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Old 12-13-2018, 11:43 AM   #14 (permalink)
JARblue
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Austin, TX
Age: 43
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Drives: 11 Z34, 98 E36 M3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DapprDistrctZ View Post
I used Dot 3 hopefully that is ok. From my 15 minute drive looks like it resolved all my issues! Super happy, thanks again guys. Much appreciated!
Generally, there are two reasons these lights come to warn you the brake fluid is low. One is brake pads wearing over time. The other is boiling the brake fluid.

If you aren't too hard on your brakes, then it might just be the pads are wearing down. The pads get thinner as they wear, allowing more fluid into the caliper, which lowers the reservoir level gradually over time.

If you boiled the fluid, be prepared for the same thing to happen again using Dot 3 brake fluid

It is pretty easy to boil most brake fluids on this car. The boiled fluid is thinner and often leaks out of the bleeder valve (ruining your nice sports calipers ), thus lowering the reservoir level causing the lights to come on like you just experienced.

Dot 4 has a higher boiling point than Dot 3. And Dot 5.1 has a higher boiling point than Dot 4. Brake fluid is not expensive. If I were you, I would change out the fluid with Dot 4 or Dot 5.1 (DO NOT USE silicone-based Dot 5). Motul RBF600 is highly recommend if you brake hard at all.

It is always better to understand why the problem is occurring so you can address is properly. Sure you can just continue to fill the reservoir with brake fluid every time the lights come on, but that doesn't really solve the underlying problem. New brake pads might be in order or or you might want a higher temp fluid that is less prone to boiling. With this approach you are much more likely to prevent the problem from recurring (at least for a long time).
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Last edited by JARblue; 12-13-2018 at 11:46 AM.
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