Is Synthetic Brake fluid OK to use??

  • Thread starter Thread starter mark smith
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mark smith

I have a 1995 Accord EX and a 1993 Civic EX. My mechaninc says to put
Valvoline synthetic brake fluid in both cars and the clutch. I live
inFairbanks Alaska and the winters get down to -40 for several months at a
time.
The bottle says, Valvoline synpower synthetic formula brake fluid for ABS
brakes, exceeds DOT 3&4, compatible with conventional brake fluids.....

The accord has ABS and an automatic transmission.

THe civic has standard brakes and a manual transmission with a hydralic
clutch....

Will this fluid mess up the system??? The local Honda dealer is no help...
"Frozen in Fairbanks"
 
Yes it is perfectly fine to use and I use it myself and have used it for the
past 4 years and 85k miles.

Just don't use silicone break fluid. Synthetics are fine and I believe
not as hydroscopic. I believe that is the correct term which means to
attract water. Regular break fluid attracts moisture and as such lowers the
boiling point of the break fluid which is the main reason it should be
flushed regularly. I don't believe synthetics are as hydroscopic but I may
be wrong.

I don't imagine you ever have to worry about boiling points of break fluid
though.

I still wouldn't get it on my paint though.

CaptainKrunch
 
Yes it is perfectly fine to use and I use it myself and have used it for the
past 4 years and 85k miles.

Just don't use silicone break fluid. Synthetics are fine and I believe
not as hydroscopic. I believe that is the correct term which means to
attract water. Regular break fluid attracts moisture and as such lowers the
boiling point of the break fluid which is the main reason it should be
flushed regularly. I don't believe synthetics are as hydroscopic but I may
be wrong.

I don't imagine you ever have to worry about boiling points of break fluid
though.

I still wouldn't get it on my paint though.

CaptainKrunch
 
Yes it is perfectly fine to use and I use it myself and have used it for the
past 4 years and 85k miles.

Just don't use silicone break fluid. Synthetics are fine and I believe
not as hydroscopic. I believe that is the correct term which means to
attract water. Regular break fluid attracts moisture and as such lowers the
boiling point of the break fluid which is the main reason it should be
flushed regularly. I don't believe synthetics are as hydroscopic but I may
be wrong.

I don't imagine you ever have to worry about boiling points of break fluid
though.

I still wouldn't get it on my paint though.

CaptainKrunch
 
I use the Valvoline Syntech brake fluid in all my cars.
BTW, you might wanna rethink about waiting till spring when it is warmer!
I change the brake fluid once a year, but have no ABS to worry about.
 
I use the Valvoline Syntech brake fluid in all my cars.
BTW, you might wanna rethink about waiting till spring when it is warmer!
I change the brake fluid once a year, but have no ABS to worry about.
 
I use the Valvoline Syntech brake fluid in all my cars.
BTW, you might wanna rethink about waiting till spring when it is warmer!
I change the brake fluid once a year, but have no ABS to worry about.
 
I have a 1995 Accord EX and a 1993 Civic EX. My mechaninc says to put
Valvoline synthetic brake fluid in both cars and the clutch. I live
inFairbanks Alaska and the winters get down to -40 for several months at a
time.
The bottle says, Valvoline synpower synthetic formula brake fluid for ABS
brakes, exceeds DOT 3&4, compatible with conventional brake fluids.....
Click to expand...

The term "synthetic" in relation to brake fluid is redundant - all brake
fluids are synthetic. Apart from the silicone types, which are not
considered suitable for road use, they're basically mixtures of glycols
and/or higher alcohols.
The accord has ABS and an automatic transmission.
Click to expand...

If you want your ABS to last, i.e. avoid big $$ repairs, I'd recommend
changing the fluid in the reservoir once a year.
THe civic has standard brakes and a manual transmission with a hydralic
clutch....
Click to expand...

Honda doesn't have a clutch fluid change on their scheduled maintenance but
again, if you want it to last, change the fluid regularly - at least every
2years.
Will this fluid mess up the system??? The local Honda dealer is no help...
"Frozen in Fairbanks"
Click to expand...

No it will not mess up the system - IMO just about any aftermarket brake
fluid is better than the stuff that Honda sells.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??
 
I have a 1995 Accord EX and a 1993 Civic EX. My mechaninc says to put
Valvoline synthetic brake fluid in both cars and the clutch. I live
inFairbanks Alaska and the winters get down to -40 for several months at a
time.
The bottle says, Valvoline synpower synthetic formula brake fluid for ABS
brakes, exceeds DOT 3&4, compatible with conventional brake fluids.....
Click to expand...

The term "synthetic" in relation to brake fluid is redundant - all brake
fluids are synthetic. Apart from the silicone types, which are not
considered suitable for road use, they're basically mixtures of glycols
and/or higher alcohols.
The accord has ABS and an automatic transmission.
Click to expand...

If you want your ABS to last, i.e. avoid big $$ repairs, I'd recommend
changing the fluid in the reservoir once a year.
THe civic has standard brakes and a manual transmission with a hydralic
clutch....
Click to expand...

Honda doesn't have a clutch fluid change on their scheduled maintenance but
again, if you want it to last, change the fluid regularly - at least every
2years.
Will this fluid mess up the system??? The local Honda dealer is no help...
"Frozen in Fairbanks"
Click to expand...

No it will not mess up the system - IMO just about any aftermarket brake
fluid is better than the stuff that Honda sells.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??
 
I have a 1995 Accord EX and a 1993 Civic EX. My mechaninc says to put
Valvoline synthetic brake fluid in both cars and the clutch. I live
inFairbanks Alaska and the winters get down to -40 for several months at a
time.
The bottle says, Valvoline synpower synthetic formula brake fluid for ABS
brakes, exceeds DOT 3&4, compatible with conventional brake fluids.....
Click to expand...

The term "synthetic" in relation to brake fluid is redundant - all brake
fluids are synthetic. Apart from the silicone types, which are not
considered suitable for road use, they're basically mixtures of glycols
and/or higher alcohols.
The accord has ABS and an automatic transmission.
Click to expand...

If you want your ABS to last, i.e. avoid big $$ repairs, I'd recommend
changing the fluid in the reservoir once a year.
THe civic has standard brakes and a manual transmission with a hydralic
clutch....
Click to expand...

Honda doesn't have a clutch fluid change on their scheduled maintenance but
again, if you want it to last, change the fluid regularly - at least every
2years.
Will this fluid mess up the system??? The local Honda dealer is no help...
"Frozen in Fairbanks"
Click to expand...

No it will not mess up the system - IMO just about any aftermarket brake
fluid is better than the stuff that Honda sells.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??
 
George Macdonald wrote:

(snip)
No it will not mess up the system - IMO just about any aftermarket brake
fluid is better than the stuff that Honda sells.
Click to expand...

Why is that?
 
George Macdonald wrote:

(snip)
No it will not mess up the system - IMO just about any aftermarket brake
fluid is better than the stuff that Honda sells.
Click to expand...

Why is that?
 
George Macdonald wrote:

(snip)
No it will not mess up the system - IMO just about any aftermarket brake
fluid is better than the stuff that Honda sells.
Click to expand...

Why is that?
 
George Macdonald wrote:

(snip)


Why is that?
Click to expand...

It's been mentioned here a few times by others as well as me. When I
decided to change the clutch fluid on my '99 Integra at ~16K miles I found
the old stuff viscous and slimey. After sucking the old fluid out, along
with a slight residue of what could only be rubber particles, I couldn't
understand at first why the fresh Castrol GTLMA still looked dark in the
reservoir. Turns out it was a coating of slime on the inside of the
reservoir which I had to wipe off. To me this is not normal, is an
undesirable characteristics for a hydraulic fluid and the fresh Castrol
stuff never discolored as badly nor turned slimey nor showed any sign of
residue after another 20K miles.

Note the Integra was built in Japan so the U.S. built cars may have
different stuff in them.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??
 
George Macdonald wrote:

(snip)


Why is that?
Click to expand...

It's been mentioned here a few times by others as well as me. When I
decided to change the clutch fluid on my '99 Integra at ~16K miles I found
the old stuff viscous and slimey. After sucking the old fluid out, along
with a slight residue of what could only be rubber particles, I couldn't
understand at first why the fresh Castrol GTLMA still looked dark in the
reservoir. Turns out it was a coating of slime on the inside of the
reservoir which I had to wipe off. To me this is not normal, is an
undesirable characteristics for a hydraulic fluid and the fresh Castrol
stuff never discolored as badly nor turned slimey nor showed any sign of
residue after another 20K miles.

Note the Integra was built in Japan so the U.S. built cars may have
different stuff in them.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??
 
George Macdonald wrote:

(snip)


Why is that?
Click to expand...

It's been mentioned here a few times by others as well as me. When I
decided to change the clutch fluid on my '99 Integra at ~16K miles I found
the old stuff viscous and slimey. After sucking the old fluid out, along
with a slight residue of what could only be rubber particles, I couldn't
understand at first why the fresh Castrol GTLMA still looked dark in the
reservoir. Turns out it was a coating of slime on the inside of the
reservoir which I had to wipe off. To me this is not normal, is an
undesirable characteristics for a hydraulic fluid and the fresh Castrol
stuff never discolored as badly nor turned slimey nor showed any sign of
residue after another 20K miles.

Note the Integra was built in Japan so the U.S. built cars may have
different stuff in them.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??
 
George said:
It's been mentioned here a few times by others as well as me. When I
decided to change the clutch fluid on my '99 Integra at ~16K miles I found
the old stuff viscous and slimey. After sucking the old fluid out, along
with a slight residue of what could only be rubber particles, I couldn't
understand at first why the fresh Castrol GTLMA still looked dark in the
reservoir. Turns out it was a coating of slime on the inside of the
reservoir which I had to wipe off. To me this is not normal, is an
undesirable characteristics for a hydraulic fluid and the fresh Castrol
stuff never discolored as badly nor turned slimey nor showed any sign of
residue after another 20K miles.

Note the Integra was built in Japan so the U.S. built cars may have
different stuff in them.
Click to expand...

Thanks, George, something I'll definitely have to keep an eye on.
Slime/rubber particles would upset me, too.

However, sounds as though your experience was with the factory fill, not
what the US Honda dealers are selling, correct?

My Honda is only 6 months old, but I never had any like problems with my
'88 Integra.
 
George said:
It's been mentioned here a few times by others as well as me. When I
decided to change the clutch fluid on my '99 Integra at ~16K miles I found
the old stuff viscous and slimey. After sucking the old fluid out, along
with a slight residue of what could only be rubber particles, I couldn't
understand at first why the fresh Castrol GTLMA still looked dark in the
reservoir. Turns out it was a coating of slime on the inside of the
reservoir which I had to wipe off. To me this is not normal, is an
undesirable characteristics for a hydraulic fluid and the fresh Castrol
stuff never discolored as badly nor turned slimey nor showed any sign of
residue after another 20K miles.

Note the Integra was built in Japan so the U.S. built cars may have
different stuff in them.
Click to expand...

Thanks, George, something I'll definitely have to keep an eye on.
Slime/rubber particles would upset me, too.

However, sounds as though your experience was with the factory fill, not
what the US Honda dealers are selling, correct?

My Honda is only 6 months old, but I never had any like problems with my
'88 Integra.
 
George said:
It's been mentioned here a few times by others as well as me. When I
decided to change the clutch fluid on my '99 Integra at ~16K miles I found
the old stuff viscous and slimey. After sucking the old fluid out, along
with a slight residue of what could only be rubber particles, I couldn't
understand at first why the fresh Castrol GTLMA still looked dark in the
reservoir. Turns out it was a coating of slime on the inside of the
reservoir which I had to wipe off. To me this is not normal, is an
undesirable characteristics for a hydraulic fluid and the fresh Castrol
stuff never discolored as badly nor turned slimey nor showed any sign of
residue after another 20K miles.

Note the Integra was built in Japan so the U.S. built cars may have
different stuff in them.
Click to expand...

Thanks, George, something I'll definitely have to keep an eye on.
Slime/rubber particles would upset me, too.

However, sounds as though your experience was with the factory fill, not
what the US Honda dealers are selling, correct?

My Honda is only 6 months old, but I never had any like problems with my
'88 Integra.
 
The slime is the result of water mixing with the fluid. This is "normal".
Why the industry still uses a fluid that attracts water is beyond me. NATO
and the airlines have switced to alternative fluids many years ago; as have
a few car venders.

Richard.
 
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