avid/SRAM brakes (and some others) can use Dot 3 or Dot 4 or Dot 5.1. The Avid brake fluid that comes with their bleed kits is Dot 4.

 

To avoid air bubbles and sponginess you must de-aerate the fluid before using it to flush or bleed your brakes ... SRAM literature tells you how.

 

OP your problem is not that the fluid is overheating....it is that you are running too small a disc on the front and a bigger one at the back. DoT 4 works for everyone that maintains and sets their brakes up right. You don't need fancy fluid, it won't address the root cause here. Set your bike up properly, especially if doing long fast descents. Bigger disc front. Clean fresh brake fluid, de-aerated. Proper bleed technique with bleed blocks. Clean pads. Discs not excessively worn. Correct adjustment.

 

Be safe.

 

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[JXV]

Are you being serious? Any idea what Dot stands for?

DoT = US Dept of Transport as far as brake fluid goes.

 

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[Mongooser]

i know more about dots than i ever did...