What type of brake fluid for a 1999 xj8?

 

DOT4

 

While this is the X350 series group, the X308 does have similar needs for TRAC and ABS. At the time of production, DOT4 fluid was originally specified, but there have been advances like Super DOT4, and the latest fluid recommended by the manufacturer of the system itself, (ATE) and that is to use DOT4 Low Viscosity. (DOT4 Class 6) In the end it is your choice, but the advantages of using Class 6 DOT4 is worth using it.

 

thanks

 

I use Pentosin Super Dot 4 bremsflüssigkeit (made in Germany) - Autozone carries it

 

I use Pentosin DOT4 LV. (Class 6) When it comes to application time with ABS, low viscosity outperforms standard and Super DOT4 by a longshot. Regular DOT4 is recommended replacement of 1 year. Super DOT4 extended that to 2 year, but same viscosity (1400 to 1500 mm2/s viscosity) as regular DOT4, and LV which is also 2 year, but must faster application from ABS. ATE (which is Teves, the maker of the braking systems used on Jaguar) recommends Class 6 DOT4 (700 mm2/s viscosity) for all ABS systems.

 

 

Yes, Super DOT4 was the orginal spec, because SL.6 didn't exist. SL.6 (Class 6) is the recommended replacement for all Super DOT4 (Class 4) usage. And why? Look at the graph above. Ask Teves, they'll tell you the same.

 

Is the SL6 compatible with super dot4?

 

ATE's SL.6 and others like Pentosin DOT4 LV are glycol based and doesn't require special purging like you would do with changing to silicone based fluids like DOT5. When you do your next 2 year maintenance changeout, simply use low viscosity, or whenever you choose to change.

From ATE;

ATE DOT 4 brake fluid SL.6 meets and exceeds the requirements of brake fluid standards FMVSS no. 116 – DOT 4, SAE J1704 and ISO 4925, class 6 (among others). The ATE brake fluid SL.6 can also be mixed with other brake fluids which meet the specifications ISO 4925 Class 6, DOT 5.1 or DOT 4. However, the optimum ESP functionality, also at very low temperatures, is best ensured with fluids meeting the requirements of the specification ISO 4925 Class 6.


ESP (Electronic Stability Program) is installed in the vehicles of a range of automotive manufacturers under their own abbreviations e. g. as DSC (BMW, Jaguar, Mazda), IVD (Ford), VSC (Suzuki, Toyota).

 

Fount out years ago when dot4 came out for motorcycles, the big difference was the higher boiling point (temperature) of 4 over 3. Since i never used my brakes long enough and or hard enough to justify the big price jump, being the cheap S O B that i am! Nowadays dot 3-4 is all the same fluid in many name brands.

 

This is simply not true. It would be as silly as saying, "all oil is the same."

 

Just so there is no confusion here as to what Jaguar specifies, if you will check the Workshop manual, you will find;

"CAUTION: Do not use brake fluid ITT Super Dot 4 (Class 4) on 2006MY vehicles onwards. Failure to follow this instruction may result in damage to the vehicle.

NOTE: Brake fluid ITT Super Dot 4 (Class 4) has now been superseded by Shell ESL Super Dot 4 (Class 6) which is the Jaguar recommended brake fluid. Shell ESL Super Dot 4 can be used on all model years."

Since the time of printing, ATE has further refined Class 6 fluids, and Shell has since dropped the word "Super" from it's listing to try to minimize confusion. Shell DOT4 ESL is a low viscosity Class 6 fluid. Pentosin Super DOT4 (as well as many others on the market) is not a Class 6 fluid, but only Class 4 with high viscosity.

 

So where do I buy the Shell DOT4 ESL brake fluid? Don't see it on eBay or Amazon

 

Auto parts stores should have a Dot 3-4 name brand in stock. Dot 4 has a higher boiling point than 3. Other than that not much else is different, as far as i know. You can use 4 instead of 3, but not the other way around. Years ago they were in separate bottles, with 4 being a lot more than 3. Since my bike brakes, were not used hard enough, long enough to heat up to that point, i used 3 for years, with no issues, and the brakes could throw you over the handle bars if you didn't know what you were doing..

 

It's up to you but I use Motorcraft DOT4 LV brake fluid. The nice thing is it's easy to get.



As was posted above almost all modern ABS systems want a LV fluid.
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Good choice

 

Would the newer DOT 5.1 be a good choice. Higher boiling points than DOT4, lower viscosity than DOT4 (not as low as DOT 4 LV) and glycol based.

 

I believe that you can't mix Dot 5 with Dot 4.

 

Correct you can not mix DOT5 with DOT4 but DOT5.1 can be mixed with DOT4. DOT 5.1 has the boiling point of DOT5 but is glycol based so it mixes with DOT3 and DOT5.