brake fluid temp
Discussion
What would you say is the minimum temp of brake fluid should be for trackday use?
I recently went for my 3rd year service at the dealer which changed the brake fluid for their own dot4 stuff. i completely forgot to tell them not to change the fluid as i had ATE typ200 flushed through 3months before.
i'm planning one (very unlikely 2) more trackdays this year and am wondering if i can run the normal dot4 since it's still new and still has it's high boiling point.
using the following graph as an example: http://www.epicbleedsolutions.com/blog/basics-of-b... and what some trackday people say of changing fluid every 18-24months, that suggests to me that normal dot4 (for the first 9-12months at least) would be fine to run with but would have the change it more frequently to keep boiling point high enough.
If i can run normal dot4, it'd save me a bit of money and time doing it when i don't really need to.... no point wasting time&effort.
I guess knowing a rough minimum boiling point would also help guestimate how often to change the race fluids as well.
tldr: can i use normal dot4 for a trackday if it's new enough?
I recently went for my 3rd year service at the dealer which changed the brake fluid for their own dot4 stuff. i completely forgot to tell them not to change the fluid as i had ATE typ200 flushed through 3months before.
i'm planning one (very unlikely 2) more trackdays this year and am wondering if i can run the normal dot4 since it's still new and still has it's high boiling point.
using the following graph as an example: http://www.epicbleedsolutions.com/blog/basics-of-b... and what some trackday people say of changing fluid every 18-24months, that suggests to me that normal dot4 (for the first 9-12months at least) would be fine to run with but would have the change it more frequently to keep boiling point high enough.
If i can run normal dot4, it'd save me a bit of money and time doing it when i don't really need to.... no point wasting time&effort.
I guess knowing a rough minimum boiling point would also help guestimate how often to change the race fluids as well.
tldr: can i use normal dot4 for a trackday if it's new enough?
Of course you can. TBH I've never put fancy brake fluid in any of the cars I've tracked, just used whatever is there - if it starts to go a bit soft, come in and give it a break (not a brake). IMHO there's a lot of unnecessary fuss about this stuff. Of course someone will be along to tell you it's akin to clubbing seals and think of the children or some such shortly..
ETA - if it's a large german car with a penchant for inadequate brakes I might revise that
ETA - if it's a large german car with a penchant for inadequate brakes I might revise that

You can buy fairly cheaply motul or similar high boiling point dot4 for about 12 quid a half litre. Change it every few trackdays depending on the car and how heavy you use them.
Our mx5 track car was hammered and you could tell when the pedal was starting to go after 3 or 4 trackdays. It's an hour's job at most to flush it all for 12 quid.
You don't need fancy silicon dot 5s etc, the dot4 high BP is more than adequate for trackdays. Remember your cooling down laps also off the brakes.
Cut n paste from demon thieves
Motul RBF 600 factory line brake fluid is a 100% synthetic brake fluid particularly suitable for the demands of racing and for those who require a high performance brake fluid. The high performance DOT 4 brake fluid is particularly suitable for race application and exceeds the DOT 5.1 and DOT 3 standards. The very high dry and wet boiling point of RBF 600 is far better than Dot 5.1 brake fluids and enables effective braking even under extreme conditions. RBF 600 brake fluid is suitable for all types of hydraulic actuated brake and clutch systems requiring a non silicone fluid.
Dry Boiling Point - 312 degrees CelsiusWet boiling point - 216 degrees Celsius500ml
Our mx5 track car was hammered and you could tell when the pedal was starting to go after 3 or 4 trackdays. It's an hour's job at most to flush it all for 12 quid.
You don't need fancy silicon dot 5s etc, the dot4 high BP is more than adequate for trackdays. Remember your cooling down laps also off the brakes.
Cut n paste from demon thieves
Motul RBF 600 factory line brake fluid is a 100% synthetic brake fluid particularly suitable for the demands of racing and for those who require a high performance brake fluid. The high performance DOT 4 brake fluid is particularly suitable for race application and exceeds the DOT 5.1 and DOT 3 standards. The very high dry and wet boiling point of RBF 600 is far better than Dot 5.1 brake fluids and enables effective braking even under extreme conditions. RBF 600 brake fluid is suitable for all types of hydraulic actuated brake and clutch systems requiring a non silicone fluid.
Dry Boiling Point - 312 degrees CelsiusWet boiling point - 216 degrees Celsius500ml
Edited by 200Plus Club on Tuesday 19th June 09:48
200Plus Club said:
You can buy fairly cheaply motul or similar high boiling point dot4 for about 12 quid a half litre. Change it every few trackdays depending on the car and how heavy you use them.
Our mx5 track car was hammered and you could tell when the pedal was starting to go after 3 or 4 trackdays. It's an hour's job at most to flush it all for 12 quid.
You don't need fancy silicon dot 5s etc, the dot4 high BP is more than adequate for trackdays. Remember your cooling down laps also off the brakes.
I used ATE Typ200 which is more easily available around here (ECP sell it so can just pop in on way to work one morning). like i said, i forgot to tell dealer to not change the fluid so just wondering if i need to make another purchase of fluid or can put it off till next season. Honda fluid only been in the car for 3weeks, so it's at its peak dry temp. next track day will be likely be aug/sept, so standard fluid only a few months old by then.Our mx5 track car was hammered and you could tell when the pedal was starting to go after 3 or 4 trackdays. It's an hour's job at most to flush it all for 12 quid.
You don't need fancy silicon dot 5s etc, the dot4 high BP is more than adequate for trackdays. Remember your cooling down laps also off the brakes.
Edited by 200Plus Club on Tuesday 19th June 09:48
You will be fine for the rest of the year & then just go back to the ate after that.
For others, ate typ 200 is no more expensive than "normal" dot 4 & is vastly superior for TD use.
I forget which but either GSF or ECP has it at £22/litre.
Personally I buy a litre a year & do a full change but 2 yearly is fine.
For others, ate typ 200 is no more expensive than "normal" dot 4 & is vastly superior for TD use.
I forget which but either GSF or ECP has it at £22/litre.
Personally I buy a litre a year & do a full change but 2 yearly is fine.
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