Crap! Dot5 brake fluid in a Dot4 system - can you flush with alcohol and be safe? [Archive]

chickenhawk

23rd March 2010, 20:16

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid... I just got in the house from making the biggest bonehead mistake... inadvertently put Dot5 in my '07 that takes Dot4.

Long story short... brother was over and I asked him if he wanted to help me bleed my brakes quick before he took off.. no problem... so we go out to the garage and I grab the brake fluid container and give it to him to keep resevoir full as we bleed. We are bleeding for sometime then I see the fluid coming out purple... huh?... take a look at the bottle and it's Dot5!! Crap, I didn't think that I had new container of brake fluid laying around that was for my old bike... I was very disappointed in myself to say the least for not checking, even though I thought there was no way I had any kind other than Dot4 on the shelf. :frownthre

Anybody know what my options are - Do I have to take the whole brake system apart to clean out or can I flush with a certain alcohol and bleed a few masters full of Dot4 through and be ok?

milmat1

23rd March 2010, 20:27

Wait for the experts to chime in but myself I wouldn't worry much about it....

gusotto

23rd March 2010, 20:29

You might get lucky as it was just introduced and try flushing it out. Big time flush!

If you had been running it for a while, that's different but always check DOT on the bottles and bikes. Of course, you've already learned.

Good luck!

TripleDuck

23rd March 2010, 20:49

I think I would drain it and flush it completely several times with DOT 4. If you don't flush it enough, my guess (and thats all it is) is the bad symptom you would see would be hanging/dragging calipers. Good luck!

Flame_Retardent

23rd March 2010, 21:22

I think you're supposed to use denatured alcohol, can't remember for sure. You'd have to flush it out REAL good, too.

GoldfishPimp

23rd March 2010, 22:05

No one has ever accused me of being the sharpest tool in the shed.. so just take this as being my .02 (and unfortunately this is speaking from experience). If it were mine, I would flush it with an entire bottle of Dot4. Ride it for a couple of weeks and then flush it with another bottle. I imagine most mechanics would say new lines, seals, and rebuild the calipers.. but I would try this first. It worked for me and I never had any issues.

Good Luck.

rocketmangb

23rd March 2010, 22:55

Had you put p/s fluid or oil in there i would sweat it.

As it is i would flush with DOT 4 and monitor it.

DIESEL

23rd March 2010, 23:17

Don't go overboard. Get a vacuum bleeder, if someone has one. Then take off the master cylinder cover. Suck all the fluid out. Then put the proper fluid in and bleed until it is to your liking.

then ride, it isn't the end of the world or that big of a deal.

chickenhawk

24th March 2010, 00:31

Took everyones advice and flushed with Dot4 and then some. I think I may have caught it in time (only 3hrs between time it happened until flush).
Steps I took were drained the front lines and wiped down master cyl completely dry. Flushed sytem with entire bottle per GoldfishPimp's recommendation. After I flushed the sytem with Dot4, I emptied the master cyl and cleaned completely dry again. Then bled the brakes normal procedure. All seems good, but will take it for a longer ride in a couple hours and see how it feels.
I'll probably flush again in a few days just to feel safe.
Thanks again for the great advice and helping me keep things in perspective :)

bighit4u32

24th March 2010, 00:45

you can also flush it with mineral spirits to clean it out really good

Reynoldston

24th March 2010, 00:53

Don't put mineral spirits in any brake system

darett

24th March 2010, 01:08

BE CAREFUL because the DOT5 will eat your seals and leve you with no brakes

Krlyman

24th March 2010, 01:51

Don't forget to wipe before you flush!

bighit4u32

24th March 2010, 02:06

Don't put mineral spirits in any brake system

really? why not? i've heard that from many people

ozark

24th March 2010, 02:34

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid... I just got in the house from making the biggest bonehead mistake... inadvertently put Dot5 in my '07 that takes Dot4.

Long story short... brother was over and I asked him if he wanted to help me bleed my brakes quick before he took off.. no problem... so we go out to the garage and I grab the brake fluid container and give it to him to keep resevoir full as we bleed. We are bleeding for sometime then I see the fluid coming out purple... huh?... take a look at the bottle and it's Dot5!! Crap, I didn't think that I had new container of brake fluid laying around that was for my old bike... I was very disappointed in myself to say the least for not checking, even though I thought there was no way I had any kind other than Dot4 on the shelf. :frownthre

Anybody know what my options are - Do I have to take the whole brake system apart to clean out or can I flush with a certain alcohol and bleed a few masters full of Dot4 through and be ok?

It's not the first time it has happened :rolleyes: Empty the reservoir, flush it with the right stuff a couple of times.

Ozark

williamv1203

24th March 2010, 06:45

really? why not? i've heard that from many people

Mineral spirits permeate the rubber and/or neoprene seals, causing them to swell and eventually deteriorate. It is absorbed by the porosity of the rubber, breaking down the chemical composition which weakens the structural integrity of the rubber. Then disaster... :geek

FoxsterUK

24th March 2010, 08:41

Just a thought...it was definately DOT 5 and not 5.1, right? :shhhh

williamv1203

24th March 2010, 08:57

Just a thought...it was definately DOT 5 and not 5.1, right? :shhhh

Excellent point as there is a difference... Hopefully it was 5.1.

Reynoldston

24th March 2010, 16:57

Mineral spirits permeate the rubber and/or neoprene seals, causing them to swell and eventually deteriorate. It is absorbed by the porosity of the rubber, breaking down the chemical composition which weakens the structural integrity of the rubber. Then disaster...
__________________
Well said

DIESEL

24th March 2010, 21:06

You're going to flush again? Seems overkill. but it's your bike and your money.

rocketmangb

24th March 2010, 23:18

I dont believe DOT 5 will eat the seals it just doesnt mix with DOT 4

5 is Silicon based and 4 is Glycol based

darett

24th March 2010, 23:36

I dont believe DOT 5 will eat the seals it just doesnt mix with DOT 4

5 is Silicon based and 4 is Glycol based

it will also eat your paint and it will turn your seal to a gummy like goo

williamv1203

25th March 2010, 05:35

I dont believe DOT 5 will eat the seals it just doesnt mix with DOT 4

5 is Silicon based and 4 is Glycol based

Different composition of seal; rubber/neoprene/latex materials were used in the different systems. Yes to the not mixing part.
3, 4 and 5.1 mix as they are glycol based. 5 is silicon based as stated.

WarHorse

25th March 2010, 06:16

Glad I ran across this post as this is just the type of mistake I am famous for making. I luckily learned the differance before I did any work on my brakes, but I wouldn't put it past myself to not pay enough attention and do this in the future. Thanks to all that responded with the advise. Info to throw in the kit bag.