[W126 Coupe] Mineral Oil as a substitute for Brake Fluid

[stevetsg]

Is water lighter in weight than Dot 5?

Ernie

Sent from my iPad

On Mar 25, 2011, at 1:57 PM, Jay Hirsch <J.Hirsch at mac.com> wrote:


> Not to  burst your bubble,  but  hope to so before you brake system  busts one.

> 

> Mercedes and all car manufacturers with ABS systems do NOT recommend DOT 5, the silicone based fluid

> This fluid has a   higher boiling point and is intended for use in high performance  race cars where the brake fluid gets hot fast

> 

> It does not hold water which is bad,  not good.

> 

> All brake systems  contain  moisture or "water."  The difference with conventional fluid and DOT 5  is that DOT does not mix  with the water  that is a natural by-product of brake systems.  

> The moisture or water sinks to the lowest point in the brake system...the  caliper.  One day you are  going down the road  and one of  two things will happen.

> You will apply the brake pedal and it will be like pushing on a brick wall with your  foot due to an air pocket formed between the moisture and the DOT since  water and DOT  5 do NOT mix or  you apply brakes and the pedal goes all the way to the floor due to the caliper  being rusted out from all  the  water/moisture in it.

> For these reasons it is recommended in cars with  silicone fluid the brake fluid should changed  every two years

> 

> This from Raybestos

> 

> "DOT 5 brake fluid is not compatible with anti-lock brake systems.   DOT 5 brake fluid absorbs a small amount of air requiring care when bleeding the system of air."

> 

> The only good thing  about silicone brake fluid  is it will not do any damage to  car's paint if spilled on it, which  growing up in NYC is what DOT 3   or 4 brake fluid was good for, we would use it on a neighbor's car to "clean it"  Does wonders to  paint sitting over  night

> 

> You are not supposed to spill   brake fluid on  a car's paint unless you have trouble chewing  gum and walking at the same time.

> 

> keep cruisin

> 

> Jay H

> 

> On Mar 25, 2011, at 3:18 PM, stevetsg wrote:

> 

>> I bought special brake fluid years ago for my boat trailer because of the threat of water damage.  I'm not at home right now so I can't go to the garage to look at the label on the can but I'm sure that if you google it you will find what it is that I bought or you can call a boat shop.  What I really want to communicate though is that water in convential brake fluid is a serious matter and the damage that it can cause is costly.  The water proof brake fluid is a little more expensive but cheap in comparison to the risk that you take if your brake fluid is subject to water exposure.

>> 

>> Ernie

>> 

>> 

>> Sent from my iPad

>> 

>> On Mar 25, 2011, at 8:24 AM, "calvin young" <calvinyoung at cox.net> wrote:

>> 

>>> I solved my own problem and learned a lot about the hydropneumatic suspension fluid.  I recommend all who are interested in the subject go to  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydropneumatic_suspension  It talks about the care and use of the system and evolution of the fluids as time and problems affected the system. 

>>>  

>>> I would like to start a general discussion about using this or another similar type mineral based fluid as a subsitute for the DOT brake fluid.  The reason is that normal brake fluid is hygoscopic, i.e., attracts moisture, and must be changed every year to keep the brakes operating without incident.  This was the reason the manufacturer switched to a mineral based fluid for the hydropneumatic suspension, failure in the systems caused by moisture and dust.  Anyone made the switch or know who has?   Audi uses the Petosin mineral based fluids.  What about the modern MB or Audi cars?

>>>  

>>> Cal

>>> The MB Coupes Website!

>>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

>> The MB Coupes Website!

>> W126 SEC Mailing List

>> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

> 

> The MB Coupes Website!

> W126 SEC Mailing List

> Postings remain property of MB Coupes, L.L.C.

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