Brian SCULPHER - TRIUMPH STAG

[Brian Sculpher]

I’ve just purchased a very nice Triumph Stag mk 1.5

My issue is with the type brake & clutch fluid used = currently I have tested the current fluid without a definitive answer as to type.

The following test proved more successful with a small sample of the very clear liquid in the reservoir wether it would mix with Dot 4.

Result = the clear mixture would not mix and stayed on top of the DOT4 even when shaken up.

Has anyone any idea what type of potentially clear silicone brake & clutch fluid I have as I understood it was normally tainted a purple colour.

 

Thanks for looking

Brian Scupher

[AndyTV8]

Congrats on your recent purchase, a good Stag is a cracking car.

DOT 3 or 5.1 fluid should mix happily with your DOT 4 sample.  Therefore - based on your description - whatever is in your master cylinder does not appear to be Glycol-based and is probably silicon-based (DOT 5).

That said, DOT 5 purchased these days is usually purple - but when it was first available for regular punters I do remember some brands being clear and being supplied with a label to put around the filler-cap stating what was in the system to avoid inadvertent filling. Perhaps it has been in there a long time  

…….. Andy

[Peter Truman]

I run Silicon DOT 5 purple in colour in the Vitesse and I have this DIY plastic covered label screwed to the bulkhead as a warning.

Normal brake fluid is hydroscopic ie absorbs water so using a brake moisture test tool should confirm whether or not it's silicon.

Edited July 1, 2023 by Peter Truman

[Brian Sculpher]

Thank you both you’ve been most helpful - I’ll do the same test now with a little of DOT 5 in order to be sure I don’t get any separation.

At lease I will now then when I flush the bleed/flush the system out later.

 

cheers 

Brian S

 

[Josef]

On top of Andy’s comments, the dot5 purple colour is not very apparent in a small sample, it can look near colourless.