Identifying Different Brake Fluids

[Grizzly]

Are the different brake fluids color coded? How can I tell if I have silicone in my 67?

 

[WayneC]

Silicone fluid starts out a light purple in color, but it has a tendency to turn clear after being in a brake system awhile. Dot3 starts out as clear with a slight yellowish tint.

I'm not sure if this would work, but you could try putting a little fluid in a small glass container (hold it up to the light, maybe you could see some color), then adding a little water and letting it sit awhile... it may be that silicone fluid won't mix with the water, so you may see the separation of the fluids, whereas with dot3 or dot5 you may not be able to see a stratification between the water and the brake fluid. Again, I haven't tried it, so I'm not certain the test would work.

 

[Ron Miller]

Silicone won't hurt a painted surface, but DOT 3 or 4 will remove paint.

 

[WayneC]

Ah, yes, how could I forget that one?!

 

[JohnZ]

Put equal amounts (an ounce or two) of whatever's in your master cylinder and water in a glass jar, shake it up, and set it on the bench. If two distinctly different layers form, that's the water on top and the DOT5 silicone fluid (heavier than water) on the bottom. If the result is a homogeneous mixture with no layering, it's DOT3/4 glycol-based regular fluid.

 

[Grizzly]

Put equal amounts (an ounce or two) of whatever's in your master cylinder and water in a glass jar, shake it up, and set it on the bench. If two distinctly different layers form, that's the water on top and the DOT5 silicone fluid (heavier than water) on the bottom. If the result is a homogeneous mixture with no layering, it's DOT3/4 glycol-based regular fluid.

Seems like a simple test. Thanks JohnZ

 

[IH2LOSE]

Put equal amounts (an ounce or two) of whatever's in your master cylinder and water in a glass jar, shake it up, and set it on the bench. If two distinctly different layers form, that's the water on top and the DOT5 silicone fluid (heavier than water) on the bottom. If the result is a homogeneous mixture with no layering, it's DOT3/4 glycol-based regular fluid.

This is one to put in the note books.

 

[Vette66AirCoupe]

What's the difference between DOT3 and DOT4 fluid? :confused

 

[KOPBET]

What's the difference between DOT3 and DOT4 fluid? :confused

http://www.tccoa.com/brake-fluid/