Brake fluid - change regularly or upgrade?

[willr]

Is there any benefit going for non-standard brake fluid in a 996?

I noticed a mushy brake pedal several times on my old C4 - fluid probably hadn't been changed for 2 years. So question is should the standard fluid just have been changed more often, or would it have been better to get a different fluid?

[clubsport]

The brake fluid should be changed every 2 years on the service schedule,,,it's hydroscopic - absorbs moisture from the atmosphere,losing efficiency and lowering the boiling point.

If you intend to track the car, with the liklihood that you will be putting much more heat through the braking system it is worth changing to something like ATE racing blue, this has a higher boiling point.

if however you only intend to pose down the Kings Road on a saturday afternnon, leave the original in as you will never be going faster than 10 mph

[jacko lah]

clubsport said:

The brake fluid should be changed every 2 years on the service schedule,,,it's hydroscopic

oh yes ! otherwise why not just use water in the first place.

[clubsport]

jacko lah said:

clubsport said: The brake fluid should be changed every 2 years on the service schedule,,,it's hydroscopic oh yes ! otherwise why not just use water in the first place.

try it! let us know how you get on.

[willr]

clubsport said:

The brake fluid should be changed every 2 years on the service schedule,,,it's hydroscopic - absorbs moisture from the atmosphere,losing efficiency and lowering the boiling point.

I thought Porsche used DOT5 fluid as standard, silicone-based and non-hygroscopic?

Do many people change the fluid more often than every 2 years?

[clubsport]

willr said:

clubsport said: The brake fluid should be changed every 2 years on the service schedule,,,it's hydroscopic - absorbs moisture from the atmosphere,losing efficiency and lowering the boiling point. I thought Porsche used DOT5 fluid as standard, silicone-based and non-hygroscopic? Do many people change the fluid more often than every 2 years?

I bet the only guys who change more frequently are those doing track days..i will ensure i have decent blue fluid in and change at the end of the track day season. I never leave it ib for more than 1 year.
If not doing track work, why would you change fluid more frequently unless you had a brake problem?

[willr]

clubsport said:

I bet the only guys who change more frequently are those doing track days..i will ensure i have decent blue fluid in and change at the end of the track day season. I never leave it ib for more than 1 year. If not doing track work, why would you change fluid more frequently unless you had a brake problem?

I was wondering how many people on this forum find the need to upgrade or change the fluid more often than regular service interval.

Or maybe it's right to assume that most spend their time on the Kings Road