brake fluid

[bikenut]

As a matter of interest, do any modern bikes use "lhm" or "lhs" type of fluid for brakes these days?
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nuts about bikes

[RhynoCZ]

LHM, that's mineral based oil, right? I doubt that modern vehicles still use that in brakes. I'd say it's all DOT silicon based fluid nowadays.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Islander]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Thought LHM was the stuff used on Citroens and the like, effectively a mineral oil. Not sure I have ever heard of any bike using it.

Silicone fluid is pretty rarely used. Think Harley use it. Has a few advantages (mainly doesn't take paint off and doesn't absorb water so in theory doesn't need changing regularly) and a few disadvantages (possibly gives a spongier feel to the brakes, and not absorbing water so it water gets in to the system it is very difficult to get it out).

All the best

Katy
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[Fizzer Thou]

DoT 5.1 is different to DoT 5,which is similar to DoT 4.

The DoT 4 that I use is this,which is silicone based

https://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/Workshop/20160911_215832_zps1sfm8kov.jpg

The mineral oil is specified for use in the Magura clutch fitted to my KTM enduro.Later Brembo clutches on KTMs use Dot 4 or better,as in DoT 5,which has a higher boiling point but is still silicone based
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[Islander]

It's only DOT 5 that's silicon based and is the only non-hygroscopic fluid (because it is silicon based ). DOT 4 and 5.1 are glycol based. The DOT ratings refer to boiling points. Katy has it right.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_fluid

[Kickstart]

[MCN]

[Fizzer Thou]

Apologies.

I got DoT 5 and 5.1 around the wrong way.

I first started to use DoT 5 on my Honda 750 back in 1981 when I first heard about the fact that it did no harm to paintwork.

I have been using DoT 5.1 in the KTM enduro brakes in the past,as that is what the manual specifies,but until recently I have run out and have been using DoT 4 instead
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[weasley]

Then there's Castrol React SRF brake fluid, which is silicon-based but not silicone, so can be used in DOT 3/4/5.1 applications but has a boiling point that exceeds DOT 5. It is hygroscopic but its performance does not deteriorate much when wet. Not cheap though.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[arry]

[Fizzer Thou]

The reservoir caps usually give an indication about what specification fluid that should be used

https://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/Workshop/20160912_181538_zpskagzwu35.jpg
https://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv23/WiNot_Rhencullen/Workshop/20160912_181623_zps3lrtemay.jpg

As for the fluid in my clutch,the manual specifies mineral oil only.This does not need to be replaced as often as a DoT 4 or 5.1 fluid and the bleeding procedure is quite different to brakes
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[arry]

Thanks. I'll take a look. As I say, I wonder if there's what should be in there at the moment - probably the original fluid.

[Fizzer Thou]

My brother also rides a 990 SMT and he says that his clutch master cylinder cap says to use mineral oil only

As Motorex sponsor KTM,the recommendation is to use that sold by them.

I have found that Putoline make a cheaper but similar quality mineral oil
____________________
Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'