Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (August 2010, week 3)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:21:08 -0500
Reply-To:     mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: brake question
Comments: To: David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <4c6d87e8.0882e50a.5e7c.5078@mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

---- David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET> wrote: > At 12:07 PM 8/19/2010, Luke Bakken wrote: > >The brake fluid reservoir on my '89 syncro specifies DOT 4. Can't > >speak for prior years. > > '89 manual says 3 or 4, reservoir says 4. > > Regardless, DOT 5 is totally forbidden. It's completely different > and incompatible. > > I believe it's safe to say that 4 may be used in any application > where 3 is specified. > > Yours, > David

David, I may be wrong (never happened before ;-) ), but I think there are some incompatibilities in materials, such that chemical interaction, or lube problems may occur whenever 4 is substituted where 3 is specified or vice versa. There are some differences in chemistry, hence the different names. If DOT 4 fluid could always replace DOT 3, why wouldn't the manufacturers just drop the DOT 3?

BTW, my 2006 Prius specifies DOT 3, as does my neighbor's 2010, and both owner's books state that damage to brake system components may occur if the wrong fluid is used. My '91 Volkswagen Vanagon GL Campmobile is not here right now, and took the owner's book with it, but I'll check later to see what if anything the book states, beyond specifying a fluid.

DMc

-- David McNeely


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.