Brake fluid

[chesterak]

I'm trying to decide whether to use conventional brake fluid or the silicone type - from what I can gather, silicone is recommended if the car is to be laid up for any time. I have seen reports on the perils of silicone fluid but I'm not sure if any of it is "scaremongering". My braking system is Jaguar. Any and all advice welcome.
Stan

[robert]

This might help.

http://www.cobra-replica.com/html/tech_brake_fluid.htm

Robert
Forum Admin

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[chesterak]

Robert,
Thanks for that. I have read a similar article and it was this that prompted my post. I am after comments/experiences (good or bad) by anyone who has actually used silicone fluid. The article states "difficulties" with brake bleeding, water collection promoting corrosion etc. I was hoping these kinds of statements can be quantified eg. "it too 5 gallons of fluid before I got all the air out" or "after x years of use, no corrosion in the brake system". Obviously some of the article comments are subjective so its actual, or should I say practical, experiences I'm after. (If any exist, that is...)
Stan

[STEVE G]

A guy I know with an old Lotus has used silicon fluid for many years.The only downside he reported were
1. Brake fade on trackdays due to overheated fluid.Dont occur in normal use.
2. Problem with brake light switch failure due to silicon fluid not lubeing as well as DOT4.He cured this by injecting a small amount of DOT4 into the switch.
I am rebuilding my braking system and will be using DOT5 based on his experiences and the details in the link above.
Steve G.

[mikey]

It sounds as if you have already had mineral fluid in the system. If this is the case you need to change all the rubber seals etc and thoroughly clean the system in order to change to silicon.
The only feed back that I have had was by Jaguar and they said that they do not recommend its use in earlier Jaguar braking systems. Why, I dont know, but it prompted me to stick with mineral.
Alol the best.
Mike.

[nbracken]

Stan, I have used silicone without probs since 1994 in my car but you do need to use it from scratch and not mix with other types - ie when I first plumbed in my brake lines with new seals in pistons / master cyl etc.

I have never had probs with either brake warning light or brake fade. I do use EBC green pads though.

Oh and make sure you use dot 5.0 - there is a new type called 5.1 and that is completely different stuff.