Brake Fluid For Track Events : Motul RBF 600 vs Castrol SRF

[PiggieSmalls]

S4 Wiki - Brakes

According to the link above, 2 bottles of Motul (33.8 oz) costs $30 whereas 1 bottle of Castrol SRF (33.8 oz) costs $70.

Castrol SRF's dry boiling point (590 degrees F) is actually slighly lower than Motul RBF600's (593 degrees F), but Castrol SRF has a much higher wet boiling point (518 degrees F vs 420 degrees F).

I'm trying to decide whether or not it's worth the extra money for the increased wet boiling point. Regardless of the fluid chosen, I would most likely use the same fluid for the entire track season (5-7 days) so in reality it would only be a one time annual purchase and in the scheme of things $40 extra dollars per year isn't much.

Before I decide, thought I'd ask here to see if 1.) anyone tracks their car 2.) anyone has experience with either of these brake fluids 3.) anyone has experience with both fluids

Thanks in advance for any help.

[smurfbusa]

I've had my share of clutch problems so I've used the cheapest fluid found and it has been ok at the track too. No fading, but I'm not pro by any means.

I have movit 342 front and ecs stg1 rear so I think they can keep the fluid a bit happier than stock. If you still have stoptechs I dont think they are that much different at the track.

[PiggieSmalls]

Originally posted by smurfbusa
I've had my share of clutch problems so I've used the cheapest fluid found and it has been ok at the track too. No fading, but I'm not pro by any means.

I have movit 342 front and ecs stg1 rear so I think they can keep the fluid a bit happier than stock. If you still have stoptechs I dont think they are that much different at the track.

I'm not going cheap this year on fluid, pedal got too soft this past track season Valvoline DOT 4. BTW, e-mail me if this is the same smurfbus from AW.

[illusive45]

Motul RBF is the shiet...believe me, its more than adequate for track use. Are you running Stoptechs? Alcons? or stocks?

[PiggieSmalls]

Originally posted by illusive45
Motul RBF is the shiet...believe me, its more than adequate for track use. Are you running Stoptechs? Alcons? or stocks?

Stoptech 332mm BBK up front and S8 rotors in back.

[dramaticstatic]

Do you actually boil you fluid? My guess is no, the sign of boiling brake fluid is the pedal goes completely to the ground as if there were a lot of air in the system. If the pedal goes soft then that is your rotors and pads, not fluid.
My recomendation would be to get something cheaper that still has a high dry boiling point and change it often as you should be doing anyways because you track the car. That is much better than using the best you can find and leaving it in for the whole season.

[PiggieSmalls]

Originally posted by dramaticstatic
Do you actually boil you fluid? My guess is no, the sign of boiling brake fluid is the pedal goes completely to the ground as if there were a lot of air in the system. If the pedal goes soft then that is your rotors and pads, not fluid.
My recomendation would be to get something cheaper that still has a high dry boiling point and change it often as you should be doing anyways because you track the car. That is much better than using the best you can find and leaving it in for the whole season.

Thanks for the advice. I already decided I am going with more aggressive pads this season (Pagid RS14Black instead of Orange). I have plenty of rotor already. I am such a bum, but maybe I'll change fluid more often.

[S4 Dan]

Originally posted by PiggieSmalls
Thanks for the advice. I already decided I am going with more aggressive pads this season (Pagid RS14Black instead of Orange). I have plenty of rotor already. I am such a bum, but maybe I'll change fluid more often.

haha, i agree.... im also a bum when it comes to doing crap like that.... theres no motivation to do it.... ever, haha

keep us updated on how you like the brake fluid so it makes our choices easier in the future

[wagongotya]

I run ~ 5 track/lapping days a year using Motul RBF600. I change it at the beginning of the season and at the end of the season and bleed as necessary. No issues whatsoever. Alcon 6 pot up front with the floating rotors in back.

[PiggieSmalls]

Originally posted by wagongotya
I run ~ 5 track/lapping days a year using Motul RBF600. I change it at the beginning of the season and at the end of the season and bleed as necessary. No issues whatsoever. Alcon 6 pot up front with the floating rotors in back.

Alcon 6 Pot > Stoptech ST-40

E-mail me, want to tell you a little somethin' somethin'

[SSTJason:FreeJD]

Originally posted by PiggieSmalls
I'm not going cheap this year on fluid, pedal got too soft this past track season Valvoline DOT 4.

I used that Valvoline junk on my bike last year and it sucks. I am a crazed brake bleeder and still had a hard time getting solid levers. Switched back to Motul and its great again. This was on a Ducati 748 w/ brembo's. Not sure what it is with that Valvoline "synthetic" crap but it is not at all good.

[dramaticstatic]

Originally posted by PiggieSmalls
Thanks for the advice. I already decided I am going with more aggressive pads this season (Pagid RS14Black instead of Orange). I have plenty of rotor already. I am such a bum, but maybe I'll change fluid more often.

There's an article here http://www.bira.org/ that talks about it. They say to use Ford HD truck brake fluid as the dry boiling point is pretty much the same as a good track fluid and it's super cheap. The wet point is lower but you can combat that by changing the fluid more often.

I know it's a pain in the ass to do but it's much better to change your fluid more often than to use even the best fluid for the whole season.