brake fluid & DOT rating

["Dick Benjamin" <dickb@xxxxxxxxx>]

I should have added one needs to be aware that DOT 5 is different than DOT
5.1 fluid.   The former is silicon based fluid, the latter is alcohol based
and will absorb water like the older types, it just has higher boiling
point.

Dick Benjamin
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mark McDonald" <tomswift@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 7:26 PM
Subject: IML: brake fluid & DOT rating


> Okay, here's another one that will likely get 20 different answers, all
> contradictory.
>
> For the first time I'm starting to wonder about DOT ratings and what I
> should put in my Chryslers.  I hate to admit to such ignorance, but it
> never really concerned me before.
>
> I was reading an article which stated that DOT 5 should not be used in
> an old car.  Correct?  (DOT 5 is silicone brake fluid, right?)  More
> important, you CANNOT mix DOT 4 and DOT 5 because they are not
> compatible, will attack each other, and the seals.  Yes?  No?
>
> However, DOT 3 and 4 are okay for old cars and CAN be mixed.
>
> DOT 2 is strictly for older systems-- drum only-- and should probably
> be thrown out.  Right?
>
> How often should people change the brake fluid in their, say, 1968
> Imperial???
>
> Thanks in advance y'all
> MM
>
>
>