5 mph

Hello everyone,
is their any difference in the different brands of bike brake fluids ie if I have Tektro brakes and assuming they have Tektro brake fluid, can I use Shimano mineral oil?
I am new to bikes, but I work on cars a lot, DOT 4 brake fluid is all the same whether it be Prestone, Autozone, etc.
I have Tektro HDC 300 brakes.
Thank you in advance

dsbrantjr

I play it safe with brakes and don't mix fluids, it could have unpredictable effects. The possible cost savings is not worth the risk, for me and I would absolutely not do it on a client's bike. DOT4 fluids are intended to be compatible, there is no guarantee this is the case with different mineral oils.

5 mph

Thanks for your advice . You cannot mix Prestone Antifreeze (green) with red toyota antifreeze or blue Honda coolant or you get sludge.

Amt0571

I've been using Finish Line mineral brake fluid for 7 or 8 years. I have bled all my mineral oil brakes with it, including Shimano and Magura, and it was surely mixed with original fluids as I didn't bother to empty them before bleeding with the new fluid.

I've had zero problems so far. Can't talk about other brands though.

5 mph

Thanks

ChrisWagner

I made that mistake once with my Tacoma by topping off the the radiator with Prestone AF without checking the manual. It was an expensive assumption. Shortly after while returning from lunch, the top of the radiator blew off. As it happened, it looked like a F18 Hornet vapor cone. All traffic around me locked it up to a stop. Luckily I was less than 1/4 mile from home base.

RGMN

I know you are asking about mineral oils, but this is a big misconception about DOT brake fluids. dsbrantjr is absolutely right, the ONLY things a DOT rating shows is that the fluids are compatible AND they meet the minimum dry and wet boiling ratings (230 °C (446 °F) & 155 °C (311 °F) resp for DOT 4.) And they meet FMVSS 116.

There is a HUGH difference between brands of DOT 4 brake fluids. Castrol SRF DOT 4 fluid will meet DOT4 requirements wet while Autozone DOT4 barely meets them when dry. ATE Type 200 DOT4 fluid will cause squeaking in vehicles with DOT4 based hydraulic clutches. Motul RBF 600 DOT4 fluid actually meets DOT 5.1 boiling points dry or wet, but is more toxic than most other brake fluids. Sorry, I spent too many years working on race cars. In variably when other crews asked my why our brake ALWAYS worked and theirs failed even thought we ran the exact same hardware they'd never believe me when I told them we only used Motul RBF or Castrol SRF brake fluids.

5 mph

One.thing I learned now that I am in my 50's...there will always be someone who knows more than you... LOL

cpach

While all mineral oils aren't the same--Shimano oil works fine in Tektro brakes.