Mercedes 500SL

A friend has today started to change the brake hoses on a neighbour's Mercedes 500SL. Having drained down the braking system he tells me "It's blue - and I've never seen blue brake fluid before". Do these cars need something 'special'? Can anyone here tell us what might be suitable, please? I mentioned this to someone locally, who suggested that antifreeze had been put in by mistake. But I dunno...

Any replies welcomed. TIA

Reply to
DB.
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ATE super blue, it's not that super :-)

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Reply to
Duncan Wood

Many thanks. So I take it you'd be happy to use the 'standard' brake fluid you use on all your other jobs on this car?

Reply to
DB.

no doubt the owner's manual will have the spec. for the brake fluid, I would get some of that.

Reply to
Mrcheerful

I'd be a little wary of sticking normal DOT4.1(?) in there, after it has been run on something different - you just don't know how they'll react with each other.

Mind you, the website suggests that it's fine. I just don't like the idea myself.

Reply to
SteveH

The ATE is very similar (or almost identical apart from the colour) to their normal brake fluid. Although if you'reworried about the price of brake fluid then you really want to get rid of the SL ASAP.

Reply to
Duncan Wood

All brake fluid is meant to be reverse compatible. In other words any fluid matching or exceeding the spec of the original should mix ok.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

It's DOT 4.

At £19.99/litre !!!!!

Steve

Reply to
shazzbat

dot 4 is the spec. it does not have to be bought from an MB dealer

Reply to
Mrcheerful

Reply to
Toommy

Utter poppycock. I've been ''playing'' with brakes for over 30 years and haven't come across blue fluid. The only stupid question is the one that's not asked.

Julian.

Reply to
Julian

It's not exactly common, it's a very high temperature rated DOT4

Reply to
Duncan Wood

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