1998 Brake fluid???

Hi Guys,

What type of brake fluid do i use for my 1998 fiorino? Dot3 dot4 dot5??

Also do all fiorinos make so much noise when you first start them?

plus it is drinking a lot of fuel at the moment and also lots of black smoke from exhaust any solutions...

not had my fiorino long so sorry for all the noobie questions

Cheers guy

VonSwirl............

I would assume dot 4

Look what's written on the brake fluid reservoir, and use ONLY that.
Fiat Brazil ( manufacturer of the "old" Fiorino) did use DOT 3 in most cars until the late nineties!!
As for the smoke, what kind of engine, gasoline, diesel..??

Firstly thanks for the replies.

Yeah it is supposed to be DOT 3, i didnt even think to look in the hand book but its in there.

But saying that i did purchase DOT 4 from a garage and the bottle clearly states that DOT 4 is suitable for all DOT 3/DOT 4 fluid types so fingers crossed ive have'nt made a costly mistake.

P.s Its a 1.7 TD

Cheers....

OK, DOT 4 can be used in a DOT 3 designed brake system, but it's better to use what it's made for: DOT3.
DOT 4 is by now way ANY better in quality, it's just a TOTALLY different made fluid, F.I.: to raise boiling point, the viscosity (thickness) of DOT 4 is higher than DOT 3....!
All the little passages and holes in the DOT 3 brake system don't like anything that has a higher viscosity...
Fiat Brazil did design the brake system for DOT 3, although DOT 4 was already on the market, that's not without reason!
I suggest to bring the bottle DOT 4 back, and buy the right fluid for your car....DOT3.

How about the tuning of your car, regarding the smoke?
Is it black smoke, it's fuel, is it blue it's oil, if it's white, it's coolant.
Oh, forgive me, I just noticed in your post, the smoke is black, so it's almost certain a fuel problem.
How is your airfilter, and when was the last fuelfilter change?

It has a full service history so im guessing that it that the airfilter is fairly new but saying that you never know!

Im going to get a service and tune up done early augest as the MOT is due anyway so i will post back at let you know if there is any improvement to the fuel consumption.

I see what you mean about the dot 3 fluid! Its always good to ask as this may have caused me problems later on.

Cheers Peter

Well, as the Fiorino is no racing car () actually I don't think DOT 4 will cause problems, but if you have the choice, why not go for the recommended DOT 3 fluid?
Not many sources for DOT 3 these days though, but if you go to a car parts specialist, I'm sure they can get it for you (after they have tried to sell you the DOT 4 fluid...)

As for the service done, I don't trust anything I didn't change myself ( or have it changed).
Start with a service, as if the car wasn't serviced for a long time, oil, filters, VERY important: cambelt with bearings, coolant, brakes etc.
Use a good quality diesel fuel, and use some injector cleaner in the fuel, to be sure the smoking is not from clogged injectors....