Skip

Certainly no offense to any mechanics or others who may think that Ate products are more hygroscopic than others, but I must disagree. Ate Super Blue and Ate Type 200 (gold variant - 200 refers to degrees celcius, the *wet* boiling point) are both rated DOT4+ (similar to 5.1), which indicate they are of the highest in a scale of resistance to water retention.

Given that I investigated this fully a few years ago, the only brake fluids that are appreciably less prone to hygroscopicity are silicone-base types (DOT 5). In so much that the main reason to use silicone is that it physically cannot absorb moisture. However, it is more compressible at elevated temps, and therefore unsuitable for racing.

All natural base (Polyglycolether) brake fluids are hygroscopic, and almost to the same extent within their respective "class" (DOT 3, 4, 5.1).

EDIT: Another thing to consider with brake fluids is to not use stored fluid (unsealed/open) that has been "on-the-shelf" more than 6 months - this largely dependent on the storage conditions.

Porsh-uh

As always Skip, you are a fountain of information. Thank you. The rest of the world could take a lesson in the way you do business.

Thaddeus

I use it. No issues to date. Also it's easier to see if the reservoir is full than with the amber stuff.

Mr Michael B

Guys,

The point may be moot anyhow. As "superblue" has been discontinued. Only the gold is remaining.

Get the blue while ya can I guess.

Skip

Agreed, get it while you can! I can't imagine why they discontinued it without offering a replacement - maybe in lime green or hot pink <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

I wouldn't say the point of "what's good" is moot, though. The Ate Type 200 is the same stuff, and continues to be produced and available. I'm sure someone with a small amount of Rit color dye could make it any color they wish

Skip

Mr Michael B

Yeah, its great stuff.

The buzz is: some regulations have killed it because of the added color.

That is kinda a rough deal for those of us that wanted it for just that reason alone 'eh.

Skip

Maybe we could get them to reveal the "secret ingredient" so we can mix our own

Skip

Z-man

Skip: I may have misunderstood what my mechanic was saying: perhaps he was just stressing the fact that all brake fluid, no matter how high a temp tolerance it is, is still hygroscopic, and as such it needs to be bled to prevent brake fade.

-Z-man.

Skip

Completely agree - all brake fluids should be bled regularly to maintain newness (?) - however, the temp range tolerance is coincedent to the structure of the fluid, and would naturally be more resistant to water intrusion.

Re: bleeding - Some [fluids] are more important than others, especially when considering that DOT3 fluids hold water better than other higher rated fluids (DOT4, 5.1). Add to this that the effects of racing (extreme heating and cooling) will aid in the development of condensation. Further, where the car is stored and driven (climate) is another issue.

As a side note; don't confuse the properties of DOT5 and DOT5.1 - they are completely different, and should really not share the same prefix. DOT5 is silicone-based, DOT5.1 is glycol-based.

Skip