Grady Cain
Well-Known Member
Anyone having issues with leaks after using DOT 5 silicone-based brake fluid in the aftermarket valves from Inline Tube? I just had a PM conversation with a member here regarding this issue so I went to the source; a Support Tech. at Inline Tube and got some interesting answers to several questions I had:
I just got off the phone with Greg in Technical Support at Inline Tube and he told me NOT to use DOT 5 fluid in their metering/proportioning valves.
TAKE ALL OF THIS FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH - WHETHER OR NOT TO BELIEVE ANY OF THIS IS UP TO YOU. I AM ONLY REPORTING WHAT I HEARD DIRECTLY FROM HIM.
I asked him why this information was not on their website and he stated that this was something they have only discovered "...within the last 2 weeks" and that the common link to the leaks from each plaintiff was DOT 5 fluid.
I asked him if this was something the company was looking in to and he told me that they would be looking to their supplier/manufacturer of the parts to see if they are supposed to be or will be updated to be compliant with DOT 5.
I asked him if this only applied to recently manufactured parts (I told him I purchased mine in 2015 but haven't filled the system yet) and he stated that he would still NOT use the older parts. He said he had one that was purchased 6 months ago being the oldest one reported to fail.
I asked if the leak(s) appeared right away. He said, "No, they appear some time after being in service. The seals swell due to the silicone causing the leak(s)..."
I asked how Inline Tube was handling this issue regarding replacing parts that have leaked. He stated that they are shipping out replacements to anyone that had an issue.
I did not ask him how many people have had this problem but he did tell me that he had at least 5 persons calls this week with this issue.
Now be advised that if you go the DOT 5 route and have a leak in one of the valves and get a replacement part(s), you would have to completely flush out the entire brake system and go back to DOT 3/4 which is an incredible task to make sure there is no silicone left in any the components.
I would like to know if other manufacturers are having the same issues with their aftermarket metering/proportioning valves or if any other members have experienced this.
I just got off the phone with Greg in Technical Support at Inline Tube and he told me NOT to use DOT 5 fluid in their metering/proportioning valves.
TAKE ALL OF THIS FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH - WHETHER OR NOT TO BELIEVE ANY OF THIS IS UP TO YOU. I AM ONLY REPORTING WHAT I HEARD DIRECTLY FROM HIM.
I asked him why this information was not on their website and he stated that this was something they have only discovered "...within the last 2 weeks" and that the common link to the leaks from each plaintiff was DOT 5 fluid.
I asked him if this was something the company was looking in to and he told me that they would be looking to their supplier/manufacturer of the parts to see if they are supposed to be or will be updated to be compliant with DOT 5.
I asked him if this only applied to recently manufactured parts (I told him I purchased mine in 2015 but haven't filled the system yet) and he stated that he would still NOT use the older parts. He said he had one that was purchased 6 months ago being the oldest one reported to fail.
I asked if the leak(s) appeared right away. He said, "No, they appear some time after being in service. The seals swell due to the silicone causing the leak(s)..."
I asked how Inline Tube was handling this issue regarding replacing parts that have leaked. He stated that they are shipping out replacements to anyone that had an issue.
I did not ask him how many people have had this problem but he did tell me that he had at least 5 persons calls this week with this issue.
Now be advised that if you go the DOT 5 route and have a leak in one of the valves and get a replacement part(s), you would have to completely flush out the entire brake system and go back to DOT 3/4 which is an incredible task to make sure there is no silicone left in any the components.
I would like to know if other manufacturers are having the same issues with their aftermarket metering/proportioning valves or if any other members have experienced this.