High Performance Racing Brake Fluid

High performance brake fluid has a boiling point greater than standard brake fluid. Having a high boiling point keeps brake fluid in liquid form that will not compress, and is essential for braking. At higher braking temperatures, performance brake fluid will remain in liquid form instead of vaporizing into a gas, causing spongy pedal behavior and poorer braking performance.

High performance brake fluids, such as synthetic formulas, have additives, which resist moisture build-up, allowing them to last longer than standard brake fluid. This allows you more time between brake fluid changes in most cases. A brake fluid tester lets you know when it's time to change your fluid, preventing unnecessary or premature brake fluid swaps.

Currently, there are four main types of automotive brake fluid:

If the brakes on your vehicle are used heavily and at high speeds, the brake fluid (sometimes referred to as "oil") will rise in temperature. If brake fluid reaches the boiling temperature, it starts to turn into a gas. This causes a spongy pedal feel and reduced brake performance due to the newly formed gas compressing (brake fluid in liquid form will not compress, providing a firmer feel). The solution is selecting a high temp brake fluid to prevent the fluid from vaporizing, such as dot 4 racing brake fluid. High performance dot 3 brake fluid is also good as it uses synthetic properties, allowing it to resist moisture and contaminants for longer periods of time.

The best racing brake fluid for performance cars and to use in drag racing is a high temperature fluid such as DOT 4. DOT 5 is not recommended unless your vehicle came from the factory designed with a brake system using DOT 5 fluid. This is because DOT 5 contains silicone, which requires a sterile environment to work with and can't be mixed with other brake fluids. DOT 5 will also not work with ABS as the silicone will begin to aerate through repeated brake use that ABS causes. DOT 5 silicone brake fluid also compresses more than DOT 3 and DOT 4, which results in a spongier brake pedal feel.