This msds for sunoco dot 5.1 brake fluid is dated 29 jun 2009, so i don't think the reason suzuki spec'd dot 4 instead of 5.1 was due to ignorance.

Dot 4 oder dot 5.1. Die dot 4 oder 5.1 ist ja scharf auf wasser zieht es an und einverleibt sich die gerne. Dot 3, 4, and 5.1 are glycol based fluids. I know not to use dot 5 but what has been the improvement with dot 5.1?

Dot 5 ist nicht mit den oben genannten dots mischbar, da es auf einer silikonmischung basiert! Here is the ford bulletin on it. It is used exclusively by the us military for this reason.

I've tried everything i can think of and have looked online for help also. On the downside, dot 5.1 will absorb water, it eats paints, and it is also expensive than dot 3 and dot 4. The classification was released in 2001.

There is no reason to get older version, except for price, but it's only a couple of $ difference. The brakes on my bike are crap house. It's also difficult to find this braking fluid in some auto parts shops.

There is no single standard brake fluid formula, but they do have to meet certain standards which the government set out. As mentioned don't use dot 5. Also 5.1 is more hydroscopic than dot 4, so although initially dot 5.1 will have a higher boiling point initially, but the longer you leave it in the system the more water it'll absorption and.

Also, dot3, 4, 4+, 5.1 und racing sind miteinander mischbar (sog. The label claims to be compatible with dot 4 and dot 5.1 systems without mentioning anything about dot 4+. 5.0 is silicone based whereas 5.1 is conventional brake fluid.