hello everyone,
i have a vy calais s 2 and owned it for a year now. Im changing my rear brake pads and so i have purchased some castrol brake fluid dot 4 to refill half of my brake fluid found in the resevouir. Can you mix brake fluid, regardless of the brand name?
Brake fluid should be changed every two years. Read your books if you don't believe me.
Would it not be better to top it up as you empty it front and rear with nice new fluid?
The fluid in the vehicle now will be a conventional DOT 3 or DOT 4 spec product, most likely DOT 4. Castrol DOT 4 will be compatible with these regardless of brand as they are all polyglycol based. DOT 4 is a superior product to DOT 3 fluids due to its higher boiling point threshhold.
The standard brake fluids do not blend with DOT 5 silicon brake fluids because the 2 types do not mix but it is very unlikely a DOT 5 product is in your car.
In any event you must bleed and replace the brake fluid in the entire system every 24 months (because of deterioration due to contamination and moisture absorbtion). So you should do the full system now.
Get a price from a mechanic to vacuum bleed them. I got mine dome for about $55 and he used 1.5 litres of fluid so only charged a bit over $30 compared to DIY.
How much fluid is needed for a full flush? I've bought two 500ml bottles. Do I need more?
Two years ago I paid to have it done for $50, so I'm not sure how much I need to DIY? Doesn't show brake system capacity in owner's manual.
'Ah well, I suppose it had to come to this.'
you'll prob use one and a half bottles
did mine two weeks ago
that would be correct![]()