So the other day, I went and picked up some rear brake pads for my A4 from NAPA. When I was in there I saw some Pentosin DOT4 and decided to grab it as well. While the guy behind the counter was looking up the price for the bottle of Pentosin, we started chatting, he mentioned that he lived in Germany for awhile and that some German cars (oh and he owned a VW Beetle) use mineral oil instead of brake fluid for their brake systems. My question is, was this guy blowing smoke up my *** or is he being serious? Can anyone confirm what he said as being true?

 

Some European vehicles use mineral oil fluids. The advantage is that mineral oils do not attract water. But do not attempt to use them in vehicles designed for glycol-based fluids or the rubber parts of the brake system will be damaged. Mineral oil brake fluid is dyed green.

 

^^what he said

 

I know mineral oil is used for power steering in most European vehicles. I had just never heard of it being used in place of brake fluid.