DOT 5 Brake Fluid - SV650.org

DJ123 · 03-08-11, 06:26 PM

On a Suzuki SV650s K3, can i replace the front and rear fluid with DOT 5. Or would it potentially cause issues?

yorkie_chris · 03-08-11, 06:51 PM

Probably cause issues, and why do you want to?

How often are you boiling the brakes to require fancy fluid? If a lot, what's wrong with them and/or why are you holding the brakes on down the straights?

Standard car shop cheapie DOT 4 is absolutely adequate for 99.9% of users. Some racers get it hot enough to actually benefit from super fancy tenner a litre race fluid.

More important is to service the thing so they're working properly rather than try fix a problem by throwing money in wrong place.

DOT5 may be bad, 5.1 is more friendly and compatible with stuff. I say DOT 4 works fine.

rictus01 · 03-08-11, 06:53 PM

Dot 5 is silicone based (unlike dot3/4), it will work in the SV system, but the most important thing it to completely flush and drain the system if it's been filled with DOT 4, as the two don't work together, a point to note is some ABS system components aren't compatable.

Cheers Mark.

DJ123 · 03-08-11, 06:55 PM

It's not a change through my riding at all. I have a bottle of it in the garage and thought i would see if it was a compatible fluid.
I will stick with DOT 4 and replace the fluids
Cheers for your inputs and replies

johnnyrod · 04-08-11, 09:14 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT_4
make sure you know if it's DOT 5 or 5.1, one is silicone and one is glycol based (as are 3 and 4). You can't mix different types but you can mix with the same type. As said above no need for silicone on the road.

03-08-11, 06:26 PM	#1
DJ123 Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Somewhere over there Posts: 3,245	DOT 5 Brake Fluid On a Suzuki SV650s K3, can i replace the front and rear fluid with DOT 5. Or would it potentially cause issues?

03-08-11, 06:51 PM	#2
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: DOT 5 Brake Fluid Probably cause issues, and why do you want to? How often are you boiling the brakes to require fancy fluid? If a lot, what's wrong with them and/or why are you holding the brakes on down the straights? Standard car shop cheapie DOT 4 is absolutely adequate for 99.9% of users. Some racers get it hot enough to actually benefit from super fancy tenner a litre race fluid. More important is to service the thing so they're working properly rather than try fix a problem by throwing money in wrong place. DOT5 may be bad, 5.1 is more friendly and compatible with stuff. I say DOT 4 works fine. __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

03-08-11, 06:53 PM	#3
rictus01 Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: South London Posts: 9,799	Re: DOT 5 Brake Fluid Dot 5 is silicone based (unlike dot3/4), it will work in the SV system, but the most important thing it to completely flush and drain the system if it's been filled with DOT 4, as the two don't work together, a point to note is some ABS system components aren't compatable. Cheers Mark. __________________ Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'Wow! What a Ride!

03-08-11, 06:55 PM	#4
DJ123 Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Somewhere over there Posts: 3,245	Re: DOT 5 Brake Fluid It's not a change through my riding at all. I have a bottle of it in the garage and thought i would see if it was a compatible fluid. I will stick with DOT 4 and replace the fluids Cheers for your inputs and replies

04-08-11, 09:14 AM	#5
johnnyrod Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Doncaster, oop norf Posts: 2,122	Re: DOT 5 Brake Fluid http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT_4 make sure you know if it's DOT 5 or 5.1, one is silicone and one is glycol based (as are 3 and 4). You can't mix different types but you can mix with the same type. As said above no need for silicone on the road.

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