Eric, are you sure that you don't have DOT 5.1 there?  Bentley clearly
states that you *must not* use DOT 5 in the vanagon as it will lead to
serious internal corrosion.

david

At 20:18 4/4/99 -0400, EMZ wrote:
>   I think you better tone down your mouth there buddy! I have a
>bottle of DOT 5 in my hand right now. It state in very clear
>letters "compatible with all dot 3 and dot 4 systems. Go back to school!
>This has been discussed on the list in the past. Therefore I am not
>going to waste anymore of my time on this topic or with you.
>
>            Eric                   86-VW4x4
>            vw4x4@fyi.net          72-240z
>            Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler
>
>
>On Sun, 4 Apr 1999, Karl Wolz wrote:
>
>> WRONG!  DO NOT USE DOT 5 FLUID IN VANAGONS OR ANY OTHER VEHICLE NOT DESIGNED
>> FOR IT.  DOT 5 is designed for use with silicon seals and will dissolve
>> those in your vanagon.  Brake failure is imminent!!!  The other info on DOT
>> 3 vs. DOT 4 is correct, although I have used the two interchangeably and had
>> little difficulty, even on long (30 mile) downgrades.
>>
>> Karl Wolz
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: EMZ <vw4x4@FYI.NET>
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Date: Sunday, April 04, 1999 8:53 AM
>> Subject: Re: Brake fluid DOT 3-4-5-?
>>
>>
>> >  Nothing. The only time you will have a problem is if you
>> >used dot 3. DOt 3 will boil at lower temperatures. If you
>> >get the brakes hot, the fluid will boil, and that create air (boiled
>> >brake fluid) in the lines, just as you need the brakes most.
>> >Your brake  pedel may feel mushy or go right to the floor,
>> >but will pump up. After stopping and letting the brakes cool
>> >everything will return to normal. This has happend to me
>> >twice, as I'm very demanding of my vehicles, with all the hills
>> >here in W. PA. The fix is simplly bleed out all the old and in with the
>> >dot 4. (reference the filler cap)
>> >
>> >  This is just one more detail of the vanagon personality.
>> >
>> >            Eric                   86-VW4x4
>> >            vw4x4@fyi.net          72-240z
>> >            Pittsburgh, PA USA     1936-Chrysler
>> >
>> >
>> >On Sat, 3 Apr 1999, MtnGal wrote:
>> >
>> >> >       DOT 4 only.
>> >> >         Eric
>> >> Dot 4 only in Vanagons??
>> >> What will another dot # do to the parts?
>> >> [[[I took a 600 mile (round trip to the warehouse)and half way through
>> stop
>> >> and go 80mph rush hour traffic I felt I was about to lose my brakes.
>> >> All I had in the van was DOT3 so in it went!!]]]
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>>
>>

David Beierl - dbeierl@ibm.net