Date:         Sun, 2 Apr 2006 20:44:11 -0700
Reply-To:     Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
Subject:      Re: DOT3 instead of DOT4
In-Reply-To:  <44305325.4000708@verizon.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Correct, but the Vanagon brakes need all the help they can get. Fresh DOT3 may be ok, but
gives you little room for error, and the boiling point will fall off over time resulting in more
brake fade. DOT4 gives you 50-100F higher boiling point, depending on the brand, which is
worth it, imho. If I were you, I'd consider the DOT3 a flush, and get some DOT4 in there fairly
soon. It's pretty cheap, and doesn't take long to do, especially since you have the practice
now... :-)

On 2 Apr 2006 at 18:41, Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET> wrote:

> DOT3 and DOT4 are interchangeable.  DOT4 is a newer formulation and, as
> I recall, will take heat better.
>
> DOT5, on the other hand, is NOT compatible with 3 or 4 and must be
> avoided at all costs!
>
> Mike
>
>
>
> wogdog wrote:
> > I'm ashamed to admit that after owning my Westy for 5 years that I have been
> > using the wrong DOT in my hydraulic system. I changed out the clutch master
> > and slave cylinder's today and as I was wiping up a spill on the reservoir I
> > noticed "Use only DOT 4" on it. What is/are the differences between the two?
> > Am I screwed? But then this is the first time I've had a problem with the
> > system in 5 years.
> >   TIA,
> >   Paul Rogers
> >   85 WWW
> >
>


Shawn Wright
http://members.shaw.ca/vwdiesels
'88 Westy 1.6TD 5 speed
'82 Diesel Westy 1.6NA
'85 Jetta Diesel 1.6NA