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[fabaum]

Having decided to pull my 1979 Triumph out of storage this week for the first time in 14 years resulted in a couple of surprises.

My first one was looking at my brake fluid reservoir and seeing the "girling fluid only" message. I remember the disaster my cousin had had in the late 60's when he accidentally filled his with regular brake fluid. Somehow I thought my 1979 no longer used or required "girling fluid".

Armed with the need for new juice I drove down to my local (Phoenix) Import Car Parts specialist store and expected to snag a quart off the shelf.

When I wasn't able to find it I went to the counter and asked for it. I was surprised when all three counter help people looked at me puzzled and told me they had never heard of girling fluid (and that they had all worked in the store for over a decade).

Now I am back home and on line and it appears there is little information on the internet as well. I am seeing somewhat vague references to "Castrol Golden Amber" and DOT 5, and DOT 5.1 fluids, however. I am not really clear on what I should purchase.

Thanks in advance for any advice and/or suggestions.

Fred Baumgartner
Phoenix, Arizona

[charley fitch]

I can't say as I remember Girling fluid.  Up until a few years ago all we had was DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid.  Now they have DOT 5 which is silicone.  You can not put the silicone ( DOT 5) in without totally purging the whole system and starting all over.
So it would be most likely that you have regular brake fluid in there rather than silicone.  The difference is that silicone will not destroy your paint if the system leaks.  I believe it also does not absorb water like brake fluid does.  But in a closed  system it takes a long time to contaminate your fluid.

Oh yeh, they also tell you on some oil cap to use certain brands of oil that aren't availble either
Charley Fitch 

[herald948]

Fred, on a 1979, you should be able to use any brake fluid you desire.  The most current equivalent to the "Girling" fluid suggested is Castrol GT/LMA, available in some chain auto parts stores (Pep Boys carries it here in the Albany, NY, area). But any good name-brand fluid should be ok.

I hesitate to admit that I'm old enough to remember using Castrol Girling Crimson, Green, Amber.... 

[fabaum]

Thanks to both of you for your replies.

It appears that "Girling Fluid" is a thing of the past and I am officially a dinosaur for remembering the time my cousin used regular DOT 3 in his TR and had his brake lines all disintegrated.

Wikipedia does give some reference at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT_3 and even bears witness to what happened to the TR's brakes.

I did see Castrol GT/LMA here at Pep Boys as well so I guess I will give that a try.

Thanks again

Fred Baumgartner