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Date:         Wed, 21 Apr 2004 16:09:43 -0700
Reply-To:     Jeffrey Earl <jefferrata@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jeffrey Earl <jefferrata@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Brake Fluid Dot 3 & 4?
Comments: cc: starfinder88@YAHOO.COM, jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

John writes:

>> Sorry, having DOT 3 put in your van is a BAD!BAD!BAD! by the mechanic. Can he not read?? Right on the fill cap it says DOT 4 only!!!!

>> I would suggest the system be drained and refilled, and the brakes bled, then the tank again refilled.

Bill,

Don't get your skivvies in a wad over this. According to both the original Volkswagen Owner's Manual for my 1983 Vanagon and the venerable Bentley manual, "DOT 3 or DOT 4" brake fluid is specified.

It's possible VW upgraded some components on later models, requiring the use of DOT 4 only, but I am looking at the latest edition of the Bentley.

Historically, DOT 3 and DOT 4 are chemically compatible and interchangeable (unlike DOT 5 silicone fluid). But DOT 3 has a marginally lower boiling point (about 30-40 degrees) than DOT 4, so may exhibit a slightly higher likelihood of brake fade in extremely high temperatures or heavy use, such as mountain driving.

This is a marginal difference and, in this case, proportionate to the amount of fluid that was added to your system.

I suggest you not lose any sleep over this, wait for the new clutch master cylinder to arrive and install it, then refill and bleed the clutch and brake systems with DOT 4. Most all of the DOT 3 will be flushed out in the bleeding process.

"OK, I'll leave it at that since I've already gone on for far too long about something I don't know a whole lot about ..."

Jeffrey Earl 1983 diesel Westfalia "Vanasazi"

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