Do I really have to use HONDA brake fluid in my 98 Accord Cpe? Or can I get any old DOT4 approved fluid?

THANKS

 

Long as brake fluid is DOT 4 approved it will be fine.

 

even DOT 5 is good too.

 

What is the difference?

 

DOT 3 & 4 are poly-glycol, which is completely soluable in water. (That's how they get wet boiling point that's higher than 212F.) Difference is that DOT 4 requires higher boiling points.

DOT 5 is silicone, that's actually really bad for Honda brakes, unless you change lots of rubber parts & flush it out regularly. It doesn't absorb water, so if ANY water gets in, the boiling point suddenly drops to 212F.

DOT 5.1 has the high boiling points of DOT 5, but it's a poly-glycol fluid like DOT 3 & 4. Often a DOT 5.1 fluid is labeled as DOT 4 because it satisfies that spec. also.

 

Why would you not use Honda DOT3 fluid? It's cheap and recommended per your owners manual. I'm not sure if you are recommended to run any DOT4 in a Honda. Both mine specify DOT3.

 

Some aftermarket brake parts suggest flushing brake system and using DOT 4.
Isn't it just that the higher the DOT the higher temps they are good for?

 

You cannot mix DOT5 with either DOT3 or 4. The two fluids will gel.

If, for whatever reason, you feel that you need to run DOT5 (why?) then you need to completely flush your brake system with water. You can then refill it with either DOT3 or 4.

No need to though. Just run 3 or 4. They are interchangable.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but many of the higher performance brake fluids, Like the Mutols also aspirate over time much faster then typical DOT street fluid.

Sure it's great for track use, but I don't like bleeding my system monthly....DOT3 Honda is generally fine, why would you need DOT4 or higher fluid?

And if I recall do not use a Dot5 in the Honda system, it must be a 5.1 as 5 is silocone based, nasty stuff for street use.