[Guest]

Is there an easy way to determ

Is there an easy way to determine whether the brake fluid in a system is the regular hygroscopic kind or silicone?

 

[Guest]

Good question.

To my knowle

Good question.

To my knowledge there is no easy way to tell the difference unless the bottle is tagged during retro to non-reccomended type fluid.

Standard fluid used in Ferraris is Dot 3/4 and changing to silicone was never widespread as far as I'm aware.

The only thing you can do short term is smell the old and new fluids and check color and consistency. Then flush the old fluid and replace with fresh know type fluid for the future.

Regards, JRV

 

[Guest]

Thanks JRV, do you know whethe

Thanks JRV, do you know whether silicone brake fluid eats paint like the regular kind?

 

[Guest]

Mondialguy-
I recently read a

Mondialguy-
I recently read an article on pros/cons of standard brake fluid vs. silicone (perhaps in Forza or Road & Track). I will try to locate it tonight and post the reference.

 

[Guest]

Most silicone fluid that I&#39

Most silicone fluid that I've seen is purple in color, but not all. That would be an easy identification. Silicone will not harm paint. However, it is not good in all cars. I once tried it in a 365GT/4 BB and immediately noticed the brake pedal dropping in increments when held down for a long period such as at stoplights. After draining the silicone, and flushing the system with alcohol, a refill with conventional fluid immediately cured this problem. I understand that silicone can slip past some types of rubber seals in older cars, so I avoid using it.

 

[Guest]

I have a story to relate here.

I have a story to relate here. Several years ago, I had a mechanic come to my garage to replace the brake fluid in one of my daytonas. He decided to use Rolls Royce brake fluid, which I think was silicon. Needless to say, I had to buy all new rubber brake lines because the wrong brake fluid can eat the interior walls of the rubber brake lines...lesson learned...lots of trouble, car brakes failed and luckily no injury or accident. Do not guess on brake fluids...the lesson I learned

 

[Guest]

Bill, I think that your commen

Bill, I think that your comment that silicone brake fliud won't eat paint like the regular stuff is the answer for which I was looking.

I will test that today. Clearly they should not be mixed, and if I read you correctly, an alcohol flush will cleanse the system if the current fluid is silicone.

 

[Guest]

That alcohol should probably b

That alcohol should probably be DENATURED alcohol. I know that's what's recommended for cleaning brake caliper bits when rebuilding. You may wish to verify that elsewhere, but I'd wager it's worth the trip to the drug store to get denatured.

 

[Guest]

Is there a DOT 5 non silicone

Is there a DOT 5 non silicone brake fluid on the market?