Never thought about changing the DOT rating of my brake fluid since I found out that DOT 5 could not be mixed with DOT 4 (and I'm too lazy to clean the whole system out rather than a quick flush through). Anyway, looking for brake fluid last night and I find that you can get a "super DOT 4 (like Motul RBF)" and a DOT 5.1 that can be mixed with DOT 4.
I think the only time I had brake fade on the Fazer was when chasing better riders down hill on the Alps and using a lot of hard braking. It is easy enough to change the fluid so unless it will last a LOT longer I don't think I need additional life. Any other benefits with the superior DOT 4 or DOT 5?
What is the collective thought about brake fluid? Stick with DOT 4 and save the extra pennies, use the DOT 5.1 (at twice the price) or go up to a racing brake fluid (at 4 times the price)?
I use DOT 4 and have never had any problems.
Some say that he eats habanero chilli peppers dipped in oil of capsaicin for extra bite and that his pyjamas are made from Nomex. All we know is, he's called Ad the Bad
I tried dot 5.1 in my ZX12 as the brakes got a hard life ,it did handle brake fade a touch better but not worth twice the price of dot 4 (I got mine at cost from work)
Its just a ride
DOT 4 or Super and 5.1 are fine DONT use DOT 5.
DOT 5.1 is the higher spec than standard 4 and can be bought from Halfords for only a pound more, Halfords 5.1 is top stuff used it on many a racer never had any issues. If you really want the top stuff for extreme work then opt for one of the DOT4 supers but these vary wildly in price e.g. Tweeks, Motul RBF 600 Factory Line DOT 4 £16.99 and Wurth High Performance Brake Fluid 250ml £5.10 both have a wet boiling point of 312* draw your own conclusions.
Later
Thanks peeps,
Found some ATE Super Blue DOT 4 at a price a little more than standard DOT4 and it comes in a metal tin so theory is can be stored for longer. Another selling point (per the web site) is because it is blue it is easier to bleed (not sure I follow that one personally, perhaps easier to see when the old fluid is flushed)!
The blue colour could just make it easier to see if you spill it or it leaks onto something light in colour but it will hide to a large extent any contamination/discolouration, personally I wouldn't use it.
Later
Is the only reason you would not use it because it will hide contamination or is there another reason?
I've never seen blue coloured brake fluid, some car manufactures use red/pink tinted stuff but this tends to be the 5.0 stuff which is used in suspension as well as brake systems. Fluid tends to discolour with use an age it can also change colour or have particles within it when elements of the system begins to wear, seals, lines and in the extreme master cylinder bores, the worse the discolouration the worse any issue may be.
The fluid is like a system indicator if you like nice clean fluid = good system. You will not get this early warning with blue fluid obviously it depends on the darkness of the blue but I dont think any tint will give you as much warning as most 5.1 which are almost as clear as water.
Later
As "natural" brake fluid is clear being alcohol based (even DOT 3 and 4), even the normall yellow stuff is dyed to make it yellow (as you said earlier to make it easier to see).
I think this is a blue "tint" like most stuff has a yellow "tint" rather than a colour. I'm guessing that the blue will taint with age/use just like the yellow/pink/green/whatever other colour the manufacturer decides to make it stuff.
