Locking wheel nut & brake fluid 3,4,or 5?
Discussion
I have temporarily placed my locking wheel nut in an unknown location. I don't need my nuts to be locked. Is there any way I can get these off without having to somehow figure out which locking nut tool I need to buy?
Also, the manual and the brake fluid reservoir both say to use DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid, but the reservoir has a tag on it that says use DOT 5. Is there a way to find out what kind of brake fluid I have? Should I be using 5?
1996 S1, everything standard inc MMC brakes, not tracked
Also, the manual and the brake fluid reservoir both say to use DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid, but the reservoir has a tag on it that says use DOT 5. Is there a way to find out what kind of brake fluid I have? Should I be using 5?
1996 S1, everything standard inc MMC brakes, not tracked
S1 has nuts on studs I believe, so there are extractor tools available (not sure whether access is possible). Would not be a pleasant task I suspect, but a garage would have a plan of action in those situations.
Correct about the brake fluid, DOT 5 is silicone based, so definitely don't use that as it'll damage the braking system. It's also pretty hard to find in all honesty, as it's not compatible with ABS I think. Whilst that's not relevant here, it is for modern cars, so has become more of a specialist fluid. You'd have to specifically look for it.
I think then it's a case of higher boiling points for the different grades, DOT 5.1 being better than DOT 4 and so on. As it's not being tracked, I don't think you'd find any particular differences between the grades, and as long as you change it annually, then I'd probably say weigh up price as a deciding factor. I've seen 1l of DOT 4 for around £5, and ATE Super Blue for around £15, and I'd argue you'd be hard pressed to know the difference with road use.
Anyways, as you're saying the reservoir is saying DOT 5, that does make things ambiguous. Best way to check it, is to get a syringe or something to get some of the fluid from the reservoir (something clean!). Then put said fluid in a glass jar or something with a lid. Put some water in the jar/container, put the lid on it and give it a good shake to try and mix the fluids together.
Because DOT 5 is silicone based, it is hydrophobic, so does not absorb water. Leave that jar to stand for a few minutes, and check it, if it looks mixed, then its the normal DOT3/4/5.1
If it doesn't looked mixed, and its kind of like oil and water, in blobs or layers, then its the DOT 5.
Correct about the brake fluid, DOT 5 is silicone based, so definitely don't use that as it'll damage the braking system. It's also pretty hard to find in all honesty, as it's not compatible with ABS I think. Whilst that's not relevant here, it is for modern cars, so has become more of a specialist fluid. You'd have to specifically look for it.
I think then it's a case of higher boiling points for the different grades, DOT 5.1 being better than DOT 4 and so on. As it's not being tracked, I don't think you'd find any particular differences between the grades, and as long as you change it annually, then I'd probably say weigh up price as a deciding factor. I've seen 1l of DOT 4 for around £5, and ATE Super Blue for around £15, and I'd argue you'd be hard pressed to know the difference with road use.
Anyways, as you're saying the reservoir is saying DOT 5, that does make things ambiguous. Best way to check it, is to get a syringe or something to get some of the fluid from the reservoir (something clean!). Then put said fluid in a glass jar or something with a lid. Put some water in the jar/container, put the lid on it and give it a good shake to try and mix the fluids together.
Because DOT 5 is silicone based, it is hydrophobic, so does not absorb water. Leave that jar to stand for a few minutes, and check it, if it looks mixed, then its the normal DOT3/4/5.1
If it doesn't looked mixed, and its kind of like oil and water, in blobs or layers, then its the DOT 5.
commievid said:
Anyways, as you're saying the reservoir is saying DOT 5, that does make things ambiguous. Best way to check it, is to get a syringe or something to get some of the fluid from the reservoir (something clean!). Then put said fluid in a glass jar or something with a lid. Put some water in the jar/container, put the lid on it and give it a good shake to try and mix the fluids together.
Because DOT 5 is silicone based, it is hydrophobic, so does not absorb water. Leave that jar to stand for a few minutes, and check it, if it looks mixed, then its the normal DOT3/4/5.1
If it doesn't looked mixed, and its kind of like oil and water, in blobs or layers, then its the DOT 5.
Thanks, commievid. This is just the info I was looking for. I'll check what's in there now, but will probably bleed the system and go with DOT 4. BTW my local supply shop has DOT 5 in stock but it is more expensive for sure.Because DOT 5 is silicone based, it is hydrophobic, so does not absorb water. Leave that jar to stand for a few minutes, and check it, if it looks mixed, then its the normal DOT3/4/5.1
If it doesn't looked mixed, and its kind of like oil and water, in blobs or layers, then its the DOT 5.
Is it true that you've been around here for nearly 13 years and this is your first post?!?
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