Using automotive DOT 5.1 brake fluid for mountain bike hydraulic brakes?
 

Anyone know if I could use Automotive DOT 5.1 fluid in replacement to my AVID DOT 5.1 fluid? Don't want to pay 20 bucks for 4oz of brake AVID brand DOT fluid when I could potentially pay 5 dollars for like a liter of automotive DOT fluid. :troll:

Being used for Avid Juicy 7's..

They're the same thing i think, i've bled my Juicy 3's with regular DOT 3 fluid.

just cant find much information on it on the web with people using automotive fluids instead of factory fluids

What bike are you using this for? :considered:

using it on my supercycle burner with fake dual crown forks :fuckyea:

Brake fluid - Pinkbike.com Forum
Avid juicy five ! dot 4 brake fluid ? - Page 2 - Pinkbike.com Forum

Two confirmations, and TBH not many people i know use factory specific fluids..... Maybe we're just all cheapasses :fullofwin:


If ya want some real dual crowns, PM me ive got some JR.T's i can hook ya up with for dirt cheap.

:fuckthatshit:

Brake fluid 101:

Dot 5 is synthetic. Auto dot 5 and 5.1 will work with your bicycle brakes. 5.1 means it has slightly higher boiling point.

DO NOT mix dot 5 with dot 3 or 4 as they are conventional. However you can mix 3 and 4, they are compatible. 4 just having a slightly higher boiling point.

I use motul in mine.

All brake fluid are synthetic.

DOT 5 is silicone based.

hold up a minute.

DOT 5.1, like DOT 3 and DOT 4, is a polyethylene glycol-based fluid
DOT 5 is silicone-based

DOT 5 and 5.1 have nothing in common.

not really relevant, but my hayes hydro brakes took dot 4, i used automotive dot 4 brake all the time and it worked fine

the only thing they share is temperature range.

i would say you'd be fine using dot5.1 from an autoparts store, the hard part will be finding one that carries it. i know lordco doesn't. at least not in motul.
and i don't think gunk makes a 5.1, nor kleenflo.

You'll have to go to a place like Speedsyndicate or a 3 letter place in Burnaby that specializes in 240's to get motul dot 5.1.

Temp range, there is Ford HD Dot 3 that has a higher boiling point than Dot 4, so that temp range difference is in accurate.

If it says DOT 5.1 on the bottle then it doesn't matter who you get it from - bike shop or auto parts store. In order to be able to use that designation the fluid has to meet specific minimum requirements.

There can be differences in quality (like some versions more suitable for people who race cars), but if it says 5.1 it has to meet a minimum set of requirements. I highly doubt you'll ever come across a situation in a mountain bike that needs Motul 5.1 vs Canadian Tire 5.1.

If ya want some real dual crowns, PM me ive got some JR.T's i can hook ya up with for dirt cheap.[/QUOTE]



nah im good, lol it was just a joke to a friend. I got 888's on my bike lol

I havent changed my DH's brake fluid in 6 years.

I should get on it this year lol

lol, damn man HUGEEEEEE DIFFERENCE after changing :fuckyea: nearly flipped pressing my front brakes cause i didnt expect it to lock up so hard

Lol, I'm in the same boat. This past year my brakes felt like complete shit, but still stopped ok :D Laziness. It can be a wonderful thing, and it can be a horrible/potenially dangerous thing :lol

dot 5.1 is also thinner and runnier than dot 3... if your application calls for dot 3, dot 5.1 will work just fine... for consistency, i suggest a full flush...

LOL i thought u really had those canadian tire supercycles. :okay:

LOL i thought u really had those canadian tire supercycles. :okay:[/QUOTE]

nah lol http://i43.tinypic.com/344wnxh.jpg

theres my baby :fuckyea:

ohh i had 888's too, but switched to 66's, xups :fuckyea:

Niiceee! I really like dual crowns but didnt like the weight. Had a 55R now rockin 66R's :fullofwin:

Thinking of selling it.. but not much interest cause the bike is getting older..