AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS

Small engine vehicles

Types of Brake Fluid

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 Objective: To recognize the different types of brake fluid.

Content:
Quiz question
1. Brake fluid testing
2. DOT 3
3. DOT 4
4. DOT 5
5. DOT 5.1
6. DOT 2

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 Quiz question

How often should the brake fluid be changed?

a. Every 1 year and at most every 2 years.

b. Every 2 years and at most every 4 years.
c. Every 3 years and at most every 4 years.

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 1. Brake fluid testing
According to NHTSA (National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration), brake fluid
must pass testing for 4 crucial standards:

a. Remain fluid at low temperatures.

b. Resist boiling.
c. Operate with other parts of the brake
system and other brake fluids.
d. Mitigate the brake system corrosion.

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 2. Dot 3

Glycol-based and amber in color, they have the

lowest dry and wet boiling points, that is, the
temperature at which the fluid boils when it degrades.

Boiling Point: 401° Fahrenheit

Degraded Boiling Point: 284° Fahrenheit
It is hygroscopic, which means it needs to be
replaced every few years to maintain effectiveness.

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 3. Dot 4
Also glycol-based, it has a higher boiling point than
DOT 3 due to borate ester additives that reduce acids
formed by absorbed moisture.
Works better than DOT 3 in its first years of life, but its
boiling point ends up dropping rapidly in later stages.

Boiling point: 446° Fahrenheit.

Gradient boiling point: 311° Fahrenheit
It is most common used in Europe.

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 4. Dot 5
Silicone-based, it has a high boiling point and does
not absorb water like the other brake fluids. It does not
work well in some brake systems because it becomes
foamy and produces air bubbles that lead a spongy
brake feeling. Since it does not absorb moisture, any
liquid that enters the system corrodes it quickly.
Dry Boiling Point: 500° Fahrenheit.
Wet Boiling Point: 356° Fahrenheit.
It should never be mixed with other brake fluids.

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 5. Dot 5.1
Glycol-based, has a similar boiling point to DOT 4 racing
fluids, and a color scheme that ranges from light amber to
translucent. It is basically a DOT 4 brake fluid, based on
chemical makeup, that can meet DOT 5 regulations.

Dry Boiling Point: 500° Fahrenheit.

Wet Boiling Point: 356° Fahrenheit.
It can be up to 14 times more expensive than DOT 3, but
can technically mix with both DOT 3 and DOT 4 fluids.

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 6. Dot 2

Not widely used in the automotive industry, it is

mineral oil-based and has markedly low wet and dry
boiling points. In fact, its dry boiling point is the wet
boiling point of DOT 5 and DOT 5.1 brake fluids.

Dry Boiling Point: 356° Fahrenheit.

Wet Boiling Point: 284° Fahrenheit.

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 Quiz question answer

How often should the brake fluid be changed?

Due to the increase in the percentage of water in the

brake fluid over time it is recommended to replace it…

a. Every 1 year and at most every 2 years.

b. Every 2 years and at most every 4 years.
c. Every 3 years and at most every 4 years.

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 Recommendation

Don't forget to review these ppts, complete the

worksheet and the two quizzes provided as well.

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