here's some info Mark form NEDSM posted on our mailing list about brake fluid, I though it would be useful, so here it is.



This is describing an interesting way to save some money by using
cheaper brake fluid that in fact, outperforms most expensive
fluids….(one catch…keep reading)
I assume most everyone here runs some-sort of high-end brake fluid in
their cars (I'm partial to Motul600 as its non-corrosive (ATE Blue eats
the seals in my Audi S4) and it is what my ducati mechanic recommends
for my bike) BUT…what is the best brake fluid for racing?

(review for those who know all about brake fluid, so skip this part if
you do, go to the end)
Brake fluid has two boiling points, "dry" (fresh, no water) and "wet"
(some water has been absorbed into the fluid). High performance brake
fluid typically has a slightly higher "dry" boiling point than "factory"
fluid, and an ENORMOUSLY higher "wet" boiling point (especially the
Motul / DOT4+ / ATE Blue, etc fluids)

(ok, end of review)

Ok, now if you flush your brake fluid often (I try to at least twice per
racing season), the fluid is almost always operating at its "dry" point,
so the increased "wet" performance doesn't really mean that much.

If you are in this position, you need to find the brake fluid that has
the highest possible "dry" boiling point. Notwithstanding
super-expensive (Castrol SRF, ~$70/liter vs. 20-40/liter for AP550 and
Motul600) fluids, there
Is a neat racer secret to inexpensive, super-high performance brake
fluid (don't take my word on this, this was told to me by the chief
instructor at my last BMWCCA driving school at Watkins glen--he has
raced for 3 decades in almost every kind of car known to man)

Here is the secret: Generic Ford Motor Company Heavy Duty DOT-3 Brake
Fluid!

(see this page for specs: http://www.shotimes.com/SHO3brakefluid.html )

As you can see, the ford fluid outperforms everything but the Castrol
SRF and the Motul 600….when its dry! (when its wet, it sucks, as you
can see on that page--but if you change it often, it won't get that way)

Now the kicker is the Motul600 is $18/liter, and the Ford fluid is less
than $6 bucks, for virtually the same performance! If you keep it dry.


Ok, so you all probably knew this already, and I was wasting bandwidth,
but I bet you didn't know WHY the ford fluid has such a high boiling
point.

Ford Heavy Duty DOT-3 is used in big trucks, and oddly enough, the Crown
Victoria, Lincoln town car, lincoln mark 8 and mercury grand marquis.

It turns out, one of the reasons Ford engineered this brake fluid to
have so high of a dry boiling point, is (now, don't yell at me or
anything, I am merely repeating what my instructor said) the big ford
passenger cars have a higher probability of being driven by someone who
rides the brake pedal (and if you haven't figured it out, probably
drives slower than their age), thus causing extensive heating of the
brake fluid….BUT those drivers also tend to follow the factory
recommended service intervals to the letter (and buy extended warrantees
and service plans…go figure) so the fluid never is at a "wet" condition!
So there ya go, that’s the story I heard and after some careful research
with some of my more "experienced" relatives, I would have to agree.

Neat huh?
___________________________________
Marc V Berte

"Tutto fa brodo."

Todd Scungio
98 RS
15.173 @ 90.70 MPH

And also a 2011 Ralliart