As you drive your car, you want to keep in mind that you are responsible for your safety. Of course, one of the most important things to consider here is your braking system.
For your braking system to function properly, you need to use the right brake fluid to transfer power to your brakes. This guarantees that your car stops whenever you want it to.
Now, the only challenge lies in picking the right product because many drivers tend to settle for the first brake fluid they come across.
Anyway, today we want to talk about the best DOT 4 brake fluid so you may want to keep it here if you want to learn more.
Table of Contents
Best DOT 4 Brake Fluid For Motorcycles & Cars – Comparison Table
We bet you do not have all the time to go through this review and that is why we made the following comparison table that analyzes our top choices.
This should make your purchasing decision easier and faster.
| Rank | Product Name | Brand | Weight |
| 1 | Motul Factory Line Dot-4 100 Percent Synthetic Racing Brake Fluid | Motul | 1 pounds |
| 2 | Castrol Pack of 12 DOT-4 Brake Fluid | Castrol | 11.1 pounds |
| 3 | 1 Liter Castrol 15036B 591 Brake Fluid Dot 4 | Castrol | 2.2 pounds |
| 4 | Case of 12 Lucas Oil DOT 4 Brake Fluid | Lucas | 11.25 pounds |
| 5 | L04010 Brake Fluid by Brembo | Brembo | 2.42 pounds |
| 6 | 1 Liter, Pentosin Super Dot 4 Brake Fluid | Pentosin | 1 pounds |
| 7 | Maxima Racing USA DOT 4 Brake Fluid | Maxima Racing USA | 14.8 ounces |
| 8 | Castrol Dot 4 Brake Fluid | Castrol | 7.2 ounces |
| 9 | Prestone Synthetic, High-Grade DOT 4 Brake Fluid | Pentosin | 5.74 pounds |
Buying Guide – How to Choose the Top DOT 4 Brake Fluid
Perfect brake fluid will not only make your driving safer, it should also give you value for money. This means that you need to consider several factors before settling for one.
Some of these factors include:
Brake Fluid Purpose
First, you want to understand the purpose of the brake fluid you want to buy. This is because these fluids are designed for different vehicle models and situations.
By this, we mean that some brake fluids are made to be used in regular cars and motorcycles while others are designed specifically for racecars.
Once you grasp this, you will have an easier time matching your brake fluid to your car.
Brake Fluid Composition
Brake fluid is made of different components that determine whether the fluid can withstand high temperatures and pressure.
Therefore, before purchasing any brake fluid, you want to look at and understand its components. Why don’t we look at some common brake fluid components?
Polyglycol
This component makes up to 90% of the fluid and it is a solvent. Needless to say, it is the key component.
You want to note that it has less viscosity and contains ethers that improve the dissolvability. This makes your brake fluid suitable for all kinds of temperatures.
Lubricant
Next, we have lubricant, which makes up to 30% of your brake fluid. Lubricant enhances liquidity and reduces friction.
Additives
These do not make up much of your brake fluid as they only take up about 3% of the entire volume. Additives contain corrosion inhibitors and antioxidants and their function is to reduce or even prevent the acidic deterioration rate.
Wet and Dry Boiling Points
As you shop for brake fluid, you want to read the product labels because that is where wet and dry boiling points are indicated. This is extremely important because these determine the performance of the fluid.
Usually, their boiling points rate brake fluids. When you hear of dry, it is simply the one that comes fresh out of the bottle while the wet one is saturated with moisture.
If you frequently change your brake fluid, dry boiling points are more important and vice
versa. The kind of car that you drive or how you use it also matters.
For instance, you will need higher boiling points if you own a racing car more than you will need them if you drive a regular car.
Water Absorption
Looking at your braking system, you will realize that its tubes are made of rubber, which is a porous material. What this means is that over time, the tubes will begin absorbing water.
Now, brake fluid has a higher boiling point than water so any water absorbed will instantly transform into steam and ultimately damage your entire braking system.
As such, you want to ensure that the brake fluid you pick absorbs water better to keep your brake system from corroding.
Size and Quantity
Some people may look at this factor as petty but it plays a key role if you want to get value for your money.
A reasonably sized bottle of brake fluid guarantees that you get enough for your car while still getting value for your investment.
Now that you know what factors to look out for while shopping for brake fluid, why don’t we introduce you to some of the top choices in the market?
Come with us.
The Best DOT 4 Brake Fluid 2022 – Review
1. Motul MTL100949 Dot-4 100 Percent Synthetic Brake Fluid
First, on our list, we have this synthetic and non-silicon brake fluid that has received many accolades from customers and rightfully so because it comes with a higher boiling point compared to others in its class.
What We liked about It
Coming in a 500 ml bottle, this brake fluid is enough for several uses. Other than that, it will keep your brakes from rusting and is therefore ideal for your clutch system as well.
Given that it is a DOT 4 fluid, this product stands on its tag of offering great thermal resistance and stability and we love that about it.
What Could Have Been Better
According to some users, the fluid spills around when pouring. We feel that the manufacturer should have used a better-designed bottle to avoid this.
Pros
- Great thermal resistance
- Value for money
- Easy to use
Cons
- Poorly designed bottle
Read More: High Performance Transmission Fluids For Honda
2. Castrol 12509-12PK Brake Fluid
When you think of quality, you have to consider this brake fluid from Castrol. It is so good; that it is recommended for top offs and complete fluid replacement in light trucks and most cars.
What We liked about It
As a brand, Castrol strives to offer lubricants and additives that will safeguard your vehicle’s hard-working components.
Moving on swiftly, this brake fluid is also designed to safeguard your three critical engine zones. Still, this fluid is one of the most affordable options on this list hence giving you value for your money and that is what we loved most about it.
What Could Have Been Better
Unfortunately, Castrol does not give a manufacture date for this product so you cannot tell whether it is expired or not.
The manufacturer should simply have indicated the date.
Pros
- Value for money
- Good quality
- Protects engine
Cons
- Manufacture date not indicated
3. Castrol 15036B 591 Brake Fluid
One of the biggest worries you may have about purchasing a liquid online is whether it will arrive in one piece.
Well, you do not have to worry about that with this brake fluid because it is well packaged.
What We liked about It
If you own a regular car, you will love this brake fluid because it holds up well and performs optimally during summer.
However, what we loved most about it is that it does not absorb much water hence safeguarding your braking system from corrosion.
What Could Have Been Better
According to several buyers, the bottle in the product description is not the one they received after ordering this product.
We feel that the manufacturer should have been transparent with that.
Pros
- Absorbs minimal water
- Great packaging
- Easy to use
Cons
- Misleading product description
4. Lucas Oil 10827-12
Lucas Oil is one of the most trusted brands when it comes to the production of brake fluid and understandably, so because not only do their products perform better, they last longer.
What We liked about It
This brake fluid formula comes with a dry boiling point of 310 degrees and a wet boiling point of 270 degrees.
We love this about it because it means that this particular product surpasses both DOT3 and DOT4 specifications.
What Could Have Been Better
This product comes in a lower quantity and may require frequent replacement hence not ideal for the average driver.
We feel that the manufacturer should have simply increased the quantity.
Pros
- Durable
- Easy to use
- Value for money
Cons
- Low quantity
5. Brembo L04010 Premium Brake Fluid
If you are looking for quality brake products, you have to consider the Brembo brand. As expected, they outdid themselves with this brake fluid judging from the many positive reviews it has.
What We liked about It
The quality of this fluid is top-notch so you can count on it to deliver sterling performance. Other than that, this product is designed to last longer and we believe you will appreciate that.
What we loved most about it nevertheless, is that it is extremely easy to use and is less likely to present any issues while using.
What Could Have Been Better
This product is too much yet it does not keep for long according to some users hence leading to wastage. We feel that the manufacturer should have reduced the quantity to avoid this.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Durable
- Great quality
Cons
- Too much
6. Pentosin 1204116 Brake Fluid
This superior brake fluid from Pentosin is designed for universal use. Besides, it offers vapor lock safety meaning that it is excellent at resisting water absorption and retention.
What We liked about It
This product is corrosion resistant and is therefore perfect for cars with ABS brake systems. Another great thing about this brake fluid is that it contains superior components.
This simply means that it performs optimally and we love that about it.
What Could Have Been Better
Some users have reported that their products arrived with broken seals and this is probably because the fluid is too acidic.
The manufacturer should have reduced the acid content in the fluid to counter this.
Pros
- Corrosion-resistant
- Great water retaining resistance
- Superior quality
Cons
- Too acidic
7. Maxima USA 80-86916 Racing Brake Fluid
This high-performance clutch and brake fluid is designed to protect and lubricate your braking system as well as provide dependable stopping power. And this one is high-quality racing brake fluid.
What We liked about It
The product description of this brake fluid reads that it is an anti-vapor lock formula. We love this because it maintains performance and responsiveness as far as preventing water from getting into your brake system.
What Could Have Been Better
This product comes with a loose cap according to some buyers. We feel that the manufacturer should have corrected this at the production stage.
Pros
- Sheer
- Value for money
- Thick
Cons
- Loose cap
8. Castrol Dot 4 12509 Brake Fluid
Coming from the Castrol brand, it is a privilege to get such an affordable product. This product features DOT 4 properties hence enhancing its performance.
What We liked about It
This brake fluid’s dry and wet boiling points are brilliant thus guaranteeing great performance. You can depend on it to work efficiently with high-temperature braking systems.
We love that this product blends easily with other traditional brake fluids while providing maximum braking response.
What Could Have Been Better
Some users have complained that this brake fluid arrived with a broken seal. The manufacturer should have used better packaging to avoid this.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Durable
- Value for money
Cons
- Inadequate packaging
9. Prestone AS800-6PK Synthetic Brake Fluid
If you are looking for a brake fluid that provides high boiling point protection, you have to consider this one from Prestone.
Its dry and wet boiling points surpass minimum government standards so you can rely on its performance.
What We liked about It
This brake fluid provides rust protection for all metallic components within your braking system. Moreover, it is compatible with all conventional braking fluids.
What we found most appealing is that this product reduces the likelihood of fluid vaporization and subsequent brake failure.
What Could Have Been Better
Although the product description states that this is a DOT 4 fluid, users have reported that they received DOT 3. The manufacturer should simply have been truthful with this.
Pros
- Thick
- Sheer
- Value for money
Cons
- Misleading product description
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, we have answered several commonly asked questions when it comes to the best DOT 4 brake fluid to help you get a better insight.
Q: Can I mix different DOT 4 brake fluid brands?
A: Yes, that is possible. However, it is also important to read the product descriptions to see if the manufacturer recommends that.
Q: Can you mix old and new brake fluid?
A: Yes, you can but you need to have your brakes checked first to find out if it is safe to do so.
Our Top Pick
After going through all the products on this list, our top pick has to be the Motul MTL100949 Racing Brake Fluid.
This product has many positive reviews and understandably so because not only does it have a higher boiling point for its price but also because it comes in a 500 ml bottle that will sufficiently meet your needs.
We love that it offers stability and great thermal resistance as well.
Conclusion
For your car’s braking system to function optimally, you need the perfect brake fluid. A good fluid ensures that your vehicle stops when you need it to.
With this review at your disposal, it should be easy to make a choice so knock yourself out!