Ultimate Brake Fluid Review & Comparison Guide

Brake fluid is one of the most important components of the braking system. The purpose of brake fluid is to exert pressure on the piston of the calipers to bring the subsequently mounted pads into contact with the rotors converting hydraulic energy to friction, heat and noise which slows down your car. Here we review 58 different brake fluids.

This is not a ranking chart since Dry Boiling and Wet Boiling might be of different importance to people. For daily drivers look at wet boiling points and for race car drivers who will bleed after every race look at Dry Boiling. Each fluid a maximum operating temperature; if this number is exceeded, your fluid will boil and braking pressure will cease to exist.

Brake Fluid Review

Below is a list of the top automobile DOT 4 fluids separated by manufacturer, model, wet boiling point, dry boiling point, mixing compatibility and price. BuildJournal does not recommend DOT 5 nor DOT 3 brake fluids. Check out Stoptech’s explanation on the different types of DOT. If you want more brake fluid analysis and recommendations please visit our brake fluid analysis & review guide.

Automobile Brake Fluid Chart

Image	Brake Fluid	Wet Boil Temperature (F)	Dry Boil Temperature (F)	Okay to Mix?	Quantity (Oz)	Price/Oz	$
	Castrol React SRF	518	608	Yes	33.8	1.77	$59.99
	Torque RT700	439	683	Yes	16.9	2.01	$33.95
	Project Mu G-Four 335	430	635	No	33.8	1.77	$59.95
	Endless RF 650	424	622	Yes	16.9	2.49	$40.00
	Neo Synthetics Super Dot 610	421	598	Yes	16	1.56	$24.99
	AFCO HTX	421	618	Yes	16.9	1.18	$19.99
	Comar GS610	417	626	Yes	16.9	0.89	$15.11
	Wilwood EXP	417	626	Yes	16.9	1.05	$17.69
	Bel-Ray Racing	410	580	Yes	12	1.25	$14.99
	Maxima SYN High-Temp	410	600	Yes	12	1.25	$14.95
	Gulf RF800	401	581	Yes	16.9	0.98	$16.58
	Ferodo Formula	401	590	Maybe	16.9	1.42	$23.95
	Gulf RF1000	401	617	Yes	16.9	1.06	$17.96
	Motul RBF 600	401	594	Yes	16.9	1.06	$17.99
	Motul RBF 660	400	617	Yes	16.9	1.6	$26.99
	AP Racing Radi-Cal R2	399.2	593.6	No (Magnesium)	16.9	1.18	$19.95
	AP Racing Radi-CAL R4	399.2	644	Yes	16.9	1.77	$29.99
	AP Racing Radi-Cal R3	399.2	644	Yes	16.9	1.78	$30.00
	Pagid RBF	399	626	Yes	16.9	1.46	$24.60
	IPone X Trem	399	622	Maybe	16.9	1.1	$18.62
	Brembo LCF 600+	399	601	Yes	16.9	1.24	$20.97
	ATE Super Blue	396	536	Yes	33.8	1.83	$18.50
	Prospeed RS683	394	583	Yes	16.9	1.48	$24.99
	Ferodo Super Formula	392	622	Yes	16.9	1.12	$18.99
	ATE Type 200	388	536	Yes	33.8	0.41	$13.95
	EBC BF 307+	386	586	Yes	16.9	0.74	$12.44
	Tilton TSR-1	383	622	Yes	8.5	1.4	$11.90
	Motorex Racing Fluid	383	572	Yes	16.9	1.52	$25.75
	StopTech STR 600	383	594	Yes	16.9	1	$16.95
	StopTech STR 660	383	622	Yes	16.9	1.65	$27.95
	Fuchs Silkolene Pro	383	572	Yes	16.9	1.27	$21.52
	Tilton TBR-1	383	590	Yes	8.5	0.92	$7.86
	Performance RH665	383	617	Yes	16.9	1.77	$29.99
	Amsoil Series 600	379	580	Maybe	12	1.17	$14.05
	Endless S-Four	369	563	Yes	33.8	1.01	$34.00
	Ferodo ESP DOT4	361	516	Yes	16.9	1.55	$26.20
	ATE SL.6	338	509	Maybe	33.8	0.38	$12.95
	Pentosin DOT 4 LV	338	509	Maybe	33.8	0.41	$13.99
	Brembo Sport.EVO 500+	336	520	Maybe	8.5	0.88	$7.50
	Maxima DOT 4	332	510	Yes	12	0.58	$6.95
	EBC DOT 4	329	500	Yes	8.8	0.34	$2.99
	Pentosin Super DOT 4	329	509	Yes	16.9	0.47	$7.99
	Motorex DOT 4	329	0 (Unknown)	Maybe	8.5	1.18	$9.99
	ATE SL	329	500	Yes	33.8	0.41	$13.95
	Ipone Brake DOT 4	320	518	Maybe	16.9	1.20	20.36
	Ferodo DOT 4	316	478	Yes	8.5	0.7	$5.99
	Castrol DOT 4	311	509	Yes	33.8	0.5	$16.99
	Fuchs Silkolene	311	446	Yes	16.9	0.41	$6.89
	Gunk DOT 4	311	446	Yes	32	0.25	$7.99
	Gulf Super DOT 4	311	446	Maybe	16.9	2.99	$50.64
	Valvoline DOT 3 & 4	311	480	Yes	12	0.37	$4.49
	Prestone DOT 4	311	510	Yes	12	0.32	$3.87
	Ultra Lite Hot Fluid	0 (Unknown)	600	Yes	32	1.09	$34.99
	Drag Specialties DOT 4	0 (Unknown)	470	Maybe	12	0.5	$5.95
	Galfer Super DOT 4	0 (Unknown)	509	Maybe	16.9	0.45	$7.65
	Brembo HTC 64T	0 (Unknown)	635	Yes	16.9	2.01	$33.97
	AFCO HT	0 (Unknown)	500	Yes	12	0.5	$5.99

How Fluid Deteriorates Over Time

If moisture and/or water is introduced into the fluid, you can expect the maximum temperature the fluid can withstand to drop since water boils at a lower temperature than the fluid itself. So it is important to maintain your fluid at optimal life. No brake line is perfect nor packaging so the life of fluid is always dwindling with moisture seeping in from various places. Once your fluid boils, it no longer has the properties that exerts enough pressure on the pistons. You will only want to use a DOT 4 rated fluid which has the correct characteristics for a performance car.

*DOT stands for department of transportation and often provides specifications and safety regulations for car part manufacturers to adhere by.

Wet Boiling Point – Temperature that fluid boils with moisture.

• The wet boiling point is more important than the dry boiling point as the latter is often tested in a lab under fresh fluid and ideal conditions.  You want to look at how it performs with moisture, since without a doubt moisture is going to be introduced into your fluid over time. You can think of this measure as an average performance rating of your fluid.

Dry Boiling Point – Temperature that fluid boils without moisture.

• Occasionally, some fluids are known to hold their dry boiling point longer than usual. This is usually due to lower hygroscopicity rating of their fluid.

Mixing – Compatibility with other products.

• Some fluids you can mix with others. Usually the boiling point will revert to the fluid with the worst characteristics. Sometimes fluid does not mix well with others and you should avoid mixing to prevent a failure.

Brake Fluid Recycling

We take if very seriously to recycle and properly dispose your old (and new) brake fluid. We encourage everyone to take the time to do so. There is a great article on YourMechanic.com on how to properly dispose brake fluid.