Brake Fluid for daily and occasional track use

[Tommo Two]

I'm slowly getting my car prepared for its first track outing, and when it comes to brake fluid i know i'll be wanting a DOT 4 (i think) but thats about it.

Can any one recomend any fluid cheap enough to change after every track day, that will still perform well on the track. I'll probably be doing 2-4 track days a year, so I obviously can't justify, all out fango dango super racing brake fluid cuz its just to expensive to be changed that often.

 

[McKoval]

motul RBF 600 was a good choice in my prevvious car
althoug RBF 660 was a little too much for street use (needed to be heated for full performance)

 

[mmm-five]

You shouldn't need to change your fluid after every event unless you've cooked it, and that will only happen if you're way too heavy on the brakes - although saying that, I do change my fluid before every 'Ring trip as it's basically a 2000 mile track day

Braided hoses, branded DOT4 fluid and decent pads should see you through the year. Don't forget that some DOT3 and DOT4 fluids exceed the specs for DOT5.1 (but have not paid for recertification), so don't pay more just because it has a 'higher' certification.

I think I paid about £6 for about 500ml of AP DOT4 fluid when I last did mine, and keep thinking about putting braided hoses on, but then decide that I don't really need them for what is a road car 99% of the time.

 

[AlanJ]

You shouldn't need to change your fluid after every event unless you've cooked it, and that will only happen if you're way too heavy on the brakes - although saying that, I do change my fluid before every 'Ring trip as it's basically a 2000 mile track day

Braided hoses, branded DOT4 fluid and decent pads should see you through the year. Don't forget that some DOT3 and DOT4 fluids exceed the specs for DOT5.1 (but have not paid for recertification), so don't pay more just because it has a 'higher' certification.

I think I paid about £6 for about 500ml of AP DOT4 fluid when I last did mine, and keep thinking about putting braided hoses on, but then decide that I don't really need them for what is a road car 99% of the time.

x2

 

[PawnSacrifice]

You shouldn't need to change your fluid after every event unless you've cooked it, and that will only happen if you're way too heavy on the brakes - although saying that, I do change my fluid before every 'Ring trip as it's basically a 2000 mile track day

The EBC performance / high temp stuff states it needs changing after 250 miles... I would assume that's all track use. But with mixed use, yeah it should last a lot longer.

 

[Tommo Two]

The more research i do, the more i'm leaning towards ATE super blue, i like the fact that you can tell when you've bled all the old out aswell becuse of it being well..... blue!

With a high wet and dry boiling point, i shouldn't need to change it after track days either

 

[mmm-five]

The EBC performance / high temp stuff states it needs changing after 250 miles... I would assume that's all track use. But with mixed use, yeah it should last a lot longer.

Definitely.

If you always drive like you're trying to win a 10 lap race then it will only last about 150 miles, but if you use it normally on a track day you should see 1,000 track miles and/or 10,000 road miles between changes (or every year, whichever comes first).

I thought standard BMW brake fluid was DOT4 anyway.

 

[ga41]

I'm extremely happy with my Endless RF650 fluid but it's not cheap...

I reckon you'd be just fine with the ATE that you mentioned.

 

[Shooter]

Motul RBF600.
Good for me for two track days and then for the rest of the year.

 

[Jembo]

My Indy who prepares & races BMW's uses DOT 5 for racing. He suggested replacing mine with this as even though a bit more expensive, said if going out playing will perform better with the red stuff pads & Mintex discs.... cost a couple of extra quid, though don't know what make he used,

J

 

[mmm-five]

My Indy who prepares & races BMW's uses DOT 5 for racing. He suggested replacing mine with this as even though a bit more expensive, said if going out playing will perform better with the red stuff pads & Mintex discs.... cost a couple of extra quid, though don't know what make he used,

J

DOT 5 for racing is fine, but is silicone-based. It gives a consistent pedal feel, but the feel is more spongey than with 'normal' fluid. It also needs to 'settle' before you fill your system with it as it aerates quite easily with a little agitation. It's also necessary to completely drain & flush your brake system to get rid of all traces of normal, glycol based brake fluid as the two are not compatible (will create an emulsion if mixed), and some braking systems specifically prohibit silocone fluids due to its interaction with seals & gaskets in the system.

DOT 5.1 is as good as DOT 5, but is glycol based, so can be used like DOT3/4 fluids - but you will pay a premium for it.

Just because brake fluid says it's DOT 5.1, does not mean it's always better than one that's 'only' DOT 4 - as there are variations (above the minimum for that certification) in what each product gives, and some DOT 5.1 fluids are just their old DOT4 fluids that have been recertified but now sold at almost twice the price.

 

[Jembo]

Have heard this mentioned before about not suitable for some braking systems. Complete bleed was done & since he uses it in the BMW's he races have comfort in what he's doing - if I have problems, wil let u know

 

[mmm-five]

Have heard this mentioned before about not suitable for some braking systems. Complete bleed was done & since he uses it in the BMW's he races have comfort in what he's doing - if I have problems, wil let u know

A race car will have components stripped down and reconditioned regularly.

A road car usually only gets maintenance when something breaks or a service is due.

Bleeding the brakes is not the same as completely flushing the braking (and ABS) circuits of glycol-based fluid before introducing an incompatible silicone-based fluid.

If your guy is confident & competent then you've got no worries