Dot 3 brake fluid?? - F-Series & SuperDuty Diesel Forums

brianjbeach85 · 10-04-2010, 08:50 PM

First off i did 2 stupid things today.. 1 i sent the wife to get me fluid for the truck while i was working on it... 2.. i went to the dealer for a fluid...

DOT 3 brake fluid.. ford sold me some P*SS ant sized dot 3 brake fluid.. not even a quart... cost?? $6.00...

Anyone know if the DOT 3 brake fluid that motorcraft makes is any different than something i can buy at autozone?? thats dot 3?

melmount · 10-04-2010, 09:09 PM

advance auto's dot 3 is fine but dot4 is better.

iracemine · 10-05-2010, 07:33 AM

I just flushed my brake system for the 3rd time with prestone DOT3 and I have never had a problem, and I tow occasionally. one quart is like 4bucks from wally world.

I bleed my brakes like 1 to 2 times a year. And I can never tell the difference when I do. So I would assume the DOT3 is fine.

WD40 · 10-05-2010, 09:52 PM

(I bleed my brakes like 1 to 2 times a year.)

Why do you think you need to do this, have I missed something?
Doug

iracemine · 10-05-2010, 11:03 PM

oh yeah, mainly rust. brake fluid loves to gather moisture in it. and with moisture comes rust in the brake lines. I hate replacing brake lines, but dont mind spending $3 with tax and about 10min to not have to worry about that. also with the moisture comes the chance when towing to "flash" or "boil" the brake fluid (actually the water in the brake fluid not the actual brake fluid) resulting in no brakes or super spongy brakes.

every one has there things and me its deff brakes. also I was told by a big time race guy that even after you open a bottle of fluid you have 3 months to use it up. that may be just racing but I bet our trucks give that brake fluid a run for its money. but mainly rust, there is conditioners in there to keep all the seals happy and anti corrosion crud in there that needs to be replenished.

jestersv · 10-06-2010, 03:57 AM

DOT 4 fluid has a higher temp rating.

brianjbeach85 · 10-06-2010, 06:34 AM

10mins to flush? or do you squeeze out the old in resevoir and fill it again with new stuff?

iracemine · 10-06-2010, 07:27 AM

no no, 10 min to bleed. I have a one person bleeder, so its super quick. But to flush its a bit longer, I suck all the fluid out of the reservoir first then top it off with new DOT3 and then suck all the old yellow fluid out till its clear (starting at the farthest wheel first) and then go around and do the rest. That takes me about a half a hour, but I only do that once in a while. But when bleeding I only pull about 2 foot worth of fluid out, you know about as much as the rubber brake line is worth.

iracemine · 10-06-2010, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jestersv

DOT 4 fluid has a higher temp rating.

here is a quick guide to temp ratings, it not just the temp that is the most important thing, again there is all the stuff in the fluid that is important. I was always told that the 5.1 was the best for trailer brakes. But I use the ATE Brake fluid in my race car for the high temp, and the ease that it comes in gold and blue colors so when your flushing the old fluid out you know when the new stuff is in easily.

Brake Fluid Comparison

10-04-2010, 08:50 PM	#1
brianjbeach85 SDD Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Va Beach/VA/USA Posts: 39 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Dot 3 brake fluid?? First off i did 2 stupid things today.. 1 i sent the wife to get me fluid for the truck while i was working on it... 2.. i went to the dealer for a fluid... DOT 3 brake fluid.. ford sold me some P*SS ant sized dot 3 brake fluid.. not even a quart... cost?? $6.00... Anyone know if the DOT 3 brake fluid that motorcraft makes is any different than something i can buy at autozone?? thats dot 3? __________________ 2005 F250 crew cab lariat 4x4 Mods: Predator 100RWHP 198lbs TQ Tune 5" MBRP Turbo back (with Kitty delete) 6" Tip ZooDad Mod S&B oil based Intake kit ReadyLift 2 1/5 inch leveling kit With 1 inch block in rear DieselSite Coolant Filter kit Dick Cepek DC2 12X18's With MT's Baja ATZ 35X13.50X18

10-04-2010, 09:09 PM	#2
melmount SDD Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: greensboro nc Posts: 522 Thanks: 19 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts View Photos By: melmount	advance auto's dot 3 is fine but dot4 is better. __________________ melmount; 1999, quad cab, dually, 4 by 4 diesel auto xlt:7.3 thumbs

10-05-2010, 07:33 AM	#3
iracemine black and tan Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cheese Curtain Posts: 914 Thanks: 46 Thanked 44 Times in 40 Posts	I just flushed my brake system for the 3rd time with prestone DOT3 and I have never had a problem, and I tow occasionally. one quart is like 4bucks from wally world. I bleed my brakes like 1 to 2 times a year. And I can never tell the difference when I do. So I would assume the DOT3 is fine. __________________ coolant filter (dieselsite), CCV Mod (home made), 4" MBRP turbo back (dieselsite), turbo temp monitor (ISSPROdieselsite), DIY triple gauge kit (ITPdeisel), "fuel filler mod" (home made), stock 7.3 99.5' 2WD W/ more power than I need. Be green... drink kegged beer! www.micromatic.com you'll thank me

10-05-2010, 09:52 PM	#4
WD40 SDD Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Benton Arkansas & McAllen Posts: 2,759 Thanks: 57 Thanked 111 Times in 107 Posts View Photos By: WD40	(I bleed my brakes like 1 to 2 times a year.) Why do you think you need to do this, have I missed something? Doug __________________ 2006 Ford F-350 Crew Cab Lariat 4X2 PSD 6.0 TorqShift Automatic Transmission, MAG-HYTEC DIFF COVERS Bama ZooDad If you think the 6.0 is bad.....Get a 6.4 2004 35 ft Hitch Hiker 16589 EW. Doug Is it time to go camping yet?

10-05-2010, 11:03 PM	#5
iracemine black and tan Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cheese Curtain Posts: 914 Thanks: 46 Thanked 44 Times in 40 Posts	oh yeah, mainly rust. brake fluid loves to gather moisture in it. and with moisture comes rust in the brake lines. I hate replacing brake lines, but dont mind spending $3 with tax and about 10min to not have to worry about that. also with the moisture comes the chance when towing to "flash" or "boil" the brake fluid (actually the water in the brake fluid not the actual brake fluid) resulting in no brakes or super spongy brakes. every one has there things and me its deff brakes. also I was told by a big time race guy that even after you open a bottle of fluid you have 3 months to use it up. that may be just racing but I bet our trucks give that brake fluid a run for its money. but mainly rust, there is conditioners in there to keep all the seals happy and anti corrosion crud in there that needs to be replenished. __________________ coolant filter (dieselsite), CCV Mod (home made), 4" MBRP turbo back (dieselsite), turbo temp monitor (ISSPROdieselsite), DIY triple gauge kit (ITPdeisel), "fuel filler mod" (home made), stock 7.3 99.5' 2WD W/ more power than I need. Be green... drink kegged beer! www.micromatic.com you'll thank me

10-06-2010, 03:57 AM	#6
jestersv 7.3 addict Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: waterloo il //stl.louis Posts: 227 Thanks: 5 Thanked 21 Times in 20 Posts	DOT 4 fluid has a higher temp rating. __________________ 3 7.3s 99 f350 srw 6 speed luk clutch 4" ex turbo back, air raid intake, bully dog 6 pos chip 2000 excursion 4" exhaust, air raid intake, no chippy for wifey she drives too fast already. wife wants chip has too much fun with the black smoke in my truck. new to me 2000 cc dually

10-06-2010, 06:34 AM	#7
brianjbeach85 SDD Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Va Beach/VA/USA Posts: 39 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	10mins to flush? or do you squeeze out the old in resevoir and fill it again with new stuff? __________________ 2005 F250 crew cab lariat 4x4 Mods: Predator 100RWHP 198lbs TQ Tune 5" MBRP Turbo back (with Kitty delete) 6" Tip ZooDad Mod S&B oil based Intake kit ReadyLift 2 1/5 inch leveling kit With 1 inch block in rear DieselSite Coolant Filter kit Dick Cepek DC2 12X18's With MT's Baja ATZ 35X13.50X18

10-06-2010, 07:27 AM	#8
iracemine black and tan Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cheese Curtain Posts: 914 Thanks: 46 Thanked 44 Times in 40 Posts	no no, 10 min to bleed. I have a one person bleeder, so its super quick. But to flush its a bit longer, I suck all the fluid out of the reservoir first then top it off with new DOT3 and then suck all the old yellow fluid out till its clear (starting at the farthest wheel first) and then go around and do the rest. That takes me about a half a hour, but I only do that once in a while. But when bleeding I only pull about 2 foot worth of fluid out, you know about as much as the rubber brake line is worth. __________________ coolant filter (dieselsite), CCV Mod (home made), 4" MBRP turbo back (dieselsite), turbo temp monitor (ISSPROdieselsite), DIY triple gauge kit (ITPdeisel), "fuel filler mod" (home made), stock 7.3 99.5' 2WD W/ more power than I need. Be green... drink kegged beer! www.micromatic.com you'll thank me

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