Mgrene Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Good day. Well this might be a stupid question, but I am still new to some of this stuff I will soon get my brake fluid changed at a car shop but earlier today when I looked at the engine bay, I discovered that there were two places where the brake fluid could be filled? What's up with that? Which one is the correct one and is there something that I need to inform (precautions to be taken) the carshop before they start changing the brake fluid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clay Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 one to the left is for the brakes. the other one is the clutch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mgrene Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 one to the left is for the brakes. the other one is the clutch. And it is normal that on both caps it says brake fluid :-/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mk4Gaz Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Clutch fluid is the same as brake fluid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mgrene Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 Clutch fluid is the same as brake fluid Then it makes sense. Now that I have your attention. When I removed the cap from the clutch fluid, there was a small rubber-something floating around in the oil. Is that normal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Budz86 Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Yes, I believe it's to show how high the level is. Use dot 5.1 too, it probably says to use dot 4 but this was all they had around at the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mgrene Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 Yes, I believe it's to show how high the level is. Use dot 5.1 too, it probably says to use dot 4 but this was all they had around at the time Actually it says that I should use dot 3. I have bought Motul RBF600. Its "only" dot 4 but as far as I can read on various sites, this oil is top dollar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mk4Gaz Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Dot 4 is perfectly fine on a road car. 5.1 has a higher boiling point, and is primarily for track use. Brake fluid should be drained and replaced every few years anyway, as it's hygroscopic and deteriorates with age and moisture. Also, I think I'm right in saying that you can't mix 5.1 with any other grades? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mgrene Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 Dot 4 is perfectly fine on a road car. 5.1 has a higher boiling point, and is primarily for track use. Brake fluid should be drained and replaced every few years anyway, as it's hygroscopic and deteriorates with age and moisture. Also, I think I'm right in saying that you can't mix 5.1 with any other grades? I do not know the brand of the present oil and that is why I am going to drain the whole system and fill in brand new oil. The car will primarily be used for road and not track. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 (edited) Don't drain it but bleed the system, keep topping up the reservoir until you draw the new fluid through all four calipers. A vacuum bleeder makes the job very easy and removes the need to pump the brake pedal. Motul RBF600 is perfect and has a higher wet and dry boiling point than Dot 3, 4 or 5.1 You can't mix DOT 5 with DOT 3, 4 or 5.1, DOT 5 is Silicon based and it wont mix with the others which are Poly Glycol based Edited March 11, 2014 by Dnk (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mk4Gaz Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Ah, I knew it was something like that. Thanks for clearing that up dunk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 (edited) No problem, it can be a tad confusing and most would think it was 5.1 that didn't mix. Pretty stupid numbering if you ask me. DOT 5 has a few other differences, it doesn't absorb moisture and it wont damage your paintwork, it's not a very good lubricant so not ideal in a car with abs RBF600 -- 312 C dry boiling point and 205 wet boiling point RBF660 -- 325 C dry " " 205 wet " " DOT 3 --- 205 C dry and 140 C wet DOT 4 --- 230 C dry and 155 C wet DOT 5.1 - 260 C dry and 185 C wet DOT 5 Silicon - 260 C dry and 185 C wet Super DOT 4 - 300 C dry and 195 C wet Edited March 11, 2014 by Dnk (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mgrene Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 Don't drain it but bleed the system, keep topping up the reservoir until you draw the new fluid through all four calipers. A vacuum bleeder makes the job very easy and removes the need to pump the brake pedal. Motul RBF600 is perfect and has a higher wet and dry boiling point than Dot 3, 4 or 5.1 You can't mix DOT 5 with DOT 3, 4 or 5.1, DOT 5 is Silicon based and it wont mix with the others which are Poly Glycol based Maybe I should do the bleeding myself instead. Doesn't sound that complicated. Any particular strategy to be used (start in the front and end with rear caliper or)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 When we did mine we did the passenger front, passenger rear, drivers side rear then drivers side front using this vacuum bleeder. Brakes were spot on doing this, the brakes had been replaced with new UK spec calipers all round Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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