[Healeys] Which Brake Fluid?

[Bob Spidell]

FWIW, I've had DoT5 in my BJ8 for nearly 30 years with no issues, 
including bleeding. My dad put Lockheed DoT4 in our BN2--a complete new 
system--and it gelled when the car sat for a couple years. I tried 
Petrosin--BMW's bespoke brand--and several seals failed, with a 
crystalline residue, after just a few years. There was a thread on the 
BCF a while back on owners having failures with DoT3/4. Tom Monaco 
strongly recommends Castrol DoT4 'synthetic*' but, so far, I haven't 
been able to get a good pedal with it (I'm not blaming the fluid). Note 
DoT5 is not hygroscopic, but does need to be flushed occasionally since 
any water will pool and settle in low points.

* Some brands of BF are now calling their product 'synthetic,' which is 
odd since, AFAIK, no BF is made from naturally occurring compounds. I 
suspect this is marketing, to ride on the popularity of synthetic motor oil.


On 7/24/2021 3:15 PM, richard mayor via Healeys wrote:
> The military uses silicone because some military vehicles sit for long 
> periods of time when not in use..... waiting for that day when they 
> need to spring into action.   Silicone fluid is not the best 
> performance wise but because it does not accumulate moisture over 
> time, it is best for military vehicles that sit unused for long 
> periods of time.
>
> FWIW, I was in the military and I use DOT 3
>
>
> On Sat, Jul 24, 2021 at 6:19 AM Michael Oritt via Healeys 
> <healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>> wrote:
>
>     "The military specifies Silicone brake fluid for a reason"
>
>     Not necessarily a good one.
>
>     Best--Michael Oritt
>
>     On Sat, Jul 24, 2021 at 9:04 AM warthodson--- via Healeys
>     <healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>> wrote:
>
>         I would like to say a few words on behalf of silicone brake
>         fluid.
>         It is non-hygroscopic (does not absorb moisture).
>         It does not damage paint as do glycol fluids.
>         A newly rebuilt and scrupulously clean brake system filled
>         with silicone fluid should outlast a system filled with glycol
>         fluid by several times.
>         The military specifies Silicone brake fluid for a reason.
>
>         Gary Hodson
>
>
>
>         On July 23, 2021 at 2:05 PM, Michael MacLean via Healeys
>         <healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>> wrote:
>
>>         The BN2 is at the point where it is time to fill and bleed
>>         the new brake system.  Now comes the time to decide whether
>>         to go with DOT 3/4 brake fluid or try silicone.  Any
>>         recommendations,  advice or warnings on this decision?
>>         Mike MacLean
>
>

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