Castrol Girling Amber Brake Fluid vs. Silicone

[craigshealey3000]

Should I use the Castrol Girling Amber Brake fluid on my 1967 AH 3000 BJ8 or flush and change to Silicone?

 

[DrEntropy]

Just my opinion, but I'd use the Castrol.

 

[JPSmit]

I run silicone on mine - but I would use castrol - I replaced my entire system and rebuilt the MC and slave - I am not sure flushing would get the mineral based stuff out enough - stick with what you know.

 

[DrEntropy]

For whatever reason we had a hard time finding Castrol Girling fluid in any of the "chain" parts stores recently. Found a reliable source in of all places, a Harley-Davidson dealership. Had to order it in pint bottles, by the case tho. Not a hardship in that the contents remain sealed until use.

 

[Basil]

I'm gonna move this to the Healey forum where other AH 3000 drivers might see it. I'll leave a "pointer" to the thread in the Pub for a while.

If you're reading this now, you are in the Austin Healey forum.

 

[John Turney]

Flushing, except for the hard lines, won't clean out the system sufficiently. You will have to change all the rubber pieces. The good news is that silicone is a really good preservative for them.

I run silicone, and went to it 20 years ago when I totally rebuilt my system. (OK, the whole car.) I will never go back.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

I've never heard of 'Castrol Girling,' but some searching only got more confusing (why list 'mineral oil' with BF?):

Mineral Oil & Brake Fluid

Here's a real doozy:

"What can be used as a substitute for brake fluid?

The best brake fluid substitute is a water and soap solution. A water and soap solution is the best emergency substitute for brake fluid is because it is very easy to make. Many people have water and soap in their cars or homes."

What is castrol girling fluid? Explained by Sharing Culture

Expert Answers: Formerly Castrol / Girling GT-LMA -- NEW formula has a higher dry boiling point but keeps all of the LMA characteristics! Its dry boiling point is a little

faq-blog.com

I have Castrol 'synthetic*' LMA in my BN2, and silicone in my BJ8 for over 30 years. You can't go wrong with either, but IMO silicone is best when installed after a total system rebuild (my dad put DoT4 in the BN2 after a total rebuild; I would have gone with silicone).

* Castrol calling their BF 'synthetic' is a bit specious, as there is no natural source that I know of for the glycols BF consists of.

 

[PAUL161]

I run silicone in the TF, but I replaced the whole system with new, including the lines. Three years running and just checked the fluid and it is still full and clean. Show in Arkansas tomorrow with the TF, can't wait!

 

[craigshealey3000]

I'm gonna move this to the Healey forum where other AH 3000 drivers might see it. I'll leave a "pointer" to the thread in the Pub for a while.

If you're reading this now, you are in the Austin Healey forum.

Thank you Basil, very helpful. Craig

 

[LarryK]

If you have an Amazon account, available. I have been able to buy at my local parts store or I order online at my Rover/MINI online parts store

 

[DrEntropy]

I've never heard of 'Castrol Girling,' but some searching only got more confusing (why list 'mineral oil' with BF?):

Mineral oil based brake fluid is used in many of the Rolls Royce cars into the '80's.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

Thanks. Clears things up a bit.

 

[Dandare]

I notice a lot of posts from the US cite Castrol LMA. That seemed to disappear a few years ago in Australia and became Castrol Response. Just a bit of useless information!

Danny

 

[Bob_Spidell]

I notice a lot of posts from the US cite Castrol LMA. That seemed to disappear a few years ago in Australia and became Castrol Response. Just a bit of useless information!

Danny

Old habit. This is all I've seen in the 'States for a few years:

Robot or human?

I presume they call it synthetic to differentiate from mineral oil BF (and soapy water).

 

[LarryK]

I had the white bottles of the Castrol LMA and bought a newer car that recommended synthetic, so I proceeded to look it up and saw black bottles. Ordered two, then upon receiving them I compared the white and black bottles. Duh, both the same synthetic. I exclusively use in all my cars, including my track MINI S, with no problems. I have used silicone only in newly refurbished brakes on show cars, at customer request only, not a cheap job.