What brake fluid for street use?

[Por_sha911]

Need to do a brake flush quick and I don't have time to wait a week for Pelican to ship my favorite flavor. I don't autocross so I just want something quality best suited for my vehicle. I used to get ATE Blue but that one is NLA.

What brand would you use for an `87 Carrera that can be picked up at the FLAPS?

[Cajundaddy]

Any Dot 4 fluid will be fine for street use. Avoid air bubbles, good to go!

[Por_sha911]

I figured for street use almost anything will work but I want whatever is best if possible. I was looking at Pentosin Dot4 LV but I don't know if low viscosity is a plus or a negative for my older car (no anti-lock brakes).
Also, I loved switching each change from ATE blue to yellow to blue... Made life easy. Has anyone found a colorant that can be used?

[Cajundaddy]

That was an interesting period in brake maintenance with the ATE yellow/blue fluids. There is no coloring I know of that is inert to brake systems so I'd say no. Pentosin is good, Castrol is good, pick one and get her done. I just keep track of how much fluid is in my catch container and after all 4 corners are done it is about 1 qt. That should be a clean flush. The really nasty stuff is always right in the caliper that gets hot. Stuff in the lines is usually fine as long as it gets changed every 2 years or so.

[Por_sha911]

Thanks Cajun. I've been a recreational owner for 15 years and other than a few Auto-X afternoons many years ago I'm driving the back roads and the Tail of the Dragon.
There will be times where I don't go for a drive for a month or two (3 max in winter).

One other question: about two years ago I found my pedal had to be pumped up after every stop. Did a full flush and all was rock solid. Now it is back to the same symptoms. No leaks, no lower level in the reservoir, no clutch problems (the G50 uses the brake system for hydraulics and is flushed as well).

I have often wondered why Porsches needs a flush every 2 years and yet the DD appliance can go 10 years and all is OK Fine.

[Cajundaddy]

Spongy pedal is usually cooked fluid or air bubbles in the caliper. Could be worn seals, could be moisture contamination. I tend to just bleed all 4 calipers 2x per year instead of a full flush and that seems to keep things happy and pedal firm.

Our fun cars tend to go faster and stop quicker than the grocery getter. As a result fluid gets hotter and needs more frequent maintenance.

[Por_sha911]

I agree with what you're saying but zero evidence of leaks (wet area, stain, lower level) and I am not cooking the brakes on a back road Sunday drives.
I guess I'll just flush and go...

[Charles Freeborn]

Dot 4

[Bill Douglas]

Fresh fluid.

[Oneredspyder]

I have used Castrol dot 4 for years, it has been recommended for most European cars over the past 40 years and I have 2 German and one British car so it has always worked well for me. I used to get it at local auto parts stores, but last week, 3 did not have it. I ordered it from Amazon and it was here in 2 days. Times have changed. My BMW is very specific about using their label products, which the forums have all figured out are Castrol, relabeled as BMW.
86 Carrara
66 Healey 3000
2011 BMW 328 X drive

[T77911S]

i did a LOT of research looking for BF for the 930.
finally decided on MOTUL.
there are a lot of good fluids, and some not so good ones out there. I thought the motul had good specs and not too expensive.
Castrol may have been another good one, been too long now. I have slept since I did all the work

I thought I saved the info but I cant find it.

just do a search. I had found a really nice chart that compared all the fluids with their specs.