Which brake fluid?

poseidon

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Hi

Does anyone know which break fluid my car needs? Is it Dot 4 or Dot 5?

The car is 2011, E250 CDI, w212, buleficiency.
it says DOT 4 plus on the reservoir lid. I can not find this fluid n the shops.

Regards,
Pose.
 

AndySlade

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Brake fluid
I am sure Halfrauds or larger motor factor must have something suitable.

I always use the attached link to find correct fluids for my MB

Link to DOT at Hafords
 

AndySlade

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Woodleigh

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Guys it says DOT4+ on the lid and we answers for Dot 4 and Dot 5.


Have we all a hangover.

Give the man a bone.

Just google Dot 4 +

Available at lots of places.
So what's wrong with MB 331.0
 
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poseidon

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hi,

i canot find dot 4 plus in any shop within bike ride. i need car today.

dot4 and dot 5 are totally differnt technologies and not compatible.

pose
 

alexanderfoti

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dot 4 + has a lower viscocity rating for ABS/ESP Etc, compared to dot 4. Dot 5 is silicone based as you say, and fully incompatible.

If you need the car in a pinch, top up with dot 4, then flush with dot 4+, It wont cause any damage.
 
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poseidon

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hi,

i bought DOT 4 ESP from one of local shops. Sellers tell me that this is same as DOT 4 plus. I have now used this this oil for service.

It is strange that Halfords tell me that my car needs Dot 5.1 according to their database, and also the same information in the other parts shop.

On youtube, there are many videos and all say that w212 needs dot 4 plus.
Pose.
 

w204benz

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I was in a similar position recently, unable to find DOT 4 plus in the local shops. So I looked up the datasheet for the MB spec - apart from the lower viscosity it also has a slightly higher boiling point compared to normal DOT 4 (>260C).

In the end I got some ABS compatible DOT 4 racing fluid. The DOT 4 ESP is probably going to be fine (depending on how hard you drive).
 
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poseidon

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many thanks for all replies.
I will keep DOT 4 ESP.

It bugs me that sellers at halfords and other shops are so confident that my car needs DOT 5.1.
Quite likely some owners will have bought DOT 5.1 on halfords advice and could have used wrong brake fluid.
I am wondering if this would cause damage to braking components , or caused them to fail when you need brakes.

regards,
pose
 

gianton

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gianton

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hi,

i think that this is wrong information. It just confirms my experience with halfords, and conributes further to confusion.

can anyone confirm with confidence type of brake fluid for w212?

You can search yourself using the site from FUCHS. It’s the pdf file I attached above.

 

alexanderfoti

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W212

Mb spec 331.0 = Dot 4+

 

sonic

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many thanks for all replies.
I will keep DOT 4 ESP.

It bugs me that sellers at halfords and other shops are so confident that my car needs DOT 5.1.
Quite likely some owners will have bought DOT 5.1 on halfords advice and could have used wrong brake fluid.
I am wondering if this would cause damage to braking components , or caused them to fail when you need brakes.

regards,
pose
A long while back I bought a set of break pads for a Clio 1.4 from Halfords, & they wouldn't fit. Took them back checked the data sheet on the shelf which said I had the correct one. Rechecked on their database the number was different, The data sheet was incorrectly printed.
 
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poseidon

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You can search yourself using the site from FUCHS. It’s the pdf file I attached above.

Hi,
what if FUCH as major oil distributor gives wrong advice?
I was told (internet information) that DOT4 and DOT are of tottaly different composition and incompatible.
 

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