CChoiVA

This may have already been answered in a previous post but couldn't find it. I just wanted to know about how many ounces of brake fluid I need once I drain out the old one. Will 12oz be enough or do I need to go with a 32oz (DOT3)? Thanks in advance.

F250

Are you doing a flush, or just having to refill after losing fluid due to brake caliper work?

Either way, I would get a quart so you still have some on hand after whatever work you're doing. On my 3/4 ton F250 pickup truck (has longer brake lines and larger caliper fluid capacities), I can usually flush the entire system with less than a quart. I also prefer to use DOT4 fluids which have a higher temperature rating... just for an extra measure of fluid "quality" because I want absolutely the best conditions possible in my brake system.

CChoiVA

It's going to be a flush.

F250

OK. Like I said, one quart should be enough for the complete flush and even leave you a little extra. I would rather end up with extra rather than cut the effort short because I ran out of fluid. In fact, I would probably get TWO quarts as an extra insurance policy. Then again, I'm the one who buys 6 quarts at a time of extreme quality DOT4 fluid (ATE Superblue 200) so I always have plenty on hand for me and my kids to do our annual flushes and periodic brake repairs. In fact, I used to get it in two colors -- clear, and blue -- and I would alternate colors between flushes to make it easier to see when the new fluid has worked its way completely through each caliper position. However, I've read that it might be illegal to use the blue fluid in the US any more because the died fluid is not officially DOT approved on US public highways... only on the track.

Clutchless

I thought I was the only one here alternating the blue and regular brake fluids. Although I only did it for a couple of years and now just use Castrol or Valvoline. Did not know about the ATE blue no longer being street legal. I did confuse the Lexus dealer when the old ES350 was brought in for warranty work with blue fluid...

kgbagent1

I am glad. That stuff stained my reservoir in another car.

F250

Well...I just did a little bit more reading and I did re,member correctly. The ATE Super Blue was discontinued for US distribution back in 2013 due to its blue color. Supposedly, the US requirement fro either "clear" or "amber" fluids is due to Emergency Responders being able to readily identify automotive fluid spills. If that's true, I don;t know how in the world that Schaeffer Manufacturing has been able to legally sell their green full synthetic diesel engine oil for decades, much less continue to receive the appropriate oil certifications with each "upgrade" or "revision" in their formulations. Although it was available on eBay periodically for a while, I cannot find any sellers with it at all right now. It appears to be just GONE.

I can see how the stained reservoir could make reading the level more difficult, but I've personally not experienced any staining at all in any of the three vehicles I've used it in. However, I may not have run it long enough for the staining to occur since I was alternating annually until I ran out of the Blue.