1. Registration trouble? Please use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom right corner of the page and your issue will be resolved.
    Dismiss Notice

DOT5 Fluid Change

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by jayhawkclint, Aug 31, 2007.

  1. jayhawkclint

    jayhawkclint ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    I put a hydraulic clutch into my '70. I used a Cherokee MC. I installed DOT3. I think my Buick headers are causing the fluid to boil Thinking about DOT5 now. The stuff is kinda 'spensive.

    How do I flush the DOT3 out without using up a bunch of DOT5?

    Is there a better fluid out there to combat this heat dissipation?
     
    jayhawkclint, Aug 31, 2007
    #1
  2. DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    I would get some insulation wrap to cover the line clsoest to the headers. I think if you wanted to you can flush the system out with alcohol, but do not call me on that. But if you change it to Dot5 then you will ahve to keep handy 2 differnt kinds of fluid, i am guessing you have DOT3 in your brakes. I like to keep things as simple as possible when i carry fluids on thetrails. And especially if somehow you lose your fluid on thetrail and do not have DOT5 with you, then it might be hard to find others on the trail with DOT 5 since it is not as widely used.
     
    DanStew, Aug 31, 2007
    #2
  3. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    I was thinking alcohol as well.
     
    sparky, Aug 31, 2007
    #3
  4. gopher_6_9

    gopher_6_9 Member

    Save your money. Got this tip from a local auto-x racer, go get motorcraft DOT 3 from a ford dealer it has as high a boiling point as most off the shelf dot 5 fluids and is relatively cheap. also if it is getting that hot fix the problem, not the symptom.
     
    gopher_6_9, Aug 31, 2007
    #4
  5. jayhawkclint

    jayhawkclint ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    I might try that out.

    I think the only thing I could try different other than fluid is to put on a set of manifolds.
     
    jayhawkclint, Aug 31, 2007
    #5
  6. krawl

    krawl Peon Trainee

    Insulate the headers too.
     
    krawl, Aug 31, 2007
    #6
  7. jeep2003

    jeep2003 Well-Known Member

    I had the same problem with my brakes they would get stuck on when i applyd them. I changed my fluid since it was pretty old and then i just made a little sheild with a piece of aluminum and it hasnt reoccured. The sheild is a very tight fit and i think it may even touch the manifold and the lines but it works so im not messin with it any further
     
    jeep2003, Aug 31, 2007
    #7
  8. w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    You could purge the system with DOT 4 fluid, which is compatible with DOT-3 fluid but with a higher boiling point. You should NEVER introduce DOT-5 fluid into a system that has ever had DOT-3 or DOT-4 fluid in it, because the chemistry is completely incompatible.

    DOT-5 fluid is silicon based, while the DOT-3 and -4 fluids are glycol-based.
    No amount of flushing with alcohol will ever get all of the fluid and sludge out of a braking system that has had a glycol-based fluid in it. Mixing fluid type sis the fastest way I can think of to fill your braking system with gunk that clogs up the passages and swells up the seals to ruin components.
     
    w3srl, Aug 31, 2007
    #8
  9. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    It's a clutch not brakes.
     
    sparky, Sep 1, 2007
    #9
  10. w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Same deal. Sorry. :oops:
     
    w3srl, Sep 1, 2007
    #10
  11. termin8ed

    termin8ed I didn't do it Staff Member

    Dot 5 will also swell rubber lines unless they were designed for dot5 fluid.
     
    termin8ed, Sep 1, 2007
    #11
  12. sparky

    sparky Sandgroper Staff Member Founder

    I really didn't know if it made a difference or not. :oops:
     
    sparky, Sep 1, 2007
    #12