Brake fluid plays a pivotal role in transmitting pressure to your brakes, and its quality has an immense effect on overall vehicle performance. When selecting the appropriate fluid based on vehicle specifications and driving conditions, be sure to seek professional advice as part of making an informed decision.
1. Cost
Brake fluid may seem inconsequential, but its role is essential to a vehicle’s safety system. Regular replacement helps avoid fade and corrosion over time; always consult your owner’s manual for recommended intervals for replacement.
There are various choices at auto parts stores — from standard DOT 3 for $1 per can to more costly varieties designed specifically for performance vehicles and high-tech braking systems.
Selecting the ideal brake fluid can significantly decrease maintenance and repair costs over time, yet selecting the cheapest solution may not be wise; over time brake fluid absorbs water which lowers its boiling point leading to corrosion in your brake system and could even rust!
2. Performance
Brake fluid is a hydraulic liquid used to transfer force applied by drivers to their brake pedal to each wheel’s braking components, ultimately stopping their vehicle. It can be found in cars, trucks and motorcycles alike and resists compression allowing precise braking action while also helping prevent corrosion by absorbing water molecules into its reservoirs.
Different car models require specific kinds of brake fluid. These tend to be glycol-based products with specific viscosities across an extended temperature range and designed to withstand wear-and-tear damage and oxidation.
DOT 3 is the most commonly used lubricant, providing a lower boiling point and moisture absorption capabilities. For improved performance, however, DOT 4 features higher boiling points and performance improvements while silicone-based DOT 5 fluid is incompatible with glycol-based fluids.
3. Environment Friendly
Brake fluid serves a hydraulic function in your vehicle that connects your foot on the pedal to pistons that increase pressure to bring your vehicle to a stop. To do this successfully, brake fluid must also be hygroscopic so as to absorb moisture molecules from the air and lock them away in its brake lines, calipers, and proportioning valves so as to prevent corrosion and prevent future issues with corrosion-causing moisture molecules from getting inside causing corrosion issues in these areas.
Your brake fluid should have a high boiling point and be compatible with different types of brake lines; find the appropriate fluid type in your owner manual or printed on its reservoir cap. Doing this may prevent premature system failure as well as reduce performance levels. Attempts at mixing different kinds of fluid can result in premature system failure and poor performance, so always select only one type per vehicle when selecting brake fluids.
ATE SecuBrake is constructed using renewable raw materials that have been certified according to mass balance standard, providing it with a lower carbon footprint than traditional brake fluids.
4. Safety
When you press your brake pedal, you expect instant and reliable response from your vehicle. For this to occur, a fluid that quickly transfers pressure while remaining viscous over various temperatures must be present. Furthermore, regular replacement prevents corrosion damage to sensitive components while guaranteeing modern systems such as ESP and ABS operate efficiently.
Change out the brake fluid on your car is one of the least expensive maintenance tasks you can perform that will have a profound effect on its safety on the road. But selecting an appropriate fluid can be more than choosing any generic brand; glycol-ether (DOT 3, 4, 5, and 5.1) or silicone (DOT 5.1) fluids can become hygroscopic over time and soak up moisture; while DOT 5.1 fluid is designed to resist absorption by staying hydrophobic instead.
5. Compatibility
Selecting the ideal brake fluid ensures that your braking system operates at its highest levels and extends its lifespan, including pads and discs. Furthermore, selecting an appropriate fluid allows consistent performance across a broad temperature range as well as fast response times in electronic brake systems.
Brake fluids are classified by their Department of Transportation (DOT) family rating, and should only be mixed with those belonging to that family. Mixing brake fluid from different families would cause it to overflow – for instance mixing DOT 3 with DOT 5, will cause it to boil over. Due to being silicone based fluid, mixing it with standard glycol-based DOT 3 will lead to its overflow.
6. Warranty
Brake fluid contains corrosion inhibitors to ensure its proper functioning of your car’s braking system, but these will deteriorate over time and need replacing as the corrosion resistance wears down.
When you press your car’s brake pedal, its force is transferred to its master cylinder piston and pressurized hydraulic tubes leading to each wheel, where each caliper piston presses down onto its respective brake disc to slow the vehicle.
There are three primary types of brake fluid available, which include DOT 3, 4, and 5. While DOT 3 and 4 use glycol-based compounds, silicone-based fluids such as DOT 5 may be best for your vehicle. Most auto parts stores sell them and can advise which will best meet the needs of your car or truck. It’s essential to regularly change out your brake fluid to prevent costly repairs or accidents from arising due to neglect.
7. Reliability
Brake fluid must endure extreme conditions to prevent brake fade – a condition which reduces the stopping power of your car and requires constant attention from drivers. Therefore, its durability must allow it to withstand temperatures reaching high temperatures and pressure changes as well as resist boiling to prevent brake fade and stop premature car wear and tear.
Safety and performance both depend on ensuring your brake fluid has a low viscosity so it can move through your braking system quickly and effectively. Racing applications especially benefit from having this lower viscosity as it allows faster response of ABS/ESP systems.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, meaning that over time it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere through tiny pores in its seals and hoses in your master cylinder reservoir. As moisture seeps in, its boiling point drops and it becomes acidic – potentially corroding brake lines and calipers along its journey.
