Can you mix silicone brake fluid with DOT 3?

It is important never to mistake DOT 5.1 (glycol-based) with DOT 5 which is silicone-based and should never be mixed with any other DOT fluid. By mixing DOT 3, 4 and 5.1 brake fluids, assuming it is fresh fluid, the worst thing that can happen is a drop in the boiling point of the whole fluid.

Can you use DOT 4 brake fluid in place of DOT 3?

Yes, DOT 3 brake fluid is compatible with DOT 4 brake fluid. However, DOT 4 offers a higher boiling point. DOT 5.1 is used in high-performance and heavy-duty applications due to its high boiling point.

Can you mix regular DOT 3 brake fluid with synthetic?

Yes, you can switch between fluid labelled as “synthetic” or regular brake fluid and you can mix synthetic and regular brake fluids. ALL brake fluid is “synthetic” in that it is not made from any petroleum products; it’s a “lab” manufactured product.

Can you mix silicone and regular brake fluid?

Not a good idea to mix these two very different hydraulic fluids. The owners manual, repair manual, legend on the master cylinder reservoir, all state the type of brake fluid to be used. Glycol based and Silicone based liquids are not miscible and should never be mixed.

What happens if you mix brake fluids?

Adding a lower specification brake fluid into that of a higher one lowers the boiling point of the latter and weakens its resistance to absorbing moisture.

What is DOT 4?

Mobil Brake Fluid DOT 4 is an extra high performance hydraulic brake fluid for use in automotive disc, drum and anti-skid brake systems and clutch systems.

What is Dot 5 used for?

DOT 5 is silicone-based brake fluid and is used in most new cars today. DOT 5 is expensive, but it has a dry boiling point of 356 degrees. Newer brake rotors tend to be smaller and thinner, which means they disperse heat a lot less efficiently. Also, DOT 5 does not absorb any moisture.

Can you mix silicone brake fluid?

Since DOT 4 and 5.1 are both glycol-based brake fluids they are compatible with each other, which means they can be readily mixed without harming your brake system. It is important never to mistake DOT 5.1 (glycol-based) with DOT 5 which is silicone-based and should never be mixed with any other DOT fluid.

Can I use silicone brake fluid?

SILICONE BASED BRAKE FLUID: The other option is Silicon based fluid. Often used in classic and vintage cars and military type vehicles because silicone based brake fluid will not corrode internal brake parts nor will it damage paint work. An added bonus when used in some show cars.

Is silicone brake fluid better?

Silicone-based brake systems tend to be more difficult to bleed, but once this is accomplished, a DOT 5-filled system will resist rust better and last longer than the other formulations. Silicone brake fluid is also much lighter in cold temperatures, only about 900 weight at -40 F.