Hallo All,

 

my clutch fluid reservoir has emptied itself again (only 2 months since last time grrr).

 

The cap on the reservoir says DOT3 but the Owners Manual says DOT3 or DOT4 Europe only.

 

It's a Japanese import with OEM clutch - so do I buy DOT3 or DOT4?

 

Thanks - Gio

From my limited knowledge in Clutch fliud...you can go higher, but not lower than recomended. So you can put Dot4 in a Dot3 System, but not Dot3 in a Dot4 system.

 

They can also be mixed.

 

DOT5 is based on Silicone and will not mix without an entire flush though.

Thanks - Harry's didn't have any DOT3 anyway so DOT4 it was!

 

And it says on the bottle: "Exceeds current specifications for FMVSS, 116 DOT3 and DOT4, SAE J1703 and ISO 4925. It will mix safely with other brake fluids which conform with these specifications. Do not mix with silicone base brake fluids."

 

DOT3 and DOT4 are glycol based and DOT5.1 is silicone based so don't mix 3 or 4 with 5.1.

 

(Although confusingly I found a couple of websites which say there is now a new glycol-based fluid which meets DOT5.1 but I've never seen it.)

There are 5.1's that you can mix with 3 or 4, I think mixing anything with a 5 is a no no, but again with all these fluids it is best to read the bottle and make sure it is compatible with what you have in there!

Thanks Mark (and thanks for the advice on the phone earlier :) )

I think the mix / don't mix is down to whether it's glycol or silicone. Maybe!

In the past, the only fluid to meet 5.1 was silicone based so you never mixed 5.1 with anything else.

 

Still I managed to top it up and get a little bit of clutch action so I might be able to get to work tomorrow. I realised that doing my own bleeding meant buying everything from scratch (I don't have metric spanners or ramps or axle stands or bleed kits or any mechanical ability whatsoever) so will limp through until tomorrow and give you a call.

 

Unless Martyn is passing Staples Corner during Monday?....

No worries Mike,

 

I will have a word with Martyn and see when he is travelling past you, will text you if he can see you sooner.

 

If you are DIY bleeding remember the bleed point by the Hicas BTW!