Honda Brake Fluid Required?

[twiggy]

The owners manual for my 2008 Honda Civic seems adamant that only “Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid” be used. It does mention that in an emergency DOT 3 Brake Fluid may be used which must be replaced ASAP with Honda brand brake fluid or all kinds of bad things are going to happen. My gut reaction is

Topic

[newyota]

Eric has some videos here on changing brakes.May have one on hondas.I know for a fact always use honda ATF in your car if it’s an Auotmatic which Eric reccomends.He has a video on a civic changing the clutch hyd.cyl. and he is using Honda Hyd. clutch fluid( which he fails to mention I think )which normally I think is the same as brake fluid.Also, you tube is a wonderful thing if you search it.There is a video on there of two guys bleeding brakes on a Honda Odyssy and they are using Honda Brake fluid.I would stick with the Honda stuff and not worry about it.I like to save money too, but I would use Honda fluid on my 2000 civic when I change it.

[Ryan]

As far as I know, the fluids that have to be Honda are the automatic transmission and power steering fluids. Those absolutely HAVE to be OEM Honda 100% no other way unless you want problems. As for brake fluid and other ones like that, sure Honda is always good to use, but not necessary and as long as you use a good quality aftermarket that meets the specifications you should be just fine.

[EricTheCarGuy]

PyanS93 has it right, I’ve never heard of using Honda brake fluid only but you MUST use Honda transmission (manual and automatic) as well as Honda PS fluid. I think you will be fine using DOT 3 if that’s what it calls for. You can’t mix DOT 3 and DOT4 however so be sure you use the correct one.

[twiggy]

Thanks for your input. I just ordered some Honda brake online along with the ATF fluid. Dealer noted that Honda just changed the formula of the ATF fluid from z1 to Dw-1, it’s replacement. I heard it’s a synthetic formula and an improvement.

[Elfy]

I’ve been driving my honda for 3 years and i’ve been using DOT3, i havnt had any problems

[aaronac8]

How much brake fluid is needed to do a full flush?

Eric, so when you do a brake fluid flush on an acura / honda you DO NOT use honda/acura brake fluid only….just dot 3?

[aaronac8]

How much brake fluid is needed to do a full flush?

Eric, so when you do a brake fluid flush on an acura / honda you DO NOT use honda/acura brake fluid only….just dot 3?

[EricTheCarGuy]

Actually I do use Honda fluid because I have a surplus left over from my days at the dealer. I would think that 2 bottles should be more than enough.

[EricTheCarGuy]

Actually I do use Honda fluid because I have a surplus left over from my days at the dealer. I would think that 2 bottles should be more than enough.

[college man]

is dot 3 stamped on the master cylinder cap?

[college man]

is dot 3 stamped on the master cylinder cap?

[mckrishes]

Mine has dot 3 on the cap (99 civic lx)

[mckrishes]

Mine has dot 3 on the cap (99 civic lx)

[Author]

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