Racing brake fluids vs genuine MB fluid?

[noogieman]

Next year I'm having sevice done to my car.
Don't drive my car often, service A or B comes every two year.
But I do an oil service every year.

On every two year service I have the brake fluid replaced.
I always used genuine MB bremsflüssigkeit.

For next year I was thinking I'd like to buy a performance type of brakefluid from Motul or Castrol?
Do you recommend these fluids instead of genuine MB, is there any advantage or disadvantage using racing performance brakefluid?

Racing brakefluid is it rated DOT4 or higher?
I know this type of racing fluid has a higher boiling point than MB's own brakefluid.

Brakefluid also absorbs moisture so should be replaced on regular basis on every service.
Are racing brakefluids also sensitive for moisture or not?

Castrol has a Performance fluid.
Do I need minimum 2L to flush and fill complete brake system?

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[gr33nmachin3]

From my personal experience (so take this for what it's worth) stick with the OEM MB or equivalent. I tracked/raced heavy pig Mustangs and all we ever used was the standard stuff. Unless it will affect how you perceive the car's performance, rather than its actual performance, just stick with the MB recommended stuff. In terms of moisture absorption, you may get a host of replies that tend to disagree with one another. As much as you are paying attention to the health of your brake fluid, you probably won't ever have to worry about how much absorption occurs. Good luck!

 

[noogieman]

The owner of MB dealership in Sweden is the car dealer king in Europe.
He's an oligark g-star!
He has tw@t prices on parts and service-repairs.
From now on I boycott the dealership and order stuff from Germany or other place.

I will stick with genuine fluid.

 

[Mactech]

I have some experience of racing brake fluid after 45 years in motorsport. Most racing fluid has and elevated high temperature performance.
But this does not come for free. Normally the working range is simply moved up the scale leaving the fluid less useful at low temperature.
This was brought home to me back in the 80's whilst using a new Castrol SRF fluid specifically designed to cure fluid cavitation at very high calliper temperature.
We also used dry ice to keep the fuel system cold on the grid and the clutch line also ran through this area of the car. Come the start and the clutch pedal went solid as the common fluid had frozen in the hydraulic clutch line
Beware using fluids which for anything they were not actually intended for.

 

[noogieman]

I have some experience of racing brake fluid after 45 years in motorsport. Most racing fluid has and elevated high temperature performance.
But this does not come for free. Normally the working range is simply moved up the scale leaving the fluid less useful at low temperature.
This was brought home to me back in the 80's whilst using a new Castrol SRF fluid specifically designed to cure fluid cavitation at very high calliper temperature.
We also used dry ice to keep the fuel system cold on the grid and the clutch line also ran through this area of the car. Come the start and the clutch pedal went solid as the common fluid had frozen in the hydraulic clutch line
Beware using fluids which for anything they were not actually intended for.

Best idea is to stick with genuine MB fluid and nothing else?
Less complicated.

 

[190]

The reality that temperature performance comes at a cost has been around a long time as far as brake fluid is concerned. The least hydroscopic brake fluid is the old Dot 3 and it's still widely used in some countries. Dot 4 is more hydroscopic and therefore needs changing more often. Dot 5.1 is worse still. Using the fluid with the performance that your car needs is sound advice. More can be less.

The other benefit of using an MB's recommended brake fluid is you will get the correct low viscosity version of Dot 4 to ensure ABS etc response times.

 

[DSM10000]

Best idea is to stick with genuine MB fluid and nothing else?
Less complicated.

In normal driving there will be no advantage at all in using a brake fluid designed to operate at much higher component temperatures.

All you will achieve is spending more money for no gain

 

[Petrol Pete]

I am glad Machtec #4 and 190 #6 chipped in here because I thought I had either dreamt (weird dreams , I know) about 'racing' brake fluid being not suitable for road use or I made it up !

Now I know the conversations while prepping for track days on road going bikes all those years ago did actually take place . The one I vaguely remember was someone (remember this was 'pre' internet forums) saying because of the small amount of brake fluid in a bikes system 'racing' brake fluid would be the best bet ...but replace it after the track day as it is more hydroscopic /unstable than tuff made for road use.

How much truth was in that I will never know . But at least I know I did not dream it !

 

[Bellow]

Hygroscopic.