honda brake fluid

[labattsipa]

does it realy mater if you use a generic DOT 3 brake fluid or the recomended honda DOT 3 fluid?

any input is appreciated.

[renew82]

No it doesn't matter. You can use any brand of DOT 3 or DOT 4 Regular or synthedic. The most important thing is to change it on a regular basis.

[tabascobobcat]

Actually, I think that the boiling points may be different amoung other things

[renew82]

Yes the boiling points are different between DOT 3 and 4 with 4 having a higher boiling point. Either way, it is ok to mix them and will cause no problems.

[labattsipa]

all well and good. honda fluid is kind of expensive.

[bbylon5]

Originally posted by labattsipa
all well and good. honda fluid is kind of expensive.

Not to bad, I think they charged only something like $5-$6 for brake fluid when the dealer did the flush on my 04...

Interesting note about DOT 4 (vs DOT 3)

DOT 4 fluid, which has a higher minimum boiling temperature requirement (446 degrees F dry and 311 degrees wet) soaks up moisture at a slower rate but suffers an even sharper drop in boiling temperature as moisture accumulates. Three percent water will lower the boiling point as much as 50%!
(DOT 3 only drops 25% with 3% moisture)

So it sounds like if you want to run DOT 4 you definetly don't want to go beyond 2 years between fluid changes...

[davedrivesody]

Agree with others above that any DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid is okay, from Honda or elsewhere. Have a look also at DOT 5.1 (absolutley not DOT 5 - that's for a specialized application). DOT 5.1 is the first grade engineered for cars with ABS systems, which of course includes the Ody.

[Walt43]

I use Prestone DOT 3 synthetic. I'm on my third flush and have had no problems with it.

[sinbad]

I use Castrol LMA - low moisture avidity. It is supposed to be good a rejecting moisture , and therefore you can keep it in your system a little longer until the BP drops due to moisture absorption. However, I replace and bleed at least once a year.

There is out there as much info on brake fluid as there is on oil. The most important thing is to regularly replace the fluid in the reservoir and bleed.

[wild willy]

who boils brake fluid in a minivan

[bigjim]

Originally posted by wild willy
who boils brake fluid in a minivan

I do it all the time - kills the germs. I did have a problem hooking up a little sterno heater under the master cylinder but when it was done it was worth it because it could also be used for tailgating, etc.
(actually, I asked my local brake guy the other day if he would change it out for less than the $49.95 my Honda dealer wanted. He said he would change it for me free if I wanted to buy the Honda fluid but he didn't think it was really necessary. I'm considering what to do right now. This boiling point stuff is interesting but I wonder if it really matters? I've been driving for 56 years now and have never changed brake fluid, even on my previous Hondas. Nor have I ever met anyone else who has done so. Guess I'll check the price of Honda fluid as a first step)

[smiley31]

....about changing brake fluid til we got our Ody. But did what they said to keep the warranty in force. I don't see price as a factor when this is only done every 3 years....same with the air/oil/cabin filters....they cost a bit more, but hell, it ain't like you change them weekly like you do gasoline! Oh, and they are very inexpensive when ordered in bulk via the web.

[bbylon5]

Until I got my 1998 BMW 735i I hadn't heard about brake fluid changes either. In the owners manual for that car it recommended every two years. Thats when I started researching the reason behind it found out it was a very good thing to do (especially with all the new ABS solenoids etc)..

Considering the fact that the chemistry of brake fluid really hasn't changed (the fact that it absorbs moisture) I am surprised that brake fluid flush's weren't recommended by any of the manufacturers for such a long time.

Probably have saved me a good deal of $$ having to replace brake calipers/cylinder's that had rusted internally.

[egads]

Price an ABS controller and you will become a fluid replacement convert.

[bbylon5]

Still pricey at $551 but nothing near the POS Bendix 10 ABS assembly on my 1992 Voyager that could run as much as $3500.
I actually traded it in because this unit failed and was worth more than the van. Just added a new transmission about 20K miles before that and the engine and body (rust check) where in great shape (even at 13 years old ) but there was no way i was going to sink that much $$ into it...

And thats why I now have an ody...


MODULATOR ASSY $551 US for my 04
Rear Caliper $155
Front Caliper $75
Master Cyclinder $101