Advice on switching from Dot3-Dot5
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 451
From:
Advice on switching from Dot3-Dot5
I'm making a switch from Dot 3 to Dot 5 (corrosive reasons). The Master cylinder is empty right now but there is probably some Dot 3 in the lines and brakes. Should I bleed the brakes with anything to flush the system before bleeding with Dot 5?
thanks
thanks
5th Gear Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,445
From:
RE: Advice on switching from Dot3-Dot5
First to answer your question. You need to completely flush and clean all lines, valves and cylinders. Alcohol works well for this job. Only then can you re-fill with DOT 5.
Please do some serious research before considering the conversion. If you are worried about corrosion, going to DOT 5 is going in the wrong direction.
Scott
Please do some serious research before considering the conversion. If you are worried about corrosion, going to DOT 5 is going in the wrong direction.
Scott
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 451
From:
RE: Advice on switching from Dot3-Dot5
rubbing alcohol, denatured alcohol or something else?
are you speaking from experience or what you have read online?
Dot 5 is not corrossive like 3 and 4. Put it on your paint and you will see what i mean. It is however if you try to mix the two kinds together in the system.
Although I am speaking from what i have read, not from experience dealing w/ Dot 5, only 3 so you may know more than me.
are you speaking from experience or what you have read online?
Dot 5 is not corrossive like 3 and 4. Put it on your paint and you will see what i mean. It is however if you try to mix the two kinds together in the system.
Although I am speaking from what i have read, not from experience dealing w/ Dot 5, only 3 so you may know more than me.
ORIGINAL: Scott H.
First to answer your question. You need to completely flush and clean all lines, valves and cylinders. Alcohol works well for this job. Only then can you re-fill with DOT 5.
Please do some serious research before considering the conversion. If you are worried about corrosion, going to DOT 5 is going in the wrong direction.
Scott
First to answer your question. You need to completely flush and clean all lines, valves and cylinders. Alcohol works well for this job. Only then can you re-fill with DOT 5.
Please do some serious research before considering the conversion. If you are worried about corrosion, going to DOT 5 is going in the wrong direction.
Scott
Yukon Cornelius
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,812
From: deep in the heart of dixie GEORGIA
RE: Advice on switching from Dot3-Dot5
gotta completely flush the whole system to convert wouuld include dissasembling the brake(wheelcylinders,calipers etc) and flushing the lines with aclohol
5th Gear Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,445
From:
RE: Advice on switching from Dot3-Dot5
ORIGINAL: earlymustang
rubbing alcohol, denatured alcohol or something else?
are you speaking from experience or what you have read online?
Dot 5 is not corrossive like 3 and 4. Put it on your paint and you will see what i mean. It is however if you try to mix the two kinds together in the system.
Although I am speaking from what i have read, not from experience dealing w/ Dot 5, only 3 so you may know more than me.
rubbing alcohol, denatured alcohol or something else?
are you speaking from experience or what you have read online?
Dot 5 is not corrossive like 3 and 4. Put it on your paint and you will see what i mean. It is however if you try to mix the two kinds together in the system.
Although I am speaking from what i have read, not from experience dealing w/ Dot 5, only 3 so you may know more than me.
[sm=joke.gif].I am speaking from my experience of over 25 years (most all of it at dealership level) as a professional ASE Master technician, both automotive and truck. I have been there, and done that, on all kinds of different equipment, many times over. Not trying to sound pompus here, just answering your question.
DOT 5 does not absorb water, therefore the water lays in little bubbles against the steel/aluminum/whatever, and corrodes it.
When properly contained inside your brake system, Dot 3/4 does not corrode your system at all. Now if you spill it on your paint, yes, it will eat your paint. It's not made to wash your car with.
DOT 5 can, and is, used successfully, however you need to do the research and make yourself aware of the pros and cons.
Please do not take my word for it. Go out and do your own research. There is more than just the corrosion issue.
I'm not into parroting what others say. If I give advice, it comes from personal experience, unless I say something to the effect... "this is what I've read".
Scott
I ♥ Acer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 17,565
From:
RE: Advice on switching from Dot3-Dot5
I'm not too sure I understand the pro's of dot 5. Why in hell are you trying to put dot 5 in a car and system designed for dot 3? You say for corrosive reasons, but I still have the 40 year old dot 3 system in my 65, and don't have a corrosive issue. Did you somehow get some water in your system?
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 451
From:
RE: Advice on switching from Dot3-Dot5
Thanks Scott, your advice is greatly appreciated. I guess I have a bad taste in my mouth from having a leaky master cylinder and proportioning valve that made such a mess I didn't want to go through again if I had a leak in the future. I'm still fighting with a rebuilt proportioning valve (3rd time rebuilt from Whitepost restorations). Will try #3 tomorrow. Sounds like you wouldn't even recommend it in a brand new system putting in fluid for the first time.
I think I will take your advice and just try again w/good ole Dot 3.
Thanks again
I think I will take your advice and just try again w/good ole Dot 3.
Thanks again
ORIGINAL: Scott H.
Isopropyl/rubbing alcohol, or denatured, just make sure it doesn't come in lemon scented [sm=joke.gif].
I am speaking from my experience of over 25 years (most all of it at dealership level) as a professional ASE Master technician, both automotive and truck. I have been there, and done that, on all kinds of different equipment, many times over. Not trying to sound pompus here, just answering your question.
DOT 5 does not absorb water, therefore the water lays in little bubbles against the steel/aluminum/whatever, and corrodes it.
When properly contained inside your brake system, Dot 3/4 does not corrode your system at all. Now if you spill it on your paint, yes, it will eat your paint. It's not made to wash your car with.
DOT 5 can, and is, used successfully, however you need to do the research and make yourself aware of the pros and cons.
Please do not take my word for it. Go out and do your own research. There is more than just the corrosion issue.
I'm not into parroting what others say. If I give advice, it comes from personal experience, unless I say something to the effect... "this is what I've read".
Scott
ORIGINAL: earlymustang
rubbing alcohol, denatured alcohol or something else?
are you speaking from experience or what you have read online?
Dot 5 is not corrossive like 3 and 4. Put it on your paint and you will see what i mean. It is however if you try to mix the two kinds together in the system.
Although I am speaking from what i have read, not from experience dealing w/ Dot 5, only 3 so you may know more than me.
rubbing alcohol, denatured alcohol or something else?
are you speaking from experience or what you have read online?
Dot 5 is not corrossive like 3 and 4. Put it on your paint and you will see what i mean. It is however if you try to mix the two kinds together in the system.
Although I am speaking from what i have read, not from experience dealing w/ Dot 5, only 3 so you may know more than me.
[sm=joke.gif].I am speaking from my experience of over 25 years (most all of it at dealership level) as a professional ASE Master technician, both automotive and truck. I have been there, and done that, on all kinds of different equipment, many times over. Not trying to sound pompus here, just answering your question.
DOT 5 does not absorb water, therefore the water lays in little bubbles against the steel/aluminum/whatever, and corrodes it.
When properly contained inside your brake system, Dot 3/4 does not corrode your system at all. Now if you spill it on your paint, yes, it will eat your paint. It's not made to wash your car with.
DOT 5 can, and is, used successfully, however you need to do the research and make yourself aware of the pros and cons.
Please do not take my word for it. Go out and do your own research. There is more than just the corrosion issue.
I'm not into parroting what others say. If I give advice, it comes from personal experience, unless I say something to the effect... "this is what I've read".
Scott
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