Manual suggests DOT 4 + is this an actual designation or does it mean Dot4, Dot5 and so on ?

can i use dot 4 ?

thanks

PS: Also, how mahy litres of fluid do i need in order to do a complete flush of the whole system ?

 

cmon guys someone must help me out, there is a guy selling some dot 4+ volvo brake fluid for like 5 canadian / 800 ml can online, how many should i get ???????
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...i3333/dot4.jpg

 

what no one ever flushed their brake fluid ? how much fluid do i need ?

 

That should be fine and I would get 2 cans to be safe if you are flushing the system.

 

sorry to resurrect the old thread,
But I want to flush the s80 brake system and I already have a bottle of Motul RBF 600 ($20 fluid per 1/2 litre) that I got for free.. How much more of this stuff will I need to complete a bleed and flush? Should one litre be enough?

I'll let you guys know if using such expensive fluid makes any difference on a car like this.. its more because I happen to have one bottle already that I want to try it out..

Also, do any of you know how much labour a shop would normally charge for this?

 

its not a labour intensive job, my buddy owns a shop and did it for me for free, but i think you should get mroe fluid though, you will not feel any difference at all, and if you do then there is a problem with your brake system...

i used oem volvo fluid that i got almost free, 6 cans for 20 dollars from some guy online, and it feels the same, be careful though, one of my bleeder screws broke cause it was so rusted on there...i got lucky though, just broke at the top and the fluid never came out, it was the closest wheel to the brake resevoir and hence has the shortest line running to it so i did not bother drilling it out...you can proble get away with 3/4 of a litle but get 1 litre to drain it out a bit longer ...

 

so you mean 1L total right... ie. an extra 1/2 litre bottle over what I already got..

Well I was hoping that the claim that these fluids are less compressible would firm up the pedal at least a little bit.. I know it is heavily assisted (which I dont really care for) but I still find it a bit too mushy for the first half of the pedal..

 

my pedal is very firm, i mean its seriously firm, it was like that before i flushed it and its the same now, the fluid that came out was clean, and since i know that the brake booster was replaced before i think that also involves changing the fluid

i can get you some OEM fluid, real cheap, like 20 dollars for like 5 cans, but you gota come to toronto and pick it up here, too heavy to ship

basically, i really really doubt it you will have a firmer pedal after the fluid swap, fluid does not change how firm the pedal feels, and firmness does not come from fluid, check your rotors and pads, make sure the calipers are not seized.. ect....

EDIT: i do have new pads all around and new rotors up front, and what colour is the fluid in the resevour ? ( open it and check )

 

oh yea man andrei, pads, calipers and rotors in tip top condition.. running 90% pads front, 85% rear.. rotors mint as well

Just the fluid is a little more discoloured than I like you know.. Well the thing is, the brake pedal exerts pressure on the fluid so I fiugre the less compressible the fluid is the more solid the pedal is but mine is definitely soft.. not in a bad way, same as with all the S80's ive driven.. first half of the pedal is assisted by the pump, second half is pure foot force... not a bad setup but i feel like I should have more control

Thing is, as I said, I still got that 1/2 litre of motul, figure I may as well use it.. would be cool to say all my fluids (besides radiator of course) is synthetic (oil, power steering, brake, trans) .. i guess I just like synthetic things... In reality I am in florida so brake fade really isnt an issue on the Volvo.. just have a tendency to give it the best it can get...

 

well i dont think brake fluids have that big of a difference in their compression ratios, if they even have them

i know brake fluid absorbs moisture which is really bad, i dont know, get if flushed but get extra fluid, its good to have it you dont wanna press things tight and run out...