[DeTomaso] DOT-5 Brake luid

[Garth Rodericks]

I don't know that DOT 5 Silicon brake fluid is "unstable" but it is compressible, which 
means a soft brake pedal. Silicon fluid is a good choice for trailer queen show cars and 
museum display vehicles because it doesn't absorb moisture. But, the compressible 
nature of the silicon fluid causes a spongy pedal, which is fine for a car that's never driven, 
other than on and off a trailer at shows, it's fine.
 
Don't confuse DOT 5 with DOT 5.1 fluid though. DOT 5.1 is an Ethyl Glycol based fluid like 
DOT 3 and DOT4 fluid and is suitable for use on a street/track driven car.
 
ATE Super Blue Racing Brake Fluid ($11.95)
One of the best values I could find for a high-performance brake fluid (536/392 dry/wet 
boiling point), and only $12 for 33.8 oz. (I ordered from www.bavauto.com)  And, the Blue 
color makes it extremely easy to see when all the old fluid is flushed from your system. The 
same formula also comes in Amber/Gold to make it easy to see when all the fluid is flushed 
from your brake system by alternating colors at each fluid flush.
Blue: http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/ate/ate_superblue_fluid.jsp
Amber: http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/ate/ate_type200_amber.jsp
 
 
Here are some of the other fluids I looked at:
 
  Brake Fluid    Dry Boiling Point   Wet Boiling Point     Price
  AP SUPER 600         590°F               410°F        $18.00/16.9oz
  CASTROL SRF          590°F               518°F        $69.99/33.8oz
  NEO SUPER DOT 610    610°F               421°F        $15.00/12oz
  MOTUL RACING 600     593°F               420°F        $15.00/16.9oz
  MOTUL DOT 5.1        509°F               365°F        $6.50/16.9oz
**ATE SUPER BLUE       536°F               392°F        $11.99/33.8oz**
  VALVOLINE SYNPOWER   503°F               343°F        $4.97/16.9oz
  ATE SL               500°F               329°F        $7.95/16.9oz
  CASTROL LMA          450°F               311°F        $3.50/16.9oz
  AP 551               528°F               288°F        $12.50/16.9oz
 *Ford C6AZ-19542-AA   550°F               290°F        $6.95/12oz*
 
* Ford Heavy Duty DOT 3 is very inexpensive and is popular among racers because of its 
excellent dry boiling point. It’s considered by many to be the best-kept secret in brake 
fluids.  However, IT ABSORBS MOISTURE QUICKLY!  Recommended by Baer and Alcon. 
According to Hot Rods and Horsepower: "Ford Motor Company purchases [Castrol SRF] by
 the barrel, repackages it, and sells it as Ford Heavy Duty fluid to owners of heavy-duty 
trucks. Although this rumor is often repeated on the internet, the two fluids have different 
specs, so the assertion seems questionable at best. You may buy it from your local Ford 
dealer under part number C6AZ-19542-AA.
 
** ATE Super Blue DOT 4 is even LESS expensive per ounce than the Ford Heavy Duty 
brake fluid, and it ABSORBS MOISTURE SLOWLY!  Note the ‘wet’ boiling point - That 
means better performance under extreme conditions (track use or a spirited drive through 
the twisties). And it’s less likely to cause corrosion in your braking system. That’s why I 
chose the ATE Super Blue (I’ll use Gold when I flush the brake fluid again next year). And 
the alternating color options (Blue and Gold) make it easy to tell when you’re done flushing 
all the old fluid from your brake lines.  Two enthusiastic thumbs up!
Reference: http://www.realbig.com/pipermail/detomaso/2008-July/097637.html
 
Cheers!
Garth