So I'm changing my brakes today and putting on steel braided brakes lines. Now is some brake fluid better than others? And if so what are the best brands for our cars?

 

DOT3 is all you need unless you are track/autocrossing the car.

 

Yes there are better fluids, some fluids have higher "wet" boiling points than others. Find the highest wet boiling point fluid you can afford, and use that. Change it at least once every two years, every 12 months is better, and 2-3 times a year would be awesome.

I personally use and recommend ATE Typ 200. Its a quality fluid with a nice high wet boiling point (396degF) is readily available on the webz and at higher end shops, it averages about $12-15/liter online, and ive paid as little as $10 at my local race shop. Its easily half the price of any other comparable fluid. one bottle will be plenty.

 

Do they sell that at like autozone or advanced auto. Unfortunately where I live there's like no aftermarket car part stores lol.

 

They have Type 200 Amber Brake Fluid on the Tirerack.com for $12.00.


Features/Benefits of ATE TYP 200 Amber Brake Fluid:

Boiling point minimum: 536 degrees F
Wet boiling point minimum: 388 degrees F
Viscosity at -104 degrees F: max 1,400 mm 2/5
Designed to last up to 3 years under normal highway driving conditions


Or look or a dot 4 fluid.

 

No they dont, just buy it online. Google "ATE Typ 200" lots of results will come back. and yes its TYP, not TYPE. TYhere is also ATE Super Blue, same exact fluid just blue so race cars can tell when they have flushed out all the old fluid(you switch colors every time you flush) I dont use it often because it stains my equiptment and your master cylinder blue. Its also not technically legal for road use, strictly because its blue.

TYP 200 exceeds all DOT4 specs. it actually gets rebranded and sold at BMW dealers. Mercedes does or used to use it as well.

ATE is a bigtime brake company, they actually make stuff for GM too(calipers, pads, etc..)

 

So even though the car calls for dot 3 it's ok to use the typ 200?

 

Absolutely, DOT4 has higher boiling points than DOT3, thats the main difference between the "DOT"s

 

Since I'm doing them today I couldn't get the typ 200 unfortunately. Best stuff I could find was the castrol GTLMA. Says it exceeds dot 3 and 4..I'm sure it's no typ 200 but just let me know if it's good or not before I put it in.

 

GTLMA is a decent inexpensive fluid. Thats what we keep on the shelf for emergencies and basic service.

 

Damn...I can't find anything good I guess lol.

 

Damn...I can't find anything good I guess lol.

 

Dot3 and dot4 are interchangeable and is fine to mix, ate type 200 is very good fluid along with ate super blue which is the same just different colors.