company news about Guangzhou Umiko takes you to understand the evolution of brake oil (Part 2)

Guangzhou Umiko takes you to understand the evolution of brake oil (Part 2)

What we call brake oil, also known as automobile brake fluid, is the essential "blood" of the vehicle's braking system. It is a functional liquid that transmits pressure in the vehicle's braking system, enabling the braking system on the wheel to achieve braking action. Its main functions are energy transmission, heat dissipation, corrosion and rust prevention, and lubrication.

Stage 3: Synthetic Brake Fluid

Given that alcohol-based and mineral oil-based brake fluids did not meet overall performance requirements, synthetic brake fluids emerged over time. Compared to the former two, synthetic brake fluids offer more significant overall advantages. Synthetic brake fluids combine excellent low-temperature fluidity, resistance to solidification, high boiling point, low vapor lock, and good corrosion resistance, essentially overcoming most of the problems encountered by traditional brake fluids in their operating environment. Currently, the vast majority of vehicles worldwide use synthetic brake fluid. There are three main types of synthetic brake fluids: alcohol ether type, ester type, and silicone oil type. I will briefly introduce these three different types of synthetic brake fluids below.

Ⅰ. Alcohol Ether Type: Alcohol ether type brake fluid is currently the most widely used type in various countries. Its main component is polyoxyethylene ether compounds blended with other raw materials. Alcohol ether type brake fluid performs better than alcohol-based and mineral oil-based brake fluids at both high and low temperatures. Its only drawback is its high water absorption, which makes it difficult to ensure the stability of the braking system at high temperatures. It is currently facing a trend of being replaced.

This is the latest national standard DOT3 (HZY3) brake fluid. Based on its performance characteristics, its main applications currently include motorcycles, construction machinery, and agricultural machinery.

Ⅱ. Alcohol ether borate ester type brake fluid (abbreviated as ester type): With the continuous development of industry and technology, countries around the world have invested more and more in brake fluid. Alcohol ether borate ester type brake fluid was developed during this period. Its main component is borate ester, formulated with the addition of rust inhibitors, antioxidants, lubricants, etc. This type of brake fluid has significant advantages: stable high and low temperature performance, and the ability to absorb a certain amount of moisture. It also possesses hydrophobic properties (the characteristic that a material cannot be wetted by water when in contact with air), ensuring the stability of its boiling point under operating conditions. Furthermore, it is non-corrosive to various metals, including copper, iron, and aluminum, and has good compatibility with rubber products, making it less prone to swelling. It has become a new favorite brake fluid worldwide in recent years.

This is the current national standard DOT4 brake fluid. Compared to DOT3 brake fluid, DOT4 brake fluid has significantly improved overall performance. Most importantly, DOT4 performs better in terms of moisture absorption. It is less affected by moisture, reducing its boiling point, and also exhibits better performance in terms of metal corrosion resistance and rubber compatibility. This is the most widely used brake fluid currently available. Unless you're taking it to the racetrack for competitive driving, DOT4 brake fluid is perfectly adequate for your daily driving needs.

Ⅲ. Silicone-based brake fluid: As mentioned earlier, one of the most obvious drawbacks of early brake fluids was their tendency to absorb moisture, leading to a lower boiling point. During rapid braking, the high temperatures generated by the brakes cause the brake fluid mixed with water to boil, creating vapor lock and affecting braking performance. It also reduces brake fluid levels. Silicone-based brake fluid overcomes these problems. First, silicone oil is chemically inert, hydrophobic, and heat-resistant, overcoming the problems caused by high-temperature operation. Silicone oil has negligible corrosion to metal parts, effectively protecting the braking system and reducing the likelihood of malfunctions. Furthermore, it has excellent compatibility; in emergency situations, it can be mixed with other types of brake fluid. Silicone oil also differs from other brake fluids in that it does not damage the car's surface or paint. Even if it splashes or leaks during driving, it can be easily wiped clean.

Silicone-based brake fluid corresponds to the new national standard DOT5 (HZY5) level. This type of brake fluid is relatively special. Why is it special? Following the order above, the lowest level should be DOT3, followed by the mainstream DOT4, and then DOT5 should be even better. However, this isn't actually the case. While silicone-based brake fluid almost completely doesn't absorb water, which seems like a good thing, this very strong repulsion means that water entering the brake lines cannot mix well with it, existing as separate oil and water components. Water has a very low boiling point compared to brake fluid. Therefore, this unmixed water causes a rapid decline in braking performance—even faster than DOT4! It basically needs to be replaced every six months.