Re: [Chrysler300] Dot 3 / Dot 5

[Steve Albu <saforwardlook@xxxxxxxxx>]

I second Bob's and Marshall's comments.  I have had DOT 5 brake fluid in all
my collector cars for over 30 years now and have never had a brake issue
come up.  I bleed the brakes every 10 years or so, but yet to have any water
come out or any need to replace anything.  The only issue I had was on my
300C where the stop light switch would fail prematurely with the DOT 5
fluid, but I got around that with a later style mechanical switch.  Before
that, even with the Southern California climate, I always had trouble with
leaking wheel cylinders and master cylinder problems after using the
conventional fluid due to rust/moisture, probably because I missed a
scheduled bleed date for the reasons Bob points out.  I will never use the
conventional fluid again.  The money for DOT is well worth it in terms of
not having to bleed the brakes so often or to use that miserable brake
puller for the rear drums.
And I would appreciate keeping political remarks to yourself, Herb.  We have
had enough of that over the years.  Lets leave it there.
Steve Albu

On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 10:15 AM, Bob Jasinski <rpjasin@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
>
> Herb,
>
> We've been down this road before, but for the sake of balance I would like
> to respond to the points you've made based on my experience:
>
> <Again if you do proper maintenance you WILL NOT have a problem!!>
>
> In a perfect world that all I had to do was schedule brake bleeding
> sessions
> every two years, that would be the case, but that is not reality in my
> life.
> I own a number of cars, all requiring maintenance of some type at any one
> point in time. Bleeding brakes is NOT a simple one man job, it is a lot of
> work, even with a lift as I have. The longer I can do without the need, the
> better. Some years I only put 800 to 1000 miles on my 300G. That would
> require brake bleeding as often as an oil change. Also, more frequent brake
> fluid changes means more possibility of SPILLING DOT3/4 brake fluid on
> painted surfaces, causing damage.
>
> <By the way the same moisture that is in DOT 3-4 is in DOT 5 it just sinks
> to the lowest point and sits there as opposed to DOT 3-4 that holds it in
> suspension and is gone when you bleed your brakes. Not sitting at the low
> spots unable to be bleed out like as with DOT 5>
>
> Sorry, but this is not true. DOT 5 does NOT absorb the same amount of
> moisture in the system as does DOT3/4, as they are hygroscopic (attract
> moisture) DOT 5 is not hygroscopic. Over many years, moisture can
> accumulate in a DOT 5 system, but it is at a much slower rate. It does form
> in the lowest point, but that is flushed when the brakes are bled, just as
> it would with DOT 3/4. The difference though, is that you can wait MUCH
> longer to bleed the brakes. I do mine about every 8 years.
>
> <Is there anything wrong with DOT 5, NO, other than the silicone
> impregnates
> all
> rubber parts and creates a mess if you want to switch back>
>
> I have not seen any evidence of permanent contamination of brake parts
> caused by silicon fluid.
>
> < Today's DOT 4 has just short of the same boiling quality's as DOT 5>
>
> True, but that is when it is fresh. The boiling point begins to drop once
> it is installed due to the hygroscopic nature of DOT 3/4. The silicon fluid
> boiling point remains much more constant through its life.
>
> A good alternative to silicon fluid is Castrol DOT 4 LMA (low moisture
> activity) fluid. It has a high boiling point, BUT it still melts paint. In
> collector cars like ours, that is a MAJOR drawback.
>
> Bob J
>
> From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
> Behalf Of Herb
> Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2011 6:43 PM
> To: Chrysler 300 List
> Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Dot 3 / Dot 5
>
> Again if you do proper maintenance you WILL NOT have a problem!! By the way
> the same moisture that is in DOT 3-4 is in DOT 5 it just sinks to the
> lowest
> point and sits there as opposed to DOT 3-4 that holds it in suspension and
> is gone when you bleed your brakes. Not sitting at the low spots unable to
> be bleed out like as with DOT 5. Another post talked of the boiling point
> of DOT 3-4 over DOT 5. Todays DOT 4 has just short of the same boiling
> quality's as DOT 5. To address the boiling, unless he is racing on a track
> his problem is unrelated to fluid!! If your brakes are getting so hot that
> your boiling fluid you need to find a real mechanic to do your brakes
> because quite frankly whom ever did them knows not what they are doing.
> Bottom line, the perceived benefits from DOT 5 are just not there in a
> street car in the lower 48 or lower 55 states, if your a fan of mr obama. I
> have many years of experience with both fluids, and have never been
> convinced that the added expense reaped any justifiable benefit. Is there
> any thing wrong with DOT 5, NO, other than the silicone impregnates all
> rubber parts and creates a mess if you want to switch back. Is there any
> thing wrong with DOT 3 or 4, NO, if you change it like your supposed to
> during normal preventative maintenance! Brakes are like transmissions out
> of sight out of mind until there is a problem. Then we try to find
> something to blame, other than our selves, and what is the easiest thing?
> Fluid! That is why there is such an after market for wonder fluids!! All
> stemmed from personal denial. Why do you have sludge in your engine? You
> did not change your fluid! Why do you have a burned up transmission? You
> did not change your fluid! Why do you have rusted brake components & lines?
> You did not change your fluid! SO, Pay now and change your fluids or Pay
> more latter!
>
> -------Original Message-------
>
> From: mgoodknight@xxxxxxxx <mailto:mgoodknight%40juno.com>
> Date: 2/4/2011 7:14:40 PM
> To: zephyr9900@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:zephyr9900%40hotmail.com>
> Cc: 2HsandaHeritage@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:2HsandaHeritage%40comcast.net> ;
> chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Dot 3 / Dot 5
>
> If you haven't lived in Florida or other damp coastal areas it might be
> difficult to appreciate the deficiencies of Dot 3 for use in "occasionally
> used" vehicles.
> ---------------Marshall
>
> ---------- Original Message ----------
> From: Herb <zephyr9900@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:zephyr9900%40hotmail.com> >
> To: <2HsandaHeritage@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:2HsandaHeritage%40comcast.net> >,
> "Chrysler 300 List"
> <chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:chrysler300%40yahoogroups.com> >
> Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Dot 3 / Dot 5
> Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 15:47:20 -0600
>
> DOT 5, WHY????? Please send your extra unneeded money to me, I sure can use
> it on my 300H!! Use DOT 4 and save your time and money, there is NO
> advantage to DOT 5 in Fair Oaks, CA! Now if you lived in Fair Banks, Alaska
> , maybe a slim chance. Just change the fluid every 30,000 miles with DOT4
> as your supposed to, and you will never have a fluid problem.
>
> -------Original Message-------
>
> From: 2HsandaHeritage@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:2HsandaHeritage%40comcast.net>
> Date: 2/4/2011 10:51:28 AM
> To: Chrysler 300 Club International
> Subject: [Chrysler300] Dot 3 / Dot 5
>
> Hi Group,
>
> The rear brake assemblies on my new 300 Sport are severely corroded due to
> leaking wheel cylinders and long storage.
>
> I have decided to switch from Dot 3 to Dot 5 brake fluid.
>
> My procedure will be to remove all wheel cylinders and hoses, remove ,
> disassemble and clean the master cylinder, blow out the steel tubing with
> compressed air and flush the tubing with a solvent.
>
> I will then install new wheel cylinders and hoses, add Dot 5 and bleed the
> system.
>
> Any comments or suggestions on this procedure?
>
> What should I use to flush the steel tubing?
>
> Thank in advance,
>
> Doug Warrener
>
> Fair Oaks, CA
>
> 300H
>
> 300 Sport Conv.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> 
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

To send a message to this group, send an email to:
Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx or
go to http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/join and select the "Leave Group" button

For list server instructions, go to http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm

For archives go to http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/search.htm#querylangYahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    Chrysler300-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    Chrysler300-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    Chrysler300-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/