You will discover different types of brake fluid colors in the fluid industry. Different types of fluids have different names, for example, DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5, and DOT 5.1. These fluids have individual colors. They are also designed for different applications.
In addition, their wet and dry temperature is also different. Undoubtedly, the color of the brake fluid is one of the best indicators to find out good and bad fluid from your vehicles. If you are a car or other vehicle owner, you must know the brake fluid color and their work to safely drive and protect the vehicle’s brake.
Brake Fluid Color Chart
When you want to replace the vehicle’s master cylinder or brake pad, you need to purchase a bottle of brake fluid. Though you will discover plenty of brake fluids on the market, DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5, and DOT 5.1 provides you with a magical performance.
The following brake fluid color chart and individual discussion allow you to compare these fluids and also know about them deeply to consider the right fluid.
| DOT 3 | DOT 4 | DOT 5 | DOT 5.1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear bluish color | It almost mineral clear color with little yellow composition | DOT 5 brake fluid is a purple color | It is a translucent yellow color Fluid |
| Dry boiling temperature point 250-degree C and 140-degree C wet boiling melting point | Dry boiling 155-degrees C Temperature and wet boiling temperature is 230-degrees C | It is almost mineral clear color with little yellow composition | The dry boiling temperature is 270 degrees and the wet boiling point is 190 degrees C temperature |
| It is a poly glycol-based product | It is also a poly glycol-based product | silicone-based fluid | A poly glycol product |
Brake fluid color
Generally Brake fluid color is yellow or light yellow or clean. And after ages, it turns a dark brown or brownish color. Let’s discuss this in detail:
DOT 3
The DOT 3 brake fuel is a type of poly glycol-based product in the fluid industry. It is the first brake fluid in your vehicle. The classic and traditional vehicles used this fluid because of its popularity.
But, nowadays, it lost its popularity because of the advanced braking system. However, the minimum dry boiling temperature point of this fluid is 250 degrees C, and 140 degrees C is the wet boiling melting point.
The DOT 3 fluid system is suitable for light trucks, old cars, and normal driving. Overall, this fluid provides excellent performance for a vehicle that always takes a lightweight load.
DOT 3 fluid comes with clear bluish color when you newly purchase it. Moreover, you will also discover clear, yellow, blue, and red shade colors from DOT 3 fluid.
DOT 4
DOT 4 is another poly glycol-based product. The minimum wet boiling temperature of this fluid is 230 degrees C. When it comes to a dry situation, the minimum boiling point of this fluid is 155 degrees C when it is applied wet.
Unlike DOT 3 fluid, this fluid is used for higher, medium-size, or semi-modern vehicles. You can also consider this fluid for ABS systems, high-racing or normal cars, and the modern car.
But, there has a simple problem. DOT 4 fluid directly affected your vehicle’s paint. So, you need to use this fluid in your vehicle carefully.
The DOT 4 color is almost mineral clear color with little yellow composition. However, the DOT 4 fluid is compatible with DOT
DOT 5
Unlike the above two DOT 3 and DOT 4 fluids, this DOT 5 fluid comes with a silicone-based fluid system. The wet boiling point is 180 degrees C, and the dry boiling point is 260 degrees C.
DOT 5 fluid is mostly used in military vehicles. The best opportunity you will get from DOT 5 is long-time performance. It sets for a long-time to provide solid performance.
This DOT 5 brake fluid is incompatible with DOT 5.1, DOT 4, and DOT 3. Like DOT 4, this fluid is not damaged your vehicle’s paint. So, you don’t need to provide extra care to use this fluid.
Fresh or new DOT 5 brake fluid is a purple color. You will find this fluid in purple color, and the color is not changed over the years.
But, when you find DOT 5 fluid is Brown or black in color, that means you need to replace the fluid as soon as possible.
DOT 5.1
DOT 5.1 is easily mixed with DOT 3, DOT 4, and DOT 5. It is a poly glycol product. However, the minimum dry boiling temperature is 270 degrees C. On the other hand, the wet boiling point is 190 degrees C temperature.
Most important, you will allow this fluid for racing cars, towing vehicles, and fleet truck. The fresh DOT 5.1 fluid comes with translucent yellow color. In fact, you will get almost clear fluid on the bottle. Overall, DOT 5.1 is not damaged easily. You should change DOT 5.1 fluid at least every two years.
Brake Fluid Color Green
If you discover that your brake fluid color becomes green, probably because the fluid is contaminated with chemicals or attacking the brazed joint. Moreover, the brake tubing is also a culprit, which makes the brake fluid color green.
What happens when your braking fluid color becomes green? Finding the green color of your vehicle fluid is truly concerning for you when you continue driving in this situation; your car is seriously expensive and damaged.
After finding the brake fluid color green, you should replace it with new fluid as soon as possible. Keep watching your brake fluid color to drive the car safely.
Brake Fluid White Color
When your brake fluid color becomes white, you need to understand that the fluid is attacked by water ingress and molecular breakdown. Sometimes, the brake fluid’s white color comes with a jazzed problem, making the fluid color white.
After finding this problem, you should repair it as soon as possible. You can apply new brake fluid so that you can safely drive your vehicle.
What Color Is Brake Fluid When It Needs to Be Replaced?
The fresh brake fluid color always looks clean and hints of yellow. But, when it comes to brown or black color, the fluid is damaged.
What color brake fluid you need to use depends on your previous fluid color. If your previous brake fluid comes in purple color, you should replace it with replacing the color fluid.
To get accurate information about this matter, you should check out the brake fluid guide which you got with your vehicles. To avoid damaging your vehicle or brake system, you should replace the fluid with fresh brake fluid as soon as possible.
FAQs (Frequently Ask Questions)
Q: What color should brake fluid not be?
Answer: When your brake fluid color comes in white, green, brown, or black, you need to understand that the brake fluid is damaged. These colors of the brake fluid should not come in your vehicle.
Q: Why are brake fluids different colors?
Answer: The brake fluid comes in different colors because of several reasons. For example, DOT 3 is designed for classic or lightweight loading vehicles.
Q: What color is brake fluid when it needs to be replaced?
Answer: When the brake fluid comes in black or brown color, you should replace your vehicle’s fluid as soon as possible. Moreover, green and white colors are two popular indicators that the fluid is damaged.
Conclusions
To avoid trouble with your vehicle brake, you need to know properly about the brake fluid color. The brake fluid colors help you understand whether your vehicle brake fluid is damaged. When you find the liquid damaged and change the color, you should replace the brake fluid as soon as possible to avoid seriously damaged to the car.
Read