dodgemonkey

My '52 Prodrive failed its MOT due to one corroded brake pipe. I asked the garage to go ahead with the repair and thought I'd be picking the car up later in the day. However, the garage had to hold the car overnight because they said they had to order......DOT 3 fluid.......??? I told them that was nonsense, and to get 5.1 in there. I'd gladly sign a disclaimer if necessary, but the manager refused to do that, saying that the spec for these cars was DOT 3. I had to wait until this afternoon to pick the car up, complete with out-dated brake fluid.
Anyone had this happen to them? I am flabbergasted.

Mike

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

its a bit of a misconception that DOT 3 is outdated, thats like saying dot 4 is outdated, it depends on what it is, a fully synthetic dot 3 isnt outdated and may well suit the application, some dot 4's are better than dot 5.1, though you would be best checking with what the handbook recommends as a minimum requirement for your car

Tony

ScoobySteve69

iTrader: (13)

Change your garage.

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

So if the manufacturer recommends a dot 3 he has to change his garage?
As most dot 3 & 4 fluids are fully synthetic, it sort of defeats the object

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Looking it up, Dot 3 is the recommended subaru lubricant with a dot 4 as an alternative.
http://ken-gilbert.com/wrx/01impreza/imp01_gen.pdf

Tony

ScoobySteve69

iTrader: (13)

I was told DOT 5.1 for newer cars to get the best out of it.

"The difference in Dot 3, 4 and 5.1 is its boiling point. The higher number having the higher point so better".

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Have you seen the boiling point on 5.1? do you know how much heat you would need to get Dot 3 to boil on the road?!!

its total BS about which Dot to use, 3 is as good as 4 which is as good as a 5.1 on a road car, very few people will ever boil a DOT 3 brake fluid on the road, if they do then its down to the fact it probably needs changing as its breaking down, anyone who said you NEED a 5.1 is fleecing you, a dot 3 or 4 are more than sufficient for a road car, and most dot 4's are sufficient for track use.

Tony

DT-SPD

iTrader: (7)

i think the op point was that the garage held up the work specifically to fit DOT3 when the customer could have had their car back with DOT4 or 5.1 with no negative effects.

I agree with Tony's comments but the same could be said for 95ron fuel and supermarket mineral oil...... both would work ok for road use but I bet not many people use them.

ScoobySteve69

iTrader: (13)

It`s just what I`ve been told on here

stockcar

the numnbers are simply min stds that they have to attain dependant on what the regulation is aimed at (dot5.1 was introduced specifically for ABS type applications generally)

its far more important to buy the right "quality" / performance fluid for the intended use rather than getting caught up in the numbering.........

alyn

DonNedly

iTrader: (10)

I wouldn't take my car to a garage that refuse to do what i ask them.
You are the one paying for it!

Tidgy

if you aint boiled some dot 4 on the road you aint trying you *****,,,,,,,,,

ok i did cook mine on the isle of mann

dodgemonkey

Thanks for the replies fellas. Very helpful indeed. Basically I was also under the impression that for a performance car it was a prudent move to go to 5.1. Performance specialists near me also do this as a matter of course. The thing is I can't even get any DOT 3 from Halfords - they don't stock it any more. I believe the garage were stalling because they hadn't finished the brake line.
Also the car might well have had 5.1 already in the lines by way of the last service, but I don't know that for certain.
The car failed on emissions as well. Not massively, but enough for them to scratch their heads and tell me that one or both Cats had possibly died. Well, by the time I'd paid for the brake line work, I pulled the car out of their workshop and took it to Power Engineering, who immediately diagnosed the car hadn't got any Cats in the exhaust system whatsoever. There you go, I didn't know this until it came out in the gas test. So, why didn't the garage tell me there weren't any Cats present in the exhaust system the first place?
Anyway, it's dig deep time, but crikey, these cars are really something special, ain't they

Thanks again boys,

Mike