[Healeys] Silicone vs Glycol (natural or otherwise) brake fluid

[Alan Seigrist]

Glycol doesn't seem to affect modern paints....


On 6/9/10, Editorgary at aol.com <Editorgary at aol.com> wrote:
> Sorry, I guess I wasn't paying attention and didn't realize it was time for
> the annual British Car Argue About Brake Fluid Festival. -- what must it be
> now, the 40th annual re-enactment of this ancient brawl?
>
> Fact 1: Neither glycol and silicone fluids, used separately, will not harm
> modern synthetic rubber seals.
>
> Fact 2: Glycol is hygroscopic and therefore must be flushed and replaced
> every two years.
>
> Fact 3: Silicone fluid won't harm paint; Glycol will.
>
> Fact 4: Glycol gives superior response because it doesn't compress as much
> before pushing through the system.
>
> Fact 5: Never, ever mix glycol and silicone fluids in any amounts, because
> they cancel out one another's additives and will cause the seals in the
> system to fail.
>
> Conclusions: Use glycol in cars that are driven frequently, but be very
> careful when you refill the system so you don't spill it on your paint, and
> change it regularly. Use silicone in show cars that are driven less hard and
> infrequently.
>
> And those were the same conclusions that I arrived at after research 14
> years ago when i wrote my first article on brake fluids for British Car
> Magazine, and no one has yet contradicted any of those facts, except for the
> fools'
> chorus that is a traditional part of this festival, where they array
> themselves and sing antiphonally across the grease pit: "Silicone fluid is
> bad"
> and from the other side, "Glycol Fluid is bad."
>
> Gary
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-- 
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Alan

'52 A90
'53 BN1
'59 Jag Mk IX
'64 BJ8