Does brake fluid absorb water8/17/2023 ![]() ![]() The main advantages of silicone include a considerably higher boiling point, making it better for applications where a great deal of heat is created in the braking system, and the fact that it’s not chemically corrosive. Silicone fluid is also inherently more compressive than glycol fluid so brake systems using silicone fluid tend to have a slightly spongier feel to the brake pedal. The same qualities that prevent DOT 5 fluid from absorbing moisture do not enable it to disperse water so if a significant amount of water makes its way into the fluid it will gather together to form droplets that impair brake function and promote corrosion.įurthermore, silicone fluid is prone to aeration, making it more difficult to bleed all of the air out of it. This is an advantage as long as the brake system is well sealed and no significant amount of moisture is allowed to get into the fluid. DOT 3 and DOT 4 fluids are chemically corrosive and will harm certain plastics, paint, metals and other things they may come in contact with.ĭOT 5 fluid is silicone based and, therefore, it does not absorb water. Over time, however, enough moisture accumulates in the fluid to impair brake function and promote corrosion of brake system parts. One of the strengths of glycol-based fluid is that the same characteristics that cause it to absorb moisture also enable it to disperse moisture, thus avoiding the formation of water droplets that can impair brake function. Would I be better off using the DOT 5 fluid or is it not compatible with the older car braking systems? Answer:ĭOT 3 and DOT 4 brake fluids are glycol based and as such they are hygroscopic, which means they readily absorb water. The master cylinder says to use only DOT 3 fluid, but I have heard a lot latelyĪbout DOT 5 fluid being better because it does not absorb moisture like the DOT 3 and DOT 4 fluids do. They are not driven every day and are stored in the winter. I have a question about brake fluid for my cars from the 1950s.
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