TSHong

I've just jumped into the D3 arena. I have purchased a black on black 05 A8L W12 with 49k. It's being shipped to me from TX so I'm just in the planning stage right now. The car is going to need front brakes and rotors. I have cross drilled front and rear rotors coming. I already have stainless braided lines. I am going to flush the brake fluid. I'm thinking of using the ATE blue Dot 4 fluid. Any opinions? Anyone here used the blue fluid, likes or dislikes?

Oneplank

Excellent choice for a vehicle. I would love to add a W12 to my stable.

Unless you are going to the track, any Audi spec'd DOT 4 should be just fine for the street. Regular brake fluid changes are more important than the fluid.

If you are going to the track, get the highest boiling fluid DOT 4 that you can buy and flush the brakes before each event.

MP4.2+6.0

I use the Ate Gold, which is chemically the same. Blue helps as the marker for new fluid during flushing if rotated w/ Gold. I just use Gold since I can usually see the color change from darker to lighter.

The Ate fluids have very high wet and dry boiling points so work well. VW/Audi branded fluid is actually relatively high on its boiling points too compared to standard off the shelf DOT4 stuff like standard Castrol.

TSHong

Thanks for the input.

uberwgn

The blue fluid ends up permanently staining everything in its path completely defeating the purpose of using it. I'd seek out one of the other ATE fluids or even grab a quart of Castrol DOT4 from Pimpboi.

Adirondack has the ATE product line including the new low-vis (LV) spec product: http://www.germanautoparts.com/Chemicals/Brakefluids

Mister Bally

Agreed, I always can tell the difference when the old, dirty gets expelled and the new comes through. I used to buy the VW stuff from dealers but now use Castrol. DOT 4.

Also, I used to follow the every 2 year rule but stopped once a Bendix (Knorr Bremse) engineer told me the results of testing they did. Also, lots of SAE info is out there. Why does GM, Ford And Chrysler not require it? Corvettes go pretty fast.

TSHong

I think it's a German thing. My sister's 09 E350 is scheduled every two years by Mercedes too. Most cars recommend somewhere between 30-60k but I'm going to change it because the car is new to me.

mishar

The highest standard is DOT 5.1. It requires the highest boiling points, both dry and wet. It also has twice lower viscosity which is very important for ABS brakes.

Mister Bally

I wonder why this sytem, which is on over 40% of the school buses in the US and Canada, only wants DOT3 or 4 brake fluid used? See step 13 on page 5:

http://www.meritorwabco.com/MeritorW...ent/tp0438.pdf

mishar

Could it be to match school buses nineteenth century design?