Braking fluid is one of the seven essential fluids needed for all vehicles to operate smoothly, safely, and efficiently. Without brake fluid, not only do your car brakes suffer greatly, you could cause a serious accident without the ability to come to a stop. This is a very dangerous situation which is why no one should ever operate a motor vehicle without a sufficient amount of brake fluid.

There are several different brands of brake fluid on the market to choose from, but there are only three primary types of brake fluid available for cars and trucks. These are classified as either “wet boiling point” or “dry boiling point” and referred to as DOT3, DOT4, and DOT5 braking fluid.

Standard Brake Fluids

As mentioned before, the three primary brake fluids are DOT3, DOT4, and DOT5. The first two, DOT3 and DOT4, are glycol-ether-based fluids. These two glycol-based fluids absorb water, which at the same time, decreases their boiling points. DOT3 has a minimum dry boiling point of 401 Fahrenheit, and a minimum wet boiling point of 284 Fahrenheit.

DOT4 has a minimum dry boiling point of 446 Fahrenheit and a minimum wet boiling point of 311 Fahrenheit. Although they are similar in function, separate types of braking fluids should never be combined in a brake fluid reservoir. It can cause substantial corrosion to your vehicle’s braking system, as well as, let off toxic fumes that are harmful to respiratory health. Also, never allow DOT3 or DOT4 to touch or spill onto car paint. It will eat paint away quickly, leaving you with a hefty vehicle paint job bill.

DOT5 Brake Fluid

In contrast to DOT3 and DOT4 brake fluids, the DOT5 brake fluids are silicone-based and DO NOT absorb water. This means the boiling point for DOT5 fluid remains steady and doesn’t change. Since it doesn’t absorb water, any water that gets inside can cause pure water pockets to form, resulting in major brake corrosion.

DOT5 is actually an older version of what’s used on the market today since it causes high compressibility. DOT5 was used in antique cars and vehicles that needed to be water-corrosion resistant, like military vehicles. Now, a newer more applicable version is available called DOT5.1 braking fluid.

Be sure to always discuss your car brake repair needs or concerns with a licensed Indianapolis automotive mechanic. They can give you professional information regarding factory scheduled maintenance for your vehicle.

Indianapolis Car Brake Repair

Call Northeast Auto at 317-475-1846 for Indianapolis car brake repair and service at an affordable price. We are ASE certified car mechanics that have decades of experience servicing and repairing domestic and import vehicles. Call 317-475-1846 and request a free estimate, today.