Wilwood Brake Fluid

Why Wilwood Brake Fluid Belongs in Your High-Performance System

Wilwood Engineering has been synonymous with serious braking performance since its founding in 1977. While the brand is best known for its calipers, rotors, and big brake kits, its lineup of brake fluids reflects the same engineering philosophy: build to the demands of the most extreme environments first, then make it work everywhere else. When your brake system is already running Wilwood hardware, it only makes sense to fill it with a fluid engineered to match.

A Tiered Lineup Built Around Boiling Point

Wilwood Engineering offers three different types of extreme performance brake fluids for street and racing applications. Each tier is calibrated to a specific use case, with boiling point as the central performance metric — because in high-heat braking situations, a fluid that boils becomes compressible, and a compressible fluid means a soft, unpredictable pedal.

• Hi-Temp° 570: Wilwood Hi-Temp° 570 Racing Brake Fluid is a specially fortified blend offering high-end performance covering a wide range of performance, competition, and street applications specified for DOT 3 fluids. It has a minimum 570°F dry boiling point to withstand the severe heat requirements of automotive racing, and its low viscosity allows easy bleeding of your brake system, eliminating aeration caused by foaming due to excessive pedal pumping.
• EXP600 Plus: EXP600 Plus is rated at 626°F dry boiling point and conforms to and exceeds U.S. specification FMVSS No. 116 DOT 4 and has been proven compatible with use in production car ABS systems. It bridges the gap between street-legal daily use and serious track-day performance.
• XR Race-Only: Wilwood's XR Race-Only brake fluid is the same extreme high-temperature fluid used in Formula 1, World Rally Championship, FIA World Endurance, and Moto GP, with a dry boiling point of 645°F thanks to a proprietary blend of high-performance polymer electrolytes and borate esters. This polyglycol-ether-based, DOT4-type fluid combines the lowest compressibility, lowest moisture affinity, and highest resistance to aeration of any brake fluid available, and is formulated to deliver the most consistent pedal feel from start to finish, even in the most adverse racing conditions. Note that XR Race-Only is intended for off-highway use only.

Understanding Dry vs. Wet Boiling Points

One of the most important — and most overlooked — factors in brake fluid selection is understanding how moisture degrades performance over time. All Wilwood brake fluids exceed DOT boiling point standards. Glycol-based brake fluids are hygroscopic and gradually absorb moisture, reducing boiling point over time. Even under wet conditions, Hi-Temp° 570 is rated at 313°F, EXP600 Plus at 417°F, and XR Race-Only at 432°F — all well above DOT minimums.

Hi-Temp 570 comes in convenient hermetically sealed containers to guarantee against unwanted absorption of moisture, which can drastically lower the fluid's boiling point. For track-driven vehicles, it can be beneficial to change the fluid after every race weekend, especially after racing in the rain, severe temperature use, or brake fluid boiling.

The Right Fluid for Every Application

If you have a classic or show car which spends time in storage, Wilwood offers a paint-friendly, high-lubrication, non-hygroscopic blend called Wilwood Five. For racing, Hi-Temp 570 or EXP600 Plus deliver the high boiling points demanding conditions require. Whatever your build — street machine, weekend autocross car, or full-competition racer — pairing Wilwood brake fluid with your Wilwood brake system ensures every component of your hydraulic circuit is working toward the same goal: consistent, fade-free stopping power when it matters most.