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Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: oldcarpierre on June 10, 2013, 08:21:44 PM

Title: What type of brake fluid?
Post by: oldcarpierre on June 10, 2013, 08:21:44 PM

Guys,
Back in 1982, a mechanic put the wrong type of brake fluid in my 1980 Cordoba.  Everything seized up: master cylinder, metering valve, brake cylinders.  Served me well for driving a Mopar.
Fast forward to today.  I need to top up the brake fluid on my `74; a simple machine with no power brakes.
The guys at my local Ford dealer do not know for sure.  They think DOT 3, but not sure.
What should I use?
Thanks.
 

Title: Re: What type of brake fluid?
Post by: dennisofaz on June 10, 2013, 09:19:54 PM

Hi Pierre,


I have always used DOT3 brake fluid on my Pintos.


Dennis

Title: Re: What type of brake fluid?
Post by: D.R.Ball on June 10, 2013, 10:04:19 PM

As per the 1976 Ford Pinto owners manual use the ESA-M6C25-a of which should be DOT 3. It should be marked on the bottle IE if it says Ford spec that's what you use. Note for automatic transmission fluid use the Ford spec plus the year IE for use in Pre 1985 or so cars. Get an owners manual and use bing.com to get search info.

Title: Re: What type of brake fluid?
Post by: 74 PintoWagon on June 10, 2013, 10:31:07 PM

If you don't know what's in it now and it don't look clean, best thing to do is flush the system and put fresh DOT3 in, that way you'll know what you have and have piece of mind that the brakes will work, that's not something you want to cut corners on..

Title: Re: What type of brake fluid?
Post by: sedandelivery on June 11, 2013, 07:08:27 AM

My one Pinto had a sticker on the master cylinder stating use DOT 3 brake fluid only. I have 1980's they are all the same I think.

Title: Re: What type of brake fluid?
Post by: Pinto5.0 on June 11, 2013, 07:12:58 PM

Any Dot 3 works fine whether it's called synthetic or not. There is no difference. If you did a lot of performance driving then Dot 4 is preferable with it's higher boiling point. If you flush your lines with fresh Dot 3 you will raise the boiling point of your fluid by over 100 degrees. It's a good reason to flush yearly.

Title: Re: What type of brake fluid?
Post by: OhSix9 on June 11, 2013, 07:18:37 PM

the above is right.  just don't mix it.  sounds like somebody used dot 4 on your last unit.  mixing dot 3 and 4 typically makes a bunch of goo which will require that you flush and rebuild / replace everything along the way.  that said if you are starting fresh go dot 4.

Title: Re: What type of brake fluid?
Post by: Pinto5.0 on June 11, 2013, 07:37:32 PM

You can mix the 2 but if you start diluting Dot 4 (expensive) with Dot 3 (cheap) you defeat the purpose of the expensive fluid which is a 450 degree boiling point. It's the silicone fluids that don't mix with conventional fluid. Silicone wont absorb water so it will force the water to the calipers & wheel cylinders & corrode & gum things up.
 
Don't waste your time with silicone fluid.

Title: Re: What type of brake fluid?
Post by: oldcarpierre on June 22, 2013, 07:12:12 PM

Guys, thank you for your help.
I will pull some of the old fluid and see of it is clean.  Depending on condition, top up with DOT3 or replace.