Barry,
Thanks for the input. When I rebuilt all the hydraulics a coupla years
ago, I put in Castrol brake fluid labeled "Lucas Girling, Exceeds Dot 3 and
Dot 4. Now, I can't seem to find this stuff in my local store, and was
wondering about the silicone, which I've never used. I understand your
concern about not mixing silicone with the old stuff. If I drain the bleed
valves at all 4 wheels as well as the clutch slave cylinder, I think that
there will still be a little old fluid in the system, so I don't think I
will use the silicone. Guess I'll look around further for the fluid I
used before. It seems foolish to have to order it by mail.
Sumner
----------
> From: Barry Schwartz <bschwart@pacbell.net>
> To: Sumner Weisman <sweisman@gis.net>
> Cc: triumphs@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: Dumb Question N0. 2,745
> Date: Friday, April 17, 1998 10:29 AM
>
> Summer writes:
> >All my beliefs are being blown out of the water. Here I have been
> >conscientiously using lead additive in my TR-3, and now people on this
list
> >are telling me I don't need it and plain unleaded gas is fine, and that
the
> >valves will last for many years.
> **************************************
> No all your beliefs are not blown out of the water. If you have a no or
> pre lead head, AND it has had a steady diet of lead at one time, then
> enough residual lead remains to lubricate the valves and/or seats. Using
> unleaded under these conditions and without prolonged high speed/heavy
load
> you probably won't see any undue valve seat recession. On rebuild it's
> false economy to not replace the exhaust valve seats and exhaust valves
> with ones designed to run on unleaded fuel as you WILL have premature
> (exhaust) valve and seat wear. If you constantly run your engine to
> redline, and floor it all the time, then again you will see accelerated
> valve seat recession with a pre-lead head weather it's had lead at one
time
> or not. As for pinging or knocking mentioned in another thread, it IS
> damaging to your engine no matter how slight. Knocking or pinging is an
> uncontrolled explosion that puts undesigned stress on the piston crowns,
> wrist pins, rod bearings and big end bearings. As for you engine system
> check indicators, they are not designed to indicate wear or problems in
> those areas and its just a matter of time before something will break or
> wear out earlier than an engine operated as designed-
> ****************************************
> >OK, let me ask about another possible myth I've been living with. What
> >about the warnings that say that I should only use Girling approved
brake
> >fluid? Can I use any good Dot 3 or Dot 4 fluid?
> ****************************************
> Yes it has been discussed before but as listers come and go these will be
> brought up again and again. That's how the new people learn, and I for
one
> don't mind repeating. After all we were all *new* listers once :-}.
Those
> warnings are valid. If your system is a stock Girling system, that has
not
> been rebuilt and ready for new fluid, then DO NOT MIX FLUIDS and don't
use
> Dot 3. Dot 4 Girling fluid is designed for the natural rubber seals in
> your system and using Dot 3 WILL damage those seals causing pre-mature
> failure. If you have completely rebuilt and flushed the entire system,
> then you may chose either Dot 5, or Dot 4, but again, NEVER mix fluids,
> most are not compatible, and after all, with the exception of Dot 5
> (silicon), these fluids are relatively inexpensive. Why take a chance
with
> such important systems in your vehicle just to save a few pennys??
>
> Barry Schwartz (San Diego) bschwart@pacbell.net
>
> 72 V6 Spitfire (daily driver)
> 70 GT6+ (when I don't drive the Spit)
> 70 Spitfire (project)
> 73 Ford Courier (parts hauler, rain vehicle, getting a V6 soon!)
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