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

[Josh Allen]

Nope, the water will sink in a DOT 5 fluid filled system.  Typically 
it'll end up rusting the bottom lines in a system if left untended for a 
long period of time.

Recently I've been hearing that the Army has been switching away from 
DOT 5 due to the downfalls inherent in it, but I don't have all the info 
there.

-Josh

On 3/25/2011 2:35 PM, stevetsg wrote:

> 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 

> <mailto: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 

>>> <mailto: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.

>

>

> The MB Coupes Website!

> W126 SEC Mailing List

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


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