The Ford Barn

Merc Cruzer · 05-09-2018, 07:53 PM

By way of a back ground: my 53' Mercury has the original Bendix Treadle-Vac power brake system with drum brakes. I finished flushing out the brakes today (it has been three years since the last flush) and exhausted the bottle of dot 3 brake fluid that I bought last year. I went to the local auto parts store (O'Reillys) and all I can find is dot 3 "synthetic" brake fluid. Is it still possible to find glycol based dot 3 brake fluid? If not, is the "synthetic" dot 3 comparable with the old dot 3 glycol based brake fluid?

paul2748 · 05-09-2018, 08:39 PM

If you have more than one parts store in your area, check the other out. Shouldn't be hard to find.

Check the writing on the bottle/can. Should say if compatible with glycol based.

Worse comes to worse, there's always ebay or Amazon.

If you flushed the entire system, you might want to consider dot 5 No need to flush every three years.

40cpe · 05-09-2018, 09:53 PM

Googling and reading the "web", it seems as if all brake fluid is synthetic, but DOT 5 contains silicone. Multiple sources say any DOT 3 or DOT 4 mixes with any DOT 3 or DOT 4.

Tinker · 05-09-2018, 09:59 PM

Farmstores and the last napa I was at, had regular dot3. But I live in the sticks. Oh course you know don't mix 3 with 5. I'm sure you can have it delivered to your door through amazon. Love or hate them they have it.

Frank Miller · 05-10-2018, 06:40 AM

Here is a thread that spells it out. The synthetic on the bottle is just a sales gimmick. It has always been synthetic.
https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forum...Number=2332203

RKS.PA · 05-10-2018, 07:39 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Frank, I've always wondered about this. Thanks for finally clearing it up for me!!!

Merc Cruzer · 05-10-2018, 11:32 AM

https://www.autozone.com/brake-and-p...uid/202094_0_0

Looks like Auto Zone has it, under product details: Oil Composition:Conventional

Product Details
Part Number: AZBFGAL
Weight: 9.25lbs
Container Type: Plastic
Flash Point (°F): 275
Fluid Type: DOT 3
Minimum Dry Boiling Point (°F): 480
Minimum Wet Boiling Point (°F): 0
Oil Composition: Conventional

Ford Freak · 05-10-2018, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RKS.PA

Frank, I've always wondered about this. Thanks for finally clearing it up for me!!!

Yep , me too . Thanks !

Mart · 05-10-2018, 12:05 PM

If you have a choice, go for dot 4 over dot 3. I tested some slave cylinders years ago (in my day job) and they were failing prematurely. After switching to dot 4 from dot 3 they held up well. I've used dot 5 sometimes but have gone over to only using dot 4 on anything I have around me now, probably for the last 15 years or so.

Mart.

ckh · 05-10-2018, 01:46 PM

AutoZone Part# AB-12

Merc Cruzer · 05-10-2018, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckh

AutoZone Part# AB-12

Product Details
Part Number: AB12
Weight: 0.85lbs
Container Type: Molded Plastic
Flash Point (°F): 250
Fluid Type: DOT 3
Minimum Dry Boiling Point (°F): 519
Minimum Wet Boiling Point (°F): 368
Oil Composition: Synthetic

05-09-2018, 08:39 PM	#2
paul2748 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Midland Park, NJ Posts: 3,982	Re: Where do I find glycol based brake fluid? If you have more than one parts store in your area, check the other out. Shouldn't be hard to find. Check the writing on the bottle/can. Should say if compatible with glycol based. Worse comes to worse, there's always ebay or Amazon. If you flushed the entire system, you might want to consider dot 5 No need to flush every three years. __________________ 48 Ford Conv 56 Tbird 54 Ford Victoria

05-09-2018, 09:53 PM	#3
40cpe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Star, MS Posts: 4,024	Re: Where do I find glycol based brake fluid? Googling and reading the "web", it seems as if all brake fluid is synthetic, but DOT 5 contains silicone. Multiple sources say any DOT 3 or DOT 4 mixes with any DOT 3 or DOT 4.

05-09-2018, 09:59 PM	#4
Tinker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: MN Posts: 7,053	Re: Where do I find glycol based brake fluid? Farmstores and the last napa I was at, had regular dot3. But I live in the sticks. Oh course you know don't mix 3 with 5. I'm sure you can have it delivered to your door through amazon. Love or hate them they have it.

05-10-2018, 06:40 AM	#5
Frank Miller Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auburn, MA Posts: 2,106	Re: Where do I find glycol based brake fluid? Here is a thread that spells it out. The synthetic on the bottle is just a sales gimmick. It has always been synthetic. https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forum...Number=2332203 __________________ “The technique of infamy is to start two lies at once and get people arguing heatedly over which is true.” ~ Ezra Pound

05-10-2018, 07:39 AM	#6
RKS.PA Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Marana, AZ Posts: 1,194	Re: Where do I find glycol based brake fluid? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Frank, I've always wondered about this. Thanks for finally clearing it up for me!!!

05-10-2018, 11:32 AM	#7
Merc Cruzer Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Conifer, Colorado Posts: 2,429	Re: Where do I find glycol based brake fluid? https://www.autozone.com/brake-and-p...uid/202094_0_0 Looks like Auto Zone has it, under product details: Oil Composition:Conventional Product Details Part Number: AZBFGAL Weight: 9.25lbs Container Type: Plastic Flash Point (°F): 275 Fluid Type: DOT 3 Minimum Dry Boiling Point (°F): 480 Minimum Wet Boiling Point (°F): 0 Oil Composition: Conventional Last edited by Merc Cruzer; 05-10-2018 at 03:13 PM.

05-10-2018, 12:05 PM	#9
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,749	Re: Where do I find glycol based brake fluid? If you have a choice, go for dot 4 over dot 3. I tested some slave cylinders years ago (in my day job) and they were failing prematurely. After switching to dot 4 from dot 3 they held up well. I've used dot 5 sometimes but have gone over to only using dot 4 on anything I have around me now, probably for the last 15 years or so. Mart.

05-10-2018, 01:46 PM	#10
ckh Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 18	Re: Where do I find glycol based brake fluid? AutoZone Part# AB-12