Dot 3 or ?

[MCAT069]

I am changing out all of the fluids on my 04 2500 Suburban since she just hit 200k. Any recommendations other than Dot 3 for brake fluid?

[Formulabruce]

Rear has a Drain ON the center section on the very bottom, it has a recessed screw. Easy to miss, but can save you money and time as no need to remove the cover.

If I was in Texas I would put my 160 T stat back in... Good luck

[davester]

Stick with DOT3. You can't mix DOT 3 and DOT 4 at all (so you have to get all the old DOT 3 fluid out of everything before putting in DOT 4). Google DOT 3 vs DOT 4 for more info on the differences.

 

And yeah, I missed that drain plug when I swapped all the fluids in my truck...just as well, with the cover off, I found out the P.O. had swapped the G80 for a regular open diff.

 

And if you've got a gasser, double check that all the exhaust manifold bolts are still there. They have a tendency to break off, and can result in an exhaust leak that tanks your mileage...

[dewfpo]

I've mixed DOT 3 and DOT 4 and never had a problem. DOT4 has a higher boiling point. You can't mix silicone brake fluid DOT 5 with the glycol based DOT 3, DOT4 or DOT 5.1.

 

 

DEWFPO

[MCAT069]

Thanks for the replies. I'm running a 185 t stat now. I had a 160 last Fall but kept throwing a code. But she likes it better than the oem t stat.

[KARNUT]

I'd be carful about changing your stat, everything on these truck have a purpose for getting gas mileage and emissions. My 92 has a lower stat temp, it has a whipple on it. It takes awhile for it to come down from fast idle, the temp gauge hardly moves, that's in Texas.

[MCAT069]

The 185 has helped with the oil consumption; 8.1 like about a quart every 1500 miles or so. The lower stat has dropped that down to one quart every 2500 to 3k. Gas mileage is terrible no matter what, but if I wanted great gas milage I'd get a prius.