CDN Tire "OEM" Brand Vehicle Specific Brake Fluid

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Jan 29, 2012
Messages
777
Location
Canada
In the last few years I've noticed that Canadian Tire is starting to roll in their "OEM" brand of fluids. At first it was the formulated coolants to match brand specific chemistry and now most of the brake fluid selection is also "OEM" branded DOT 3 and 4 with vehicle specific branding. For DOT 3 alone, there's 5 different formulations:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/oem-pr...81914p.html#srp
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/oem-dot-3-brake-fluid-asian-946-ml-0381915p.html#srp
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/oem-do...81913p.html#srp
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/oem-dot-3-brake-fluid-ford-500-degrees-946ml-0381928p.html#srp
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/oem-dot-3-brake-fluid-asian-946-ml-0381915p.html#srp

I was not aware brake fluid would be necessary to have manufacture specific formulas. Does anyone have any idea what's the difference between these? Why would you not just purchase the one with the highest temperature rating (Super DOT 3)? It's interesting that the Super DOT 3 actually has a higher temperature rating than the DOT 4 stuff.
 
I suspect it might help them differentiate their product to convince people to buy their brake fluid from them. They certainly can't differentiate their product on a more palatable price. I get Castrol LMA DOT 4 at significantly cheaper than any of CT's offerings.
 
Wouldn't be the first time Canadian Tire used labelling to support a higher price. Let the nervous and clueless but it and buy whatever meets your manual's DOT requirements.

Remember to not mix DOT 5 (silicone) with DOT 3,4 and you're good. Note that there is such a thing as "better" brake fluid but unless you're racing or driving a high performance vehicle you probably don't need it. Motul brand is what everybody in that category buys.

Read the boiling temperatures on the label if you're faced with choices and care, ("wet" boiling temp is more important than "dry") but to be honest cheap DOT-compliant fluid and a 2-year full fluid change is better than adding expensive fluid and never doing so.
 
Thanks for the replies. I am servicing a Ford, Dodge, Hyundai, and Toyota and was hoping to just buy one fluid in bulk. After some research I think I'll buy the Ford PM1C DOT 3 fluid online. It's only $5 per bottle @ RockAuto and has a 500F boiling point which is higher than most DOT 4s.
 
Unless you're buying CCI's fluid they supply Toyota/Honda/Nissan/Subaru and Gold Eagle/Excelda with, I don't think there's really a "true" OEM spec fluid. The Motorcraft HD DOT 3 fluid is liked by many for its high dry boiling point.

With that said, I prefer German made fluids - it seems like ATE and Pentosin have BASF and Clariant make their fluids and if they are good enough for the German OEMs, it's good enough for me. I wouldn't be surprised if Castrol GT LMA is also made by either one of those German chemical firms. ATE Type 200 or GT LMA were my old go-to fluids, I'm now switching over to ATE SL6.

Ford and GM are now calling for DOT 4LV fluid, and it's backwards compatible with DOT 3/4/5.1. ATE SL6 is a safe pick and reasonably priced.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: nobb
Thanks for the replies. I am servicing a Ford, Dodge, Hyundai, and Toyota and was hoping to just buy one fluid in bulk. After some research I think I'll buy the Ford PM1C DOT 3 fluid online. It's only $5 per bottle @ RockAuto and has a 500F boiling point which is higher than most DOT 4s.

That's reasonable. Maybe check if some local parts store where you can get a jobber rate deals with Wakefield. My Castrol LMA price is something like $4 a pint.
 
Originally Posted By: nobb
Thanks for the replies. I am servicing a Ford, Dodge, Hyundai, and Toyota and was hoping to just buy one fluid in bulk. After some research I think I'll buy the Ford PM1C DOT 3 fluid online. It's only $5 per bottle @ RockAuto and has a 500F boiling point which is higher than most DOT 4s.


I chose my brake fluid in the BITOG tradition of ignoring what the manufacturer suggests. I went with DOT 3 over DOT 4 for the moisture resistance.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top