brake fluid for 100 series-must use dot 3 not dot4

I thought dot 3 and dot 4 were interchangable ie dot for is just an improvement.

I'm not positive either, just what I read on the labels. It's pretty bad if it's the case for all vehicles. I'll certainly be looking at mine when I get home as most places would source seal, buckets, o-rings from similar manufacturers so it may effect many vehicles not just toyota.

Thanks

Same with Nissan Patrol. Cap on the brake and clutch reservoir says use Dot 3. Manual says use Dot 3 or Dot 4. Asked the Nissan guys and they gave me the "Nissan Ultra" brake fluid. Guess what? ... it says Dot 4 on the bottle. So go figure..........

Rob

Dot 3-4 are interchangable. dot 4 is the upgraded item with a higher temperture range. As far as I know valvoline hasn't marketed a dot3 fluid for sometime its a dot3-4 spec item.

Dot 5 is the problem its a silcon based item thats incompatible with most seals used these days.

BTW why would you pay $2500 for a master cylinder when appox $650 is the listed part number or $250 for a generic item .and a seal kit is $85 appox.Mind you add the fuild tank and seals kits for all the calipers .Have you abs because the modul would have to be stripped and cleaned as well.

shadow .... heresay is a dangerous rumor.

Price was from wynnum toyota brisbane.You dont want to buy the complete unit including the booster.Its only a master cylinder its not the complete unit.

The unforunate thing is when people in the game should know what they are talking about .For some reason they dont and enjoy scare mongering.One of the classic pieces of advice is "if you car is not service buy a Franchise dealer and use genuine parts we will not accept warrienty of the vechile".

This is the biggest load of bunk going around.The trade practise act enforces the manufactor to warrant all repairs no matter what brand of aftermarket parts used.
{Note if the after market part fails then the consumer must then recover his expences from the part manufactor.} e.g. you throw a cam and timing chain.The manufactor cannot say "you have a non genuine oil filter there for I think its oil starvation problem.go fish" or "you have a non genuine themostat and your motor has over heated you gopt to pay up." trade practices act protects you from this.

As for the VACC I dont mind they couldnt find the bent chassis in a GD300 merc I was going to buy,I didnt mind that they didnt find all the rust in the firewall.But I want to know is what they did for 2 hrs with the truck on their host and how the hell they didnt find the blown rear brake light is beyond me . BTW no they didnt get $130 for the inspection.

Unfortantly now there is half a dosen people now going about sprouting the dot 4 is no good for 100 series and how it will damage the cars.

But the best thing is with this forum is that now 30 or more people have learnt that asking a question i.e "is this true because such and such told me" on this forum will steer them in the right direction.

Your never to old to learn.

shadow

With regard to the Dot 5 Silicone brake fluid . I have used silicone in all of my vehicles for the last 20 years with no problems at all . My 1976 volkswagen still has all the original hydraulic components , the only things I have changed are pads and shoes . The strength of silicone fluid is its ability to exclude any moisture from the system thereby preventing any corrosion which is the only thing that will cause damage to the rubbers . I swear by the stuff but please adhere to the vehicle manufactures advice if in doubt , particularly with ABS (not recomended )

Fozzy,

I doubt that you could even buy dot3 anymore. It's very old spec now.

Greg

Owners manual saya Dot 3, for what its worth.