Has anybody switched to DOT 4 brake fluid? I am going to be doing a brake flush soon and was thinking about it. Not for a performance gain but as a better fluid.

 

I haven't changed mine. But welcome to Acurazine anyway!!

 

Motul 5.1.

Pretty damn good fluid, and it will shorten up your stopping distances a bit with just the fluid alone.

 

DOT4 is a preferred upgrade to the stock dot3, can be used without problem of any kind
MT cars should flush clutch cylinder same way- every year since they have a known weak seal prob

any DOT4 brake fluid meets and exceeds DOT spec3- better moisture and temp resistance with 4
synthetic or regular doesnt really matter on street driving- I use synth for 5 bucks a qt and change it every year for best fluid all the time.
Moisture gets into fluid -wiki hygroscopic- destroys its ability to function properly,weakens pedal feel, and starts to eat expensive ABS or caliper parts

for hardcore drivers who drive at the limit of the brakes and want the ABS to kick in a little later--IE: Skilled track day trained drivers who think they are racers:
then Motul 5.1, note Point ONE not the 5 point zero which contains silicones that are death for our brake hydraulic system and NOT approved
5.1 is about 15-25 per qt depending on maker
if you are going 5.1 may as well do SS brake lines to get max out of the brakes you can
Those dont expand under heat and pressure- so SS lines keep solid pedal feel, good fluid doesnt boil and lose feel...

 

Thanks for the warm welcoming and for your input everybody. I will just switch to regular dot 4 fluid.

 

the bleed/flush order is special on the TL
LF - driver front then clockwise around the car LF RF RR LR

 

Amsoil sells a DOT3 that exceeds typical mass market (Prestone, Valvoline, etc) DOT4 fluids. Costs a little more, but not outragously so.

Amsoil also has a DOT4 that is even higher specs.

 

I actually did a brake flush on my car today with Castrol GT LMA.

 

I prefer DOT 5.1 in ABS equipped cars. The ABS funcitons more effectively and will slightly shorten stopping distances. It's half as thick as DOT 3 or 4.

 

Ive got to come drive your gen3 to understand the differance in abs systems to the gen2 and why the abs seems to be so sensative on your car
Maybe I will be a 5.1 convert then, or diagnose your modulator as defective lol

 

I welcome you to drive it if you're ever in the area. That goes for anyone on the board. I've often wondered if mine is not defective. With the 5.1 it now chirps the tires as it pulses, something it would not do with DOT 3 and I did bleed it once with DOT 3.

 

have you ck'd if part of the abs modulator problem cars?- iirc it was pulling air in every time you hit the pedal---

 

my gen2 with decently sticky tires on 225-18s has a really tough time getting the ABS to activate in dry conditions- its a simpler version than gen3,,
but chirping the tires with nittos- hard to believe the system is working properly

 

It's not just yours, I can get mine to go nuts on dry roads, without any type of panic stop. I think part of it is the craptacular stock MXM4 tires, in my case.

 

I kind of wanted it to chirp the tires just to know I'm near the limits. At first it was way too conservative. This is the same system I was able to outstop by 20' by pulling the ABS fuse. It seems to stop harder now but I would have to go out and measure.

Is there a list of VINs or years that are affected by the bad modulator? Only thing is, my pedal is consistant.

I do remember getting used to the ex's '05 TL and then buying mine brand new and the one difference I noticed was my brake pedal was lower and softer. However, it's remained consistant, no worse, no better even with 3 different fluids and the BBK.

 

This one?

http://www.in.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SB/B07-041.PDF

 

bear to the rescue! awesome man!