upgrading the OEM master cylinder?

[Mike Cecchini]

Interestingly, neither GM, Ford or Chrysler have any recommended change interval for their vehicles which came factory equipped with DOT 3/4 fluid. GM says that additives in it's Delco DOT 3 brake fluid make it 'essentially a lifetime product'

Modern brake systems are pretty well sealed. While it's true that the glycol based fluids are hygroscopic and will absorb moisture if left open to the atmosphere, any sealed brake system gets contaminated with moisture at about the same rate, no matter what fluid is used . . . . but a percent or two of water in a glycol system is much less of a concern from either a corrosion or a boiling standpoint than same amount of moisture in a silicone system

It appears we have so many folks here who have had such phenomonal success using all types of brake fluid, that no reader should worry a lick about whatever fluid they're using ;)

Don

Brakes, for me, fall into the same category as parachutes and condoms. Failure for any one of them usually has serious consequences, so I do what I can to keep things in good order.

General Motors and Chrysler do not mention brake fluid in their schedule maintenance recommendations, so it is "essentially" a life time fluid. Must be the same stuff Rick has in his 60+ yr old trucks....

The use of the word "essentially" has me a bit concerned though. Much like "life-time" warranty on things that have a 2 yr life expectancy, I don't get a warm and fuzzy feeling when "essentially" is used in conjunction with brakes and I'm doing 100 mph approaching a 90 degree corner.

Ford recommends fresh fluid every 36k miles or 3 yr change-out....and replace the fluid at each pad change.

Chrysler does recommend brake fluid change every 2 yrs on their Sprinter vans. Must be a euro thing as Europeans still think brake fluid changes are a good idea:

2 yr. brake fluid change-outs are recommended by Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Mini (BMW), Smart, VW, Mercedes and Volvo.

36 month change-outs are recommended by Acura, Honda, Land Rover, Lexus.

Thanks but no thanks Don...... I'll stick with changing my DOT 4 brake fluid every 2 yrs in the vehicles that still have it......but rest assured, when it comes time to do a full rebuild it'll get DOT 5 like the rest of my fleet.

Btw..... looking further into your 17 yr old Miata brake fluid.... "Mazda recommends only that the brake lines, hoses and connections be "inspected" at 30,000 mile/30 month intervals; replacement of brake fluid is not mentioned in the shop manual for U.S specification cars.".......so you are good for another 20--30 yrs it seems.

There was a asterisk to this statement however, ."The Miata Club of America has recommended brake fluid replacement at two year intervals."......so you might want to reconsider your brake fluid situation.

Coming full circle...... DOT 5 beats all these recommendations by years with it's 5--10 yr change out, no harm to paint and plastic when spilled, which is so easily done with bikes......and being non-hydroscopic it doesn't absorb moisture.

My best........ Mike

[EMS]

Mike, let me ask you a question: Do you think DOT5 is better than DOT3/4 Should we change to DOT5
I am sure, we all really would appreciate your opinion on this

[Mike Cecchini]

Naaaaa.......run peanut oil Mike, it's much better than DOT 4 or DOT 5.
At least that's what the mail man told me the other day. (sorry......had to)

Frankly Mike, everyone should use what they want and no one here is forcing
them to do otherwise........but to say that DOT 4 brake fluid is a better than DOT 5
for our X's that get only ridden on the street and/or sit for months and sometimes
years between rides.....is a bit ridiculous. The facts clearly show otherwise.

As far as I am concerned.....and I welcome it.... until someone can come to this discussion
with common sense and facts that show otherwise, DOT 5 is head and shoulders above
DOT 4 for our street ridden and much stored X's.

On the other hand, I do understand resistance to change. To some change is an unsettling
thing no matter what is presented to them. Humans are funny this way. Add this to the buddy system
and peer pressure .......well, it can be a task.

Hell..... over on the Bevelheads list the dino vs syn oil "discussion" has been going on for almost 2 years. Seems there
are those who still believe straight 50 wt dino oil should still be used in 60's and 70's machines. Then Cook Neilson
chimed in..... you know, the guy that won Daytona on a roundcase bevel (Old Blue) back in
the 70's and told everyone that he only uses full syn 20W-50 in his bevel engines. That did the trick. (gotta love it)

All this said......maybe I'm naive, but somehow I expect educated open minded individuals to recognize reality
and progress when it benefits the machines they so enjoy, especially when a product lessens maintenance by
leaps 'n bounds as it protects these wonderful machines. Personally, I'm sure glad DOT 5 exists.

Hey..... did ya hear..... spring is right around the corner. 72 here today.....74 tomorrow. Seems we all need a ride....too much salt still on the roads around here though...

I did manage to get the X's out of the back shed into the shop, so now I can get Jack Wagner's carbs on the stocker. Seems some people want to know what a $280 carb restoration is all about. Pics and words soon.

My best........ Mike