Lancia Motor Club

I have a label on top of the brake fluid reservoir saying......
"Use only type SABIF P2 SAE 70 RI"

On my bottles of Dot 4 fluid there is no reference to any of these numbers.
Not knowing what the previous owner may have topped it up with will it be safe to add a few drops of Dot 4?

I use straight forward DOT 4 in the Appia, but then it is a new system , no old fluid at all.

If you are at all worried you could just flush the system with new clean fluid anyway, very easy on the Appia , as you know.

Can you buy anything other than Dot 4?

Dot 5, but that is the silicon variety. There are arguments about whether it is necessary to remove all traces of non 5 fluid before introducing it or whether it may be introduced in a topping up scenario.

Personally John, I would flush out any old fluid with Dot 4 and continue to use just that. If  you are unsure as to what is in there at the moment I assume you do not know how old it is and under those circumstances total replacement is the safest way forward.

                                          Andy

I have a friend here with a couple of old Triumphs who only uses Dot 5 because he says "It does not affect paintwork if accidently spilled on it"

Thanks Simon and Andy for you response......of course you are both correct that a system flush is the way to go and I
will be doing that but hoping to delay until the car is off the road for winter.
Over the past 9 months or so since I bought the car the level in the reservoir has dropped a few millimetres so chances are I need to replace wheel cylinder seals etc........memo to self - contact Appia Consortium!

In 60 years of driving & owning cars I can't ever remember brake fluid stripping paint unless you didn't clean it off, Minis were a prime example as it was nearly impossible to top up the M/Cylinder Reservoir without spilling fluid, but it was only if it had been left that there was a problem.
I've always used Dot 4 with My Dunlop Brakes and it's never been a problem, for 1600 HF with higher performance the Dot 5 might be worthwhile, although I think Dot 5 has other benefits, but it would certainly be beneficial to go along with Andy's recommendation of total replacement with fresh Dot 4.


Brian
8227 8)

Dot 5 does have higher boiling point but I still lost my brakes on the last bend of a very fast descent down Stelvio. ( fluvia 1600 sport with dot 5).

Other benefit of silicon is it is not hydroscopic which may be of interest if cars are stored in occasionally high humidity .....

Dodgy seals in the master cylinder, Tim?