Does Honda Need Special Brake Fluid? (Explained)

Safety as your priority is a primary motivation for maintaining your vehicle. That is why some major components must receive with utmost care and precision.

Therefore, it would be best if you took the time to go through the instructions that govern your vehicle’s maintenance.

Especially those that regulate the locomotive parts of the car like brake fluid and tires. This article will look at Honda’s braking system and the use of Special Brake Fluid.

Some Honda vehicles require special brake fluid, and their absence may cause sudden brake failure. For example, most Honda sports cars need special automobile transmission brake fluid. Honda Performance Development strictly recommends some brake fluids for Honda vehicles. But a good brake fluid should be good enough for regular-driven Honda vehicles. 

What Brake Fluid Does Honda Use?

Generally speaking, high-performance and premium Honda vehicles use the DOT 4 Honda brake fluid.

That is because the DOT 4 Honda brake fluid contains additional additives that tend to increase the efficiency of the brake fluid.

However, most Honda vehicles use the DOT 3 brake fluid, which is the most commonly used for regular cars. 

The Honda DOT 4 brake fluid is a highly recommended brake fluid for Honda high-performance vehicles and race cars.

Every Honda car model brand requires its special genuine brake fluid for the best performance. You may want to know Does Honda Need Special Coolant?

However, this does not mean that you cannot use other synthetic brake fluids for Honda vehicles. It is just that caution should be taken when dealing with synthetic brake fluid.

You can also use the DOT 4 brake fluid for other regular cars if the vehicle’s manufacturer allows it. Also, the DOT 4 brake fluid used in most race cars and trucks is just an upgrade of the DOT 3 in boiling temperature.

The DOT 3 brake fluid is ideal for regular Honda vehicles as they usually serve just fine. So you can either use the regular DOT 3, DOT 4, or any good rating synthetic brake fluid for your Honda vehicle.

However, the DOT 3 brake fluid is becoming obsolete in the present market due to amazing upgrades in modern cars.

Therefore, higher and more special brake fluid is required to match car demand. In addition, advanced Honda car models require special genuine brake fluid for safety and best performance.

Does Honda Use Synthetic Brake Fluid?

You should be just fine using quality and genuine synthetic brake fluid for Honda vehicles. There is a degree of tolerance from Honda vehicles for synthetic brake fluid. Does Honda Pilot Use Regular Gas? (Let’s Find)

It is possible to use a synthetic brake fluid for Honda vehicles so long as it meets the specification of the required one. But you must be sure it is a good one and can suffice.

Most synthetic genuine brake fluids improve older brake fluid; hence you can use them on Honda without incurring harm.

Just be sure that the synthetic brake fluid you want to use is not above the standard required by that Honda model. Wrong brake fluid for a particular Honda model can be disastrous and cause significant losses.

On the other hand, if you can be right on the type of synthetic brake fluid to use, you have no cause to worry about.

Is DOT 3 And DOT 4 Brake Fluid compatible?

Yes, you can mix and use DOT 3 and DOT 4 brake fluid together because they are compatible. In addition, you can combine the two and use them as one as the DOT 4 is an upgrade of the DOT 3.

They are therefore quite compatible with each other for car use. But as the DOT 4 is an upgrade of the DOT 3 brake fluid, a DOT 4 brake fluid can be used where DOT 3 brake fluid is recommended. 

You may reason that mixing the two will yield a good brake fluid combining their features, but it doesn’t work that way.

Instead, the hygroscopic nature of both brake fluids will significantly reduce the effectiveness of your braking system, which may be deadly.

The DOT 4 is highly recommended for race cars, while the DOT 3 can serve regular vehicles. Also, the DOT 4 brake fluid requires more frequent fluid brake changes than the Honda DOT 3 brake fluid.

Although the two brake fluids are the most compatible, mixing them also combines their demerits.

And this goes a long way in reducing the efficiency of the brake fluid and, in most cases, causes brake malfunction. So for the safety of your car and yourself, it is advisable to stick with using one.

If you’re uncertain about what brake fluid to use for your Honda vehicle, do well to reach out to Honda care technicians for help.

Mixing the DOT 3 and DOT 4 brake fluid is not the best option, however compatible they may seem to be.

Sometimes using different brake fluid brands, especially the DOT 4 and DOT 5, will malfunction brakes due to their incompatibility. 

What Color Should Honda Brake Fluid Be?

Every genuine brake fluid for Honda use should be clear amber (yellow) in color. The amber color of the brake fluid is a result of the added additives that prevent corrosion.

However, over a long time of use, it tends to become contaminated and lose its yellow tint color. 

Further, Honda users ought to change the brake fluid after three years of use. Also, it is best to do a brake fluid exchange whenever you begin to notice faulty brakes.

Whenever you notice a leak in the brake line and the fluid isn’t yellowish, it indicates a need to change the fluid. It usually turns dark brown or black when it becomes contaminated. 

Therefore, you should do a brake fluid flush and exchange at that stage. Adhering to these instructions does more than maintaining your car in good working condition.

So do well to always conduct routine checkups on your car brakes by checking the brake fluid reservoir before use. 

Is Acura And Honda Brake Fluid The Same?

The Acura brake fluid and the Honda brake fluid are not the same in quality. Furthermore, they are not the same fluid, no matter the bottle size.

For example, the genuine Acura DOT 3 brake fluid and Honda HG DOT 3 are the only close substitutes and not necessarily the same fluid.

However, they are sometimes used interchangeably with no harm caused to the cars.

There are a few differences between the Acura brake fluid and the Honda brake fluid. And you can practically see this in the difference between their prices.

Acura brake fluid is a premium fluid and costs more than the Honda brake fluid. However, the Honda brake fluid has been graded top class among many others.

Sometimes, there is great confusion because the two types of brake fluid have the same part number and design package.

For example, the same part number identifies the Acura brake fluid and the Honda brake fluid in packaging.

But do not be deceived; the content quality is slightly different from one brand to another.

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Conclusion

It is always wise to avoid carelessness, especially when it comes to cars. Specific car components are very delicate components as good as the car itself.

For example, the brake fluid is one part of a Honda car that requires routine maintenance, especially when it is due for a brake fluid change. You may know that Do Honda Recommend Transmission Fluid Change?

Also, unique car models require special genuine brake fluid for safety purposes. Therefore, you have to know which brake fluid specifications are set for your car model.