Yet More Silicone !!

[Mike Wattam <MikeWattam@domain.elided>]

As a result of a member of our digest reading this correspondence, I have
had a phone call from a senior chemist who worked for one of the major oil
companies, but has now retired.  Unfortunately he has asked me to not to
give his name, so lets call him Fred.

Fred was responsible for introducing Silicone fluid to the UK in 1982, from
America where it was (and still is allegedly) used in all military and Post
Office vehicles with hydraulic brakes, also Boeing trains.  Can any USA
members confirm/deny this?

There are three manufacturers of the fluid, all USA-based and are Union
Carbide, General Electric and Dow.  Major corporations.

When originally released in 1982 in the UK, Silicone Fluid attacked natural
rubber and leather seals, but this was promptly dealt with by a
re-formulation.  The market release was done AFTER this modification so
there is no reason to suspect any problems.

In Freds' view, Silicone fluid has many advantages, but no disadvantages
worth knowing, at least at a technical level.  He says the market
penetration of silicone fluid is only about 1% where it should be 5% plus,
and he attributes this to a whispering campaign by the major brake
manufacturers.

Lockheeds position has been published in 1992 in many places including
their own service bulletins.  Castrol in 1997 brought out their own answer
to Silicone fluid, and aped the very same bulletin on its release.

Apparently Glycol/ester fluids cost virtually nothing to make but have a
terrific mark-up to selling price, making lots of money for lots of
manufacturers, distributors and stockists - every one except the poor old
consumer.  On the other hand, Silicone fluid is expensive to make and due
to the pricing problem versus glycol/ester, has to be of very limited
mark-up which is not good news for the profit-hungry.

Also, the corrosion brought about by glycol/ester brake fluid is also going
to result in the regular replacement of brake system hardware due to
corrosion and leakage.

Now if I had an unscrupulous and cynical interest in making lots of money
out of brake hardware and tins of glycol fluid, guess which product I'd be
pushing?  In other words I believe yet again we are being manipulated by
some people with vested interests.

It's your decision which to use.

Mike Wattam
Triumph Stag Register