Does brake fluid brand matter?

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Author Message   Thomas Bielecki (Bielecki) New Member Username: Bielecki Post Number: 4 Registered: 04-2003 Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 09:00 pm:    I just changed the brake fluid on my D90 (similar enough to an early disco ). I used rebranded NAPA heavy duty DOT4 fluid. It complied with the FMVSS/116/DOT4 standard called for by the manual. While I searched the net for brake fluid info, it wasn't until after I bled the system that I found an article saying that the only brake fluid I should use it Castrol. The artical basically said that regardless of the specs, most brands contain detergents that will kill my MC, etc seals. Any truth to this? I checked for Castrol brake fluid at 4 local auto parts stores (that's about all of them), and haven't been able to find it.   wayne reyes (Snodog) New Member Username: Snodog Post Number: 34 Registered: 07-2003 Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 09:33 pm:    Ive heard castrol is the recommended choice for land rover.Its what ive always used.   Geoff 93 RRC (Geoff) Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 130 Registered: 11-2002 Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 10:31 pm:    Also heard Castrol is the brand to use for seal health. Got mine at Pep Boys.   Bill Bettridge (Billb) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Billb Post Number: 1205 Registered: 02-2002 Posted on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 08:30 am:    Thomas - the need for Castrol LMA (vegetable oil based) was only for early Rovers with seals conaining some natural rubber - that has not been the case for a couple decades now. Any good DOT 4 will do - don't worry. Bill   Phillip Perkinson (Rover4x4) Senior Member Username: Rover4x4 Post Number: 487 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 08:52 am:    yep. I have NAPA in my resevior with no problems.   John Lee (Johnlee) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Johnlee Post Number: 584 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 12:02 pm:    I like that Castol synthetic brake fluid, the one that is compatible with all DOT4 fluids (whether synthetic or not). I can't tell any difference in the various brake fluids, but the Castol synthetic fluid is clear instead of yellow. That way, I can tell at a glance if the brake fluid is dirty. Bleeding brakes is also easier because it's patently visible when you've gone from dirty to clean fluid.   Ron Brown (Ron) Senior Member Username: Ron Post Number: 534 Registered: 04-2001 Posted on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 12:43 am:    what castrol synthetic are you taking about? Ron   Greg Hirst (Gregh) Senior Member Username: Gregh Post Number: 346 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 01:08 am:    Ron- http://www.motorcarsltd.com/item.wws?sku=IN104668   p (Pfb) Member Username: Pfb Post Number: 67 Registered: 08-2003 Posted on Monday, October 27, 2003 - 04:43 pm:    ...but Castrol LMA is a very good choice for street cars and trucks.   Michael Noe (Noee) Senior Member Username: Noee Post Number: 768 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2003 - 02:11 pm:    I just flushed the Valvoline Synthetic (DOT3/4) into two of our cars (mazda,bmw) and will flush into the D2 as soon as the adapter for the PowerBleeder shows up. It appears the Valvoline is the same type product as the Castrol (non-silicon, DOT3/4 compatible, clear, etc.).