Brake fluid ATE DOT 4 SL.6

[komichal]

Hi folks,
can I use ATE DOT 4 SL.6 for my brake system or is it better to use ATE DOT 4 200 ?

The SL.6 should be suitable for modern systems such as ESR, ASR... my Yaris does not have it, it only has ABS. I suppose the SL.6 would mean no harm (it is surprisingly even cheaper then DOT 4 200 which is not suitable for ESR, ASR).

I am actually thinking whether the low-viscosity SL.6 can lead to leaks in my 10 year old brake system? Something like with the engine - if you have old engine that consumes a bit of oil you can increase the oil viscosity a bit and it helps.

The generic advice "put in there whatever you are having now" does not help as I have no clue what is in there. I only know that there is some "ESSO" there but no more specs available.

I suppose that "any new DOT4 will do a better job than current old one" but as the brakes are the most critical system I would like to make sure they are treated properly. :wink:

Thank you.

[B.B._07]

You could use either one of those brake fluids. The Toyota requirements for brake fluid aren't overly stringent, basically any DOT 3 or 4 fluid will do. I don't see the point of a low viscosity brake fluid if you live in temperate central Europe, we have winters which are much worse in Canada and I've never seen a special low viscosity brake fluid for sale in an auto parts store here. Might be a good idea if you lived in Murmansk or Magadan though.

You won't get a leak by changing the brake fluid type, the brake fluid system is a closed system so if it develops a leak it will leak regardless of what kind of DOT 3 or 4 you put in there.

[SirDigby]

you are crazy. the specifics of your brake fluid is not going to matter in your 90hp car. you will never get your brakes hot enough to boil fluid. no need to buy some crazy viscosity of specialty Lamborghini brake fluid or something. you will have zero gains from spending $368 for 8oz. of brake fluid. sealed dot 3 factory fluid at $3 for 8oz. will work exactly the same.

[komichal]

Thanks guys. Indeed, I was going to buy the one which is cheaper as I also do believe they will both work just fine. Surprisingly the cheaper one is the low-viscosity one suitable for ESR, ASR etc.
I was just asking, you know. ;)

[zoidberg444]

My car was done with DOT3 for years. I switched over to the cheap Comma DOT4 synthetic that Halford's sells and its been fine. When i was in Norway i subjected my brakes to extreme abuse with the mountainous terrain and as far as i can tell my fluid never had an issue.

[ex-x-fire]

If it call for dot 3, then use dot 3.

[komichal]

The reservoir cap says "use DOT4". I can imagine it would work fine with DOT3 but the cost is the same so why not pour in what it wants.