Well, it's less about the DOT rating than it is the specific wet boiling point. The 5.1 standard has a higher minimum rating, but in practice a specific brand of DOT4 may exceed most DOT 5.1's, etc.

Silicone is completely incompatible with systems not designed for it and can't be mixed, but that's DOT5 and not relevant here.

DOT3, DOT4, and DOT5.1 are all polyethylene glycol (not silicone) and technically compatible, but DOT5.1 has different viscosity than DOT4, and most of the weekend racers are using high-end DOT4 fluids. Which DOT5.1 fluid did you use?

I'm running DOT 4 for both of mine. AP Racing fluid.

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It is fairly easy to change out, yes, assuming you have easy access to squirm under your car. It's MUCH easier with a power bleeder of some sort...

Same here. Motul 600/AP Racing 600 (same stuff different name).

I have to flush the clutch several times a year, it gets pretty nasty. Bleeding by hand is a little tricky I found, the power bleeder does a nice job.

I may be learning way more than i bargained for-

My problem with bleeding by hand was that the bleeder didn't have quite enough "meat" to get a wrench around, and ALSO get a tube onto :-/

Definitely time for me to re-do mine, however...

Spoke to hubby about mine last night. He is familiar with all the pieces parts names processes etc....he didn't act like it was a bid deal...I guess I just need to pick up some of the stuff we wil need.
Thanks again! you guys are an invaluable resource to me in this my path through racing and autocrossing a Nissan 370Z

DOT 4 was a fine fluid until I went to Laguna Seca which seems to eat brakes. I boiled the DOT 4 and the pedal went to the floor. I pumped and got a little effect and stayed on the track (till the exit). Since then it was NAPA 5.1. It was my only choice in the moment.

:hello: hi mt tam!!
Taking mine in to dealership on the 16th of august ....just in case of full failure later.

It has been foggy and wet as of late. I still manage to find myself doing about 60 MPH anyway. Too fast probobally. As we all know this car is just so easy to get going and keep the speed up.

So last night leaving my mom's place I once again had a chance to go around her perfect 180 degree turn. It is usually blocked by some idiot but last night was different. I tried to allow the car way ahead to get as far along as possible before someone came up behind me. I had my opening and at the last moment tried something new. A different turn entry by going too far left then coming back in. I did this to increase my speed. It did get my speed up nearly 5 MPH but I had changed the geometry slightly. Normally I hold the wheel and it takes me right to the proper late apex.

Everything was going along fine when I decided to look down at the speedometer. When I did this, and saw I was going faster, I suddenly clipped the curb early with my right rear wheel which threw me a tiny bit and that was that. I felt stupid and then wondered what I might have done to my wheel. When I get home I'll look.

On the way home a Subaru WRX was practically pushing me while I had a car in front of me. All at once when the car ahead went a different direction and the speed limit increased to 55 MPH. This was my chance to stop being pushed and then tried to pull that Subaru along with me. He would get lost behind me so I'd slow down and wait and try and pull him some more. Eventually I tired of him and just went home.

In the garage I checked out my wheel and found the side of the tire had a rash on it but no damage to the tire or wheel.

If you are going to drive poorly, like I did, then it is good to be lucky as well.

Glad to hear there was no real damage :tup:

I just discovered a neighbor of mine has a new Focus ST. We drove quickly until we found the slower Audi RS5 (similar to Malibu blue). This kept up a reasonable speed until the Hybrid.

I am looking forward to discovering which neighbor has the new car. I hope we can have a little fun together.

Morning Tam!! Nice stories, as always :tup:

Last night I got another shot at the perfect turn. I waited for the truck ahead to clear out while nobody came up behind me as I waited and rolled ten seconds. I just took the standard line and held the wheel. I was delivered at the end of the curve, exactly where I wanted to be. I briefly nailed it out of the turn and had such a smile on my face, I wish I had a picture.

Legal fun.

This is what driving in my area is like. I took this last night.