![]() ![]() Silicone fluid usage is highest in cold climates due to its viscosity performance.īrake fluids that have different DOT ratings cannot always be mixed. A system that has been filled from dry with DOT 5 silicone fluid does not require the fluid to be changed at regular intervals, but only when the system has been disturbed by a component repair or renewal. Silicone fluid on the other hand does not allow moisture to enter the system, but also does not disperse any that is already in the system either. A system that has used glycol-based fluid (DOT 3/4/5.1) will inevitably contain moisture and glycol fluid disperses this moisture throughout the system and contains corrosion inhibitors. As a rule, silicone fluid should be used only to fill systems that have not been previously filled with glycol-based fluid. As a rule of thumb, the higher the DOT number, the higher the absorption rate and therefore the more often the fluid needs to be changed.ĭOT 5 brake fluid is not hygroscopic and therefore does not have to be replaced due to the increasing water content. Hygroscopic brake fluids should be changed every 1-2yrs because of the increasing water content due to moisture absorption. For this reason, DOT4 is often an appropriate choice of brake fluid and requires changing less often. The Super DOT4, like the DOT 5.1 will need to be changed more often than DOT4 with the obvious budget implications.ĭOT 5.1 maintains a lower viscosity in lower temperatures than DOT 4 all the way down to around -40 degrees C, although this is unlikely to be relevant in the UK. Although, a good quality DOT 4 fluid such as the Super DOT4 which has a dry boiling point which exceeds the 5.1 minimum will be able to contend with the temperature levels it would experience on a track day, for example. However, the benefit of 5.1 with its higher boiling point, is that it can experience higher temperatures than DOT 4 before it starts to affect braking efficiency. The DOT number of a brake fluid will give you an idea of how the fluid will perform at the high temperatures generated by constant hard braking or in the most extreme climatic temperatures.įor most motorbike use, it is only DOT 4 and DOT 5.1 that you need to concern yourself with, and it is likely that it will be one of these fluids that is recommended for your motorcycle.Īs DOT 5.1 is more hygroscopic than DOT 4 and therefore absorbs more moisture, it will need to be changed more often. Your brake fluid’s ability (or lack of ability) to resist heat damage and moisture has a significant impact on its performance, and consequently on the performance of your bike’s braking system. ![]() ![]() There are three essential measures used to set a fluid’s final DOT rating that consumers should be aware of: Following these Glycol-based fluids came Silicone-based fluids which generally fall under the DOT 5 standards, although they are not as widely used as the Glycol based brake fluids. The DOT by which different types of brake fluid are identified comes from The US Department of Transportation (DoT) that classifies brake fluid.Īfter castor oil-based brake fluids came Glycol-based fluids which fall under the DOT 3, 4, and 5.1 standards. These fluids were used before brake fluid regulations were established, and it is the DOT 2 standard that provides for these oil-based brake fluid. ![]() The early brake fluids contained castor oil-based hydraulic fluids and alcohols such as butanol and ethanol. The pressure of the brake fluid causes the brake pads to squeeze down on the disc, which slows and eventually stops the wheel rotating. Without this fluid, which operates under both high temperature and high pressure, your bike would not be able to stop when you brake. Background to Brake Fluidīrake fluid, which is a hydraulic fluid, is responsible for moving the components of your bike’s braking system. A lack of knowledge of brake fluids could have catastrophic results for a rider, so here we set out the information that every biker should know. When you are riding at speed you want to be sure that your brakes aren’t going to let you down and that a braking failure isn’t the penultimate experience of your life.Īn essential part of a motorbike’s braking system is the brake fluid, but many bikers are unsure of how it works and the importance of using the correct brake fluid for their bike. ![]()
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