DOT 3 is the brake fluid of cars, and many people fill it in their motorcycle brake systems. I use it on my motorbike because it provides better lubrication.
Can You Use Car Brake Fluid in a Motorcycle? You can use car brake fluid in a motorcycle because they have identical composition, are interchangeable, reduces replacement cost, provide high lubrication and rust prevention, have similar brake pressure, and have identical DOT ratings.
A few high-performance and advanced cars use DOT 4, which has a better boiling point and more stability. You can take the guidelines of an expert about the car brake fluid and its compatibility with the motorbike braking system.
Why would you use car brake fluid in a motorcycle?
Many people add car brake fluid to their motorbikes because both comprise several similarities. You can use it in your motorcycles due to the following benefits.
Identical composition
Several cars use the DOT 3 and DOT 4 brake fluids for the braking system. You can use them in motorcycles because they have identical composition to their brake lubricants.
It can increase the life expectancy and performance of brakes and their parts. They have an oil-based composition and work with anti-lock brakes.
Also, they comprise specific viscosities and particular flow properties according to their composition. Both have glycol and additional elements.
Their additives increase their performance, and they have chemical and heat stability. Both can release moisture and have identical additives.
They have identical inhibitors of rust layers and oxidation according to their composition. In addition, their metal-based composition makes them similar because they have copper traces.
These particles can boost their efficiency, and they improve the stability of brakes. It provides identical lubrication in the brake system of motorcycles.
They have similar hygroscopic properties with minor differences.
Interchangeable categories
You can add it to your motorbike because of its compatibility with the brake lines.
However, vehicle brake lubricants have high boiling points. You can use its similar grade for the motorcycle and stabilize the boiling limits.
These compatibilities and identical properties make them interchangeable. It has similar moisture-absorbing properties to its braking system, which increases the chance of their interchangeability.
Car braking fluid is compatible because of its high glycol content. It can work inside the brake lines without damaging them.
Cost reduction per change
The car brake fluids have large containers with specific packaging. Furthermore, they are expensive, and the bottles comprise seals.
You can open these containers once because they lose their sealing abilities. In such circumstances, moisture enters the container and changes its composition.
However, you cannot use this large container at one time. Therefore, you can select one container of vehicle brake lubricant and add it to your motorbike.
It can reduce the cost per fluid replacement and save a few dollars.
Selecting a large container of vehicle brake lubricant is better. So, you can add it to the motorbike braking system.
In such circumstances, you can save money on every brake fluid replacement. Its swap becomes less expensive and appealing for motorcyclists.
High lubrication and rust prevention
It is beneficial because it provides better lubrication. It has high lubrication properties because of more additives.
High lubrication can reduce the damage to different parts. The metallic components remain stable when the lubrication increases.
Their drying and friction level decreases and reduces the unwanted cracks, damage, and cranking sounds. It has higher glycol content and several additives which resist corrosion of lubricant flow lines.
This lubricant can reduce the corrosion of the motorcycle brake system and its components. It can decrease the rusting of brake pads and other metal-based parts.
Furthermore, it has a high moisture-absorbing ability, which reduces the water flow inside its braking mechanism. As a result, they remain safe from corrosion and damage.
It can reduce the oxidation and cracks of metallic components. The flow lines remain stable when you add lubricant inside them.
It has a particular viscosity and absorbs moisture to prevent the probability of rusting.
Identical brake pressure
Car brake fluids are hygroscopic and produce a specific pressure in the brake system. Therefore, you can use it in the motorbike braking mechanism because it can produce the standard pressure for optimized efficiency of the stop system.
It can monitor and regulate the brake pedal properly with equivalent pressure distribution. Furthermore, the vehicle braking lubricant can boost the pressure and result in effective brake performance on motorcycles.
They have identical pressure of about 800 PSI (pounds per square inch) which can increase to 2000 PSI. You can fill the vehicle brake fluid in the motorbike because they have identical pressure.
They can regulate and control the pressure due to their similar composition. Furthermore, their identical additives and inhibitors affect the pressure on the brake pedals.
Similar DOT ratings
You can use this on your motorbikes when it has a similar DOT rating. The manufacturers suggest the DOT (Department of Transportation) ratings for them.
DOT is a department that monitors and recommends the safety limits and optimized functionality of the brake fluids for a motorcycle and a vehicle.
The department suggests these ratings according to their wet and dry boiling limits. Car brake lubricants have high to low DOT ratings according to their boiling points.
You can use them when they have similar suggestions for DOT ratings. It increases the system’s compatibility and improves its performance.
How long does the brake fluid last in a motorcycle?
The motorcycles use DOT 4 fluids for the brake system. However, it has a standard life expectancy according to its composition. Its shelf life varies according to its use and condition.
The average lifespan of the suggested brake lubricant is about two years. However, many people use this because it has better moisture absorption and increases the efficiency of the stop system.
It can last several years inside the motorbike brake system and its components. In addition, the vehicle braking lubricant has a longer shelf life because of its stability at high temperatures.
The higher DOT rating of the fluid makes it more stable and increases its lifespan. The car fluids can last about 36 months.
Their lifespan increases according to their optimized use. You cannot use it in the motorcycle brake system for around three years because it loses efficiency and stability.
Can you mix old and new brake fluids?
You cannot mix the old and new brake fluid of cars and motorcycles. Therefore, you can drain all the braking lubricant from the system before adding the vehicle fluid.
Also, you can clean the flow lines and other components to avoid their mixing. Adding the new lubricant to the old can reduce the performance.
The lubrication fluids cannot perform at the stable efficiency level. Furthermore, mixing high DOT-rated lubricant with a low DOT-rated lubrication fluid can decrease its boiling point.
It cannot remain stable at high temperatures and loses its standard efficiency. Its moisture resistance reduces, and you cannot utilize the new lubricant.
Mixing two different grades of these lubricants can affect the brake system. You cannot fill the DOT 4 in a motorcycle when it has DOT 3 in the brake lines because it can damage them.
Also, its stop system loses efficiency, and you cannot stop it at variable acceleration ranges. In such circumstances, the number of accidents and collisions increases.
Related Articles: