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Brake Fluid Finder

Shimano, Tektro, TRP, Magura, Campagnolo, Clarks and Promax hydraulic brakes use mineral oil. Hope, Hayes, SRAM’s road brakes and its Code, Level, Guide and G2 use DOT 5.1 (SRAM and Hope accept DOT 4 too). SRAM’s newer Maven, Motive and DB brakes are mineral oil. Never put one in a brake built for the other — SRAM’s answer for a contaminated brake is to replace it.

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Your brakes

Hydraulic disc brakes only. Cable-pull (mechanical) disc and rim brakes have no fluid.

Fluid

Shimano: Mineral oil

Shimano: "Use only Shimano genuine mineral oil. If other types of oil are used, it may cause problems with brake operation, and cause the system to be unusable."

Buy

Shimano mineral oil

Never put in

Any DOT fluid

What else to know

  1. 01Never put in the other kind of fluidIt isn't fixed by flushing. SRAM says DOT fluid in a mineral oil brake degrades the seals and the brake "should be replaced"; its road manual says mineral oil or DOT 5 in a DOT brake means a new lever, caliper and hose.
  2. 02Mineral oils aren't interchangeable eitherShimano says use only Shimano's; Tektro only Tektro's; SRAM hasn't tested other oils in its Maven and doesn't cover damage from them. Buy the brake maker's own.
  3. 03Use a fresh bottle, even of mineral oilShimano says to use oil from a freshly opened container, because old or reused oil "may contain water, which could cause vapor lock." Never reuse fluid drained from a brake.
  4. 04Keep fluid off the pads and rotorsSRAM says pads with brake fluid on them are contaminated and must be replaced; Shimano says to see a dealer if oil gets on them.
  5. 05Mineral oil goes longer between bleedsSRAM's interval for its DB8 is at least every two years, sooner if you ride often, brake hard or ride below freezing, because mineral oil doesn't absorb moisture. Bleed any time the lever goes spongy.

Hydraulic brake bleed, at your place

$59

Per caliper. $99 for both.

Source: Shimano dealer's manual DM-TRBR001, hydraulic disc brake (opens in a new tab)

Worked example

Two e-mountain bikes, both with SRAM brakes

Lever says Code: DOT 5.1, or DOT 4 — never mineral oil or DOT 5. Lever says Maven: SRAM Maxima Mineral Brake Oil — never DOT. Same brand, opposite fluids, and the wrong one ruins the seals. That’s why the finder asks SRAM and Formula owners for the model before it answers.

Reference

Brake fluid by brand

Hydraulic disc brakes only — mechanical (cable) disc brakes and rim brakes have no fluid.

Which hydraulic brake fluid each bike brake brand and model family uses
BrakeFluidBuySource
CampagnoloMineral oilCampagnolo mineral oilBikeRadar
ClarksMineral oilMineral oilBikeRadar
Formula Cura, Cura X or Cura 4Mineral oilFormula mineral oilFormula FAQ
Formula RX, R1, T1, RO, C1, CR1, CR3 or Oro (older)DOTDOT 4Formula FAQ
HayesDOTDOT 5.1Hayes DOT 5.1 Pro Bleed Kit; BikeRadar
HopeDOTDOT 5.1 or DOT 4Hope Tech 3 X2 installation guide
MaguraMineral oilMagura Royal BloodBikeRadar
PromaxMineral oilMineral oilBikeRadar
ShimanoMineral oilShimano mineral oilShimano dealer's manual DM-TRBR001
SRAM MavenMineral oilSRAM Maxima Mineral Brake OilSRAM support: Maven and other brands' mineral oils; Escape Collective
SRAM MotiveMineral oilSRAM Maxima Mineral Brake OilEscape Collective; SRAM Maxima Mineral Brake Oil
SRAM DB8, DB8 Stealth, DB6 or DB4Mineral oilSRAM Maxima Mineral Brake OilSRAM support: mineral oil vs DOT; SRAM Maxima Mineral Brake Oil
SRAM Code, Level, Guide or G2DOTDOT 5.1 or DOT 4SRAM support: fluid for SRAM DOT brakes; SRAM support: alternative fluids in SRAM DOT brakes
SRAM Red, Force, Rival or Apex (road and gravel)DOTDOT 5.1 or DOT 4SRAM eTap AXS HRD service manual; SRAM support: Apex hydraulic disc brake fluid
TektroMineral oilTektro mineral oil (red)Tektro FAQ
TRPMineral oilTektro / TRP mineral oilBikeRadar; Tektro FAQ
Zoom HB-875EMineral oilMineral oilEVELO support: parts and tools for the Zoom HB-875E brake

DOT grades: minimum boiling points

Minimum dry and wet boiling points for DOT brake fluid grades under FMVSS 116, and which bike brakes use each
GradeDryWetOn bikes
DOT 3205 °C / 401 °F140 °C / 284 °FNot listed by any brake maker here
DOT 4230 °C / 446 °F155 °C / 311 °FSRAM, Hope, older Formula
DOT 5.1260 °C / 500 °F180 °C / 356 °FSRAM, Hope, Hayes
DOT 5 (silicone)260 °C / 500 °F180 °C / 356 °FNever — a different fluid

Federal minimums (49 CFR 571.116). “Wet” is the boiling point after the fluid has taken on moisture in the standard’s humidity test — the reason DOT fluid gets changed on a schedule. Mineral oil isn’t a DOT grade.

How to use it

In 4 steps

  1. 1Find the brand — and for SRAM and Formula, the model — printed on the brake lever or the caliper.
  2. 2Pick it in the finder. It shows the fluid to buy and the one that must never go in.
  3. 3Buy a fresh, sealed bottle of exactly that fluid, from the brake's maker where they specify one.
  4. 4Not sure what's in the brake now, say because someone else bled it? Have it checked before adding anything.

Mineral oil vs DOT: why they can't be swapped

A hydraulic bike brake is built around one fluid, and its seals are made for it. DOT fluid (DOT 4 and 5.1) is glycol-based: it absorbs water from the air, which lowers its boiling point, and it damages paint. Mineral oil doesn’t absorb moisture, which is why SRAM gives its mineral-oil brakes the longer service interval — at least every two years for the DB8, against at least once a year for its DOT road brakes.

Neither stops the bike better; they just aren’t interchangeable. DOT fluid in a mineral oil brake, or mineral oil in a DOT brake, degrades the seals, and SRAM’s fix is a new brake rather than a flush. DOT 5, despite the name, is silicone-based and a different fluid again — none of these brakes use it. Even mineral oils aren’t all alike: Shimano, Tektro and SRAM each specify their own.

On an e-bike, fresh fluid matters more. The bike is heavier and holds its speed, and the energy a stop has to turn into heat grows with weight and with the square of speed. Water in the fluid lowers the temperature it boils at — Shimano warns that old or reused oil “may contain water, which could cause vapor lock.”

FAQ

Brake fluid: questions

Can I use DOT fluid in Shimano brakes?

No. Shimano specifies only Shimano mineral oil and says any other oil "may cause problems with brake operation, and cause the system to be unusable." DOT fluid degrades the seals in a mineral oil brake.

Can I use mineral oil in SRAM brakes?

Only in SRAM's mineral oil models: Maven, Motive, and the DB8, DB6 and DB4. SRAM's Code, Level, Guide, G2 and road brakes take DOT 5.1 or DOT 4, and SRAM says any other fluid damages the seals and means replacing the complete brake.

Can I use DOT 4 instead of DOT 5.1?

In SRAM and Hope brakes, yes — both list DOT 5.1 or DOT 4. DOT 5.1 has the higher federal minimum boiling points (FMVSS 116): 260 °C dry and 180 °C wet, against 230 °C and 155 °C for DOT 4. Never use DOT 5, which is silicone-based.

What happens if you put the wrong brake fluid in?

The seals degrade and the brake becomes unsafe. SRAM's guidance for DOT fluid in a mineral oil brake is that "the brake should be replaced," and its road brake manual says mineral oil in a DOT brake means a new lever, caliper and hose.

Are all mineral brake oils the same?

No. Shimano says to use only Shimano mineral oil, Tektro only Tektro's, and SRAM hasn't tested other oils in its Maven brakes and doesn't cover damage from them. Buy the brake maker's own.

How often should hydraulic bike brakes be bled?

SRAM says at least once a year for its DOT road brakes and at least every two years for its DB8 mineral oil brakes, more often if you ride a lot, brake hard or ride below freezing. Bleed any time the lever feels spongy.

Something not answered here? Just ask — I’d rather talk it through than have you guess.

(949) 891-5278Send it in writing

Sources

Where these numbers come from

  1. [1]Shimano dealer's manual DM-TRBR001, hydraulic disc brake (opens in a new tab)"Use only Shimano genuine mineral oil. If other types of oil are used, it may cause problems with brake operation, and cause the system to be unusable." Use oil from a freshly opened container; reused oil may contain water.
  2. [2]Tektro FAQ (opens in a new tab)"Tektro disc brakes are designed to be used with only Tektro brand mineral oil" — it carries an additive and is dyed red.
  3. [3]SRAM support: fluid for SRAM DOT brakes (opens in a new tab)"DOT 5.1 or DOT 4 brake fluid is used in all current SRAM DOT brake systems, including Level, Guide, G2, and Code series."
  4. [4]SRAM support: alternative fluids in SRAM DOT brakes (opens in a new tab)Any fluid that isn't DOT 4 or DOT 5.1 damages the seals and requires replacing the complete brake.
  5. [5]SRAM eTap AXS HRD service manual (Rev J) (opens in a new tab)"Do not use mineral oil or DOT 5 fluid" — contamination means replacing the lever, caliper and hose. DOT damages paint; fluid on the pads means new pads.
  6. [6]SRAM support: Apex hydraulic disc brake fluid (opens in a new tab)Ships with DOT 5.1; compatible with DOT 5.1 or DOT 4.
  7. [7]SRAM support: Maven and other brands' mineral oils (opens in a new tab)SRAM specifies Maxima Mineral Brake Oil and hasn't tested other mineral oils; damage from other fluids isn't covered under warranty.
  8. [8]SRAM Maxima Mineral Brake Oil (SS-MIN-OIL-A1) (opens in a new tab)SRAM's mineral brake oil, designed for the DB8.
  9. [9]SRAM support: mineral oil vs DOT (opens in a new tab)Mineral oil brakes have longer service intervals; lists DB8 Stealth, DB8, DB6 and DB4.
  10. [10]SRAM support: DOT fluid used in a mineral oil brake (opens in a new tab)"Unfortunately, the brake should be replaced. DOT brake fluid contamination will cause degradation of the seals used in the mineral oil system and the brakes will be unsafe to continue to use."
  11. [11]SRAM support: how often to bleed SRAM road brakes (opens in a new tab)"Bleed your brakes at least once a year ... or more frequently as needed."
  12. [12]SRAM support: how often to bleed DB8 mineral oil brakes (opens in a new tab)At least every 2 years; more often for frequent riding, heavy braking or sub-freezing temperatures.
  13. [13]Hope Tech 3 X2 installation guide (opens in a new tab)"For brake bleeds use only dot 5.1 or dot 4 brake fluid from a clean container."
  14. [14]Hayes DOT 5.1 Pro Bleed Kit (opens in a new tab)Hayes bleeds its Dominion brakes with DOT 5.1.
  15. [15]Formula FAQ (Formula's Australian distributor) (opens in a new tab)Cura, Cura X and Cura 4 use mineral oil; older models (RX, R1, R1R, T1, T1R, RO, ROR, C1, CR1, CR3, Oro) use DOT 4.
  16. [16]EVELO support: parts and tools for the Zoom HB-875E brake (opens in a new tab)"The system uses mineral oil and not DOT fluid."
  17. [17]Escape Collective, "SRAM's new Motive MTB brakes go all in on mineral oil" (2025-03-27) (opens in a new tab)SRAM switched its entire mountain-bike brake line to mineral oil: Motive, Maven, DB8, DB6, DB4, replacing Code and Level. DOT absorbs water, which lowers its boiling point.
  18. [18]BikeRadar, "Buyer's guide to brake fluid — mineral oil vs DOT fluid" (2022) (opens in a new tab)Brand-by-brand list: Magura, Campagnolo, Clarks, Promax, Tektro and TRP mineral oil; Hayes DOT. Never mix fluids.
  19. [19]49 CFR 571.116 (FMVSS 116, motor vehicle brake fluids) (opens in a new tab)Minimum dry and wet boiling points for DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5 and DOT 5.1.

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