Do any of the large chain local retailers sell ATE superblue? If not I may have to just put Valvoline Synthetic and see how that goes at few auto crosses I will attend this summer...

 

I have never seen ATE, Motul or AMSOIL brake fluid anywhere but Hi-Po shops or online. You can see from the below information that Valvoline's Synthetic is not any better than stock wrt minimum wet boiling, which is the important number over time, as all DOT 3,4 and 5.1 brake fluid get contaminated with water. It is slightly better than stock when brand new.

Do not use DOT 5!

Steve

Valvoline's Synthetic
Dry Boiling Point - 480°F
Wet Boiling Point - 311°F

ATE Super Blue
Dry Boiling Point - 536°F
Wet Boiling Point - 396°F

Motul 600
Dry Boiling Point - 594°F
Wet Boiling Point - 421°F

AMSOIL 600
Dry Boiling Point - 580°F
Wet Boiling Point - 410°F

Factory DOT4 MINI (Standard DOT4 specs)
Dry Boiling Point - 446°F
Wet Boiling Point - 311°F

 

So it sounds like Valvoline Synthetic is just as good or better than Stock. At the dealer autcross event which I attend regularly they put their cars out their all day long with what I assume is stock brake fluid. It seems that those specifications are enough for what I do.

K

 

I've seen ATE at one of our local shops--and it was 20 bucks for what I get for roughly 10 bucks online. Me, I'd order the SuperBlue online, look for a place with free shipping. Makes it so much easier to swap fluid (Superblue, then Amber, then back to superblue, you can see the color change).

 

I may just have to order... Problem is this weekend I have time and I won't have time for a good while. My brakes are a little spongy and do not exzude confidence in hard braking and I really need to get it done...

 

Why not call around your local hi perf shops to see if they stock it? Can't hurt to ask.

 

Be careful with the superblue when bringing it back to the dealer. My dealer was very unhappy with the "dye additive" and wanted to remove it at my expense. Guess this does depend on the dealer but I am using Motul or Type 200 from now on.

 

Winchester Auto Parts in stores throughout NorCal has it. If not try
Castrol LMA.

 

I'm out of warranty, and I didn't have stock brakes on anyway (Wilwood).

Motul has slightly better numbers, but is almost twice as expensive as SuperBlue/Type 200, still I might switch to Motul at some point. First time I've heard a dealer complain about the superblue; I never let my dealer touch my brakes, I've always bled them myself.

 

The dealer does not do my brakes either but it does not stop them from not being happy. But just wanted to give a little more info to the op about potential issues with blue fluid versus Type 200. I remember there are other posters in NAM that have reported this as well.

I have only run Motul a couple of times and I like it. No brake fade in LRP running in two groups one after another.

 

Try checking motorcycle shops too, I get Motul from a local Ducati/Aprillia dealer.

Many more places had Motul vs ATE when I was trying to find locally. I could not find ATE at all, looks like Alta carries it now though.

 

If the op is interested in mail order, I buy my ATE from bmpdesign.com. They have 3 qts of ATE blue or type 200 for about $33 with free shipping over $126. If you are a bmwcca member, you get an extra 10% off. If you want the bmwcca discount, it is better to order from the bmw site rather than mini.

 

Is ATE super blue good enough for a street car? I don't think I'll ever track my car.
Is there a big different between the SUPER BLUE and the TYPE 200?

 

ATE seems to be good enough for the track and the street. Great dry and wet boiling points and not as hydroscopic as regular DOT 4. It is not DOT 5.

There is no difference between Super Blue and Typ 200. Just one is blue. I would not get blue because some Mini Dealers don't like it. But they cannot tell with Typ 200.

 

If you're in warranty, probably best to stick with the Type 200.

If you're out of warranty, the idea is to use one, then switch to the other next time you do a complete flush--you look for the color change, then you know you've exchanged the fluid, or at least most of it.

ATE super blue is just fine for a street car. I remember reading Motul needs to be changed a bit more frequently however; something to do with breakdown and water absorption.

 

Where are you in the states cause if I am not mistaken you can't use ate blue in Florida.

 

Is 1 Liter enough to do a complete flush ?

 

Where did u get that info? It is wrong. I and my track rat friends in south Florida, buy and use ATR Blue all the time. We buy it locally, not on-line.

 

It is more than enough.

 

Got a question..

Where can you dispose of used brake fluid? I don't see any place at my town recycling center for brake fluid and I have a growing container of it..

 

Most garbage dumps have a place for nasty fluids (and it should be free). Call them and ask; if that doesn't get you anywhere, try calling the county offices--usually each county has some type of way to handle this. If that doesn't work, you can ask one of your local automotive shops where you can dispose of it (they may even take it if you're lucky--but it'll have to be a mechanics shop. Autozones, Pepboys, etc. will take used oil, but not brake fluids, at least not where I live).

Went through the exact same thing myself a while back. Luckily our dump takes it, and it's not all that far away.

 

Ugggh...I see a hazardous waste day in my future, and a long line!

 

I feel ya, I have 2 cars worth of coolant bottled up, a case of ATF, and a 2 liter of brake fluid waiting

Getting tired of seeing it, but I have power steering flushes, and this years brake bleeds to finnish - then I'll go.

I kinda want to go - but in my county you have to PAY to dispose. Its $10 to dump fluid, or give them TV's, or florecent bulbs. I do it all at once!

So I try to get the weight limit every time I go.