Priced as of May 16, 2026
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Prices may varyCarCareTruth's Analysis
Last reviewed May 16, 2026
TL;DR Meets DOT 4 (FMVSS 116 — minimum 446°F dry / 311°F wet); dry boiling point of 519.8°F is documented in the SDS at +73.8°F above the DOT 4 minimum — a meaningful safety margin. Wet boiling point of 365°F is manufacturer-claimed at +54°F above spec, but no independent test document confirms it. Not compatible with DOT 5 silicone systems. The product carries a California Prop 65 warning — disclosed on the product label and SDS §15.
What it is and how it performs
The Bosch ESI6 is labeled as DOT 4, the specification that requires a minimum dry boiling point of 446°F and a minimum wet boiling point of 311°F per FMVSS 116. In fresh condition, the SDS documents a dry boiling point of 519.8°F — 73.8°F above the DOT 4 threshold, which is in the upper tier for DOT 4 fluids on the market. All brake fluid absorbs moisture over time, lowering its heat resistance; the manufacturer claims a wet boiling point of 365°F — 54°F above the DOT 4 minimum after moisture absorption — though this figure comes from the product listing and has not been published in an independent test document. The product is engineered to simultaneously clear the boiling-point requirements for DOT 3 and DOT 5.1 as well, reflecting chemistry that is more capable than the DOT 4 label alone suggests. ABS, ESC, and traction control compatibility is explicitly confirmed on the product label.
Who should buy this — and who should skip it
The ESI6 is well suited for daily drivers and light to moderate performance use where DOT 4 is the OEM specification. The documented dry boiling point provides meaningful fade resistance above commodity DOT 4 fluids that cluster near the 446°F threshold, and the brand's OEM-heritage credibility is backed by 4.8 stars across 3,700+ Amazon ratings. Skip if your vehicle explicitly requires DOT 5 — the ESI6 is a glycol-ether fluid and is physically incompatible with DOT 5 silicone systems; the product label marks DOT 5 as an explicit incompatibility. For high-performance or track use requiring a product with a DOT 5.1 label certification and third-party-verified boiling points well above 500°F dry, a dedicated DOT 5.1 performance fluid may be more appropriate.
Safety and environmental impact
The SDS signal word is WARNING. H361 classifies this product as a suspected reproductive toxicant (Category 2). SDS §8 specifies safety glasses and chemical-resistant gloves during handling; splash risk during pressure bleeding and overhead caliper work means eye protection is warranted for those operations. No respiratory hazard codes are present at mixture level; standard garage ventilation is adequate for brake service. The sweet taste of brake fluid is a documented attractant for pets and children — store in a sealed, inaccessible location. The product carries a California Prop 65 warning disclosed on the product label and SDS §15. Spent brake fluid cannot be poured down a household drain or storm sewer; collect it during a flush and dispose of it at a used-fluid collection facility.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bosch ESI6 a DOT 4 or DOT 5.1 fluid?▾
The ESI6 is labeled and sold as a DOT 4 product. It is engineered to simultaneously clear the boiling-point minimums for DOT 3, DOT 4, and DOT 5.1, but it carries a DOT 4 label certification, not a DOT 5.1 label. For applications specifying DOT 5.1 by label, confirm with your vehicle OEM whether a DOT 4 fluid that meets DOT 5.1 boiling points is acceptable as a substitute.
Can I use Bosch ESI6 in a car that uses DOT 3?▾
Yes. DOT 4 fluids are backward-compatible with DOT 3 systems. The ESI6 is explicitly marketed as compatible with vehicles requiring DOT 3, DOT 4, or DOT 5.1. Always check your vehicle owner's manual for the recommended spec before adding or replacing fluid.
Is the Bosch ESI6 compatible with ABS and ESC systems?▾
Yes. The product label explicitly confirms compatibility with ABS (anti-lock braking), ESC (electronic stability control), and traction control systems. This is expected for all glycol-ether DOT 3/4/5.1 fluids; DOT 5 silicone-based fluid is the type that is incompatible with ABS/ESC systems.
Can I use Bosch ESI6 in a vehicle that requires DOT 5?▾
No. DOT 5 is a silicone-based fluid that is physically and chemically incompatible with glycol-ether fluids like the ESI6. The product label explicitly marks DOT 5 as incompatible with a red X. Mixing the two fluids damages seals and degrades braking performance. If your vehicle specifies DOT 5, use only DOT 5 silicone fluid.
Does the Bosch ESI6 carry a California Prop 65 warning?▾
Yes. The product carries a California Prop 65 warning. This is disclosed on the product label and SDS §15.
From the manufacturer
Marketing copy from Bosch, via Amazon. Not editorial.
- •[NEXT GENERATION FLUID] - Bosch ESI6 is a next generation brake fluid designed for today's modern braking systems and is the first fluid to simultaneously combine both low viscosity and high wet boiling point (365 Degrees Fahrenheit)
- •[EXTENDED SERVICE INTERVAL] - ESI6 is designed to last longer than traditional fluids for extended replacement intervals: 100% longer than DOT 3, 50% longer than DOT 4, and 10% longer than DOT 5.1 (with 30% lower viscosity)
- •[BACKWARD COMPATIBLE} - ESI6 is intended for use as a direct replacement for vehicles that specify DOT 3, DOT 4 or DOT 5.1 fluid which includes the majority of all brake systems launched since 1990
- •[REDUCES WEAR] - ESI6 delivers excellent lubricity properties to prevent brake system component wear and reduce noise; ESI6 is fully compatible with DOT 3, DOT 4, and DOT 5.1 fluids for top off but optimum performance is achieved with a full fluid change
- •[NOT DOT 5 COMPATIBLE] - ESI6 exceeds all DOT standards for DOT 3, DOT 4, and DOT 5.1 fluids but is NOT compatible with vehicles that require/use DOT 5 fluids - never use any fluid other than DOT 5 in DOT 5 systems
- •1 Quart (32 ounces) - When doing a full fluid change, multiple quarts will be necessary to properly flush the old fluid from the system and bleed the brake system after refilling with ESI6
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Manufacturer videos
Manufacturer images












































Manufacturer specifications
- Brand
- Bosch
- Package Information
- Can
- Liquid Volume
- 32 Fluid Ounces
- Item Weight
- 32 Ounces
- Viscosity
- 5w
- Brand Name
- Bosch
- Item Form
- Liquid
- Global Trade Identification Number
- 00077212216819
- Manufacturer
- Bosch Automotive
- Unit Count
- 32.0 Fluid Ounces
- UPC
- 077212216819
- Number of Items
- 1
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Top Amazon review
↗External — Amazon's most-helpful review for context.
Flush and refill every 2 Or 3 Years.
Recent findings conducted by the National Car Care Council revealed that 86 percent of the cars they randomly checked during state vehicle inspections, had at least one item that would cause the car to fail. Fifteen percent of these cars had low, contaminated or worn-out brake fluid. To put this another way, more than one in every 10 cars you are traveling with along city streets and highways has the potential of a brake failure due to brake fluid issues.Brake fluid is the key ingredient in any hydraulic braking system. The fluid is not only subjected to hundreds of pounds of pressure on many occasions during your drive, it is also a lubricant for the rubber components in your master cylinder, wheel cylinders, calipers and hoses. Additionally, brake fluid has corrosion inhibitors that keep the bores of hydraulic cylinders from rusting and pitting.Many of today’s brake fluids are made of polyalkylene glycol which is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture. This can be a good thing and a bad thing. The absorption of water promotes dispersal throughout the braking system and prevents “pooling” of the absorbed water in low-lying areas of the brake system where corrosive acids can form and make the components deteriorate at a faster rate. Water in a brake system will also freeze or boil faster than the fluid. Hygroscopic properties can be a bad thing, though, because the fluid will actually draw moisture through porous metal surfaces if the fluid has lost its corrosion-preventative abilities.Used fluid, when tested with chemical test strips, can sometimes contain up to 8-10% water contaminants after several years of use. Changing of the fluid whenever a brake component is being replaced is always recommended but seldom done, especially if you are fixing the car in your driveway or garage. Most service shops will recommend a flush and refill be done; however, cost-conscious consumers may opt against this for sake of saving some money on the total bill. A quick search through your owner’s manual will find a recommended service interval of roughly every three years that a flush and refill should be done.When replacing brake fluid, there are several different types to choose from. The easiest way to determine which fluid your car requires is by consulting your owner's manual, or by locating the specification stamped on the master cylinder reservoir. Most American-made cars used DOT 3 brake fluid until the mid-1990s. DOT 3 brake fluid has a dry boiling point of 284 degrees, which is fine for brake systems with large brake drums and thick disc brake rotors, where brake heat can be easily dispersed. It has a viscosity of roughly 1500 at -40 F.DOT 4 was used by many British or European cars and is also a poly-glycol base. DOT 4 absorbs less moisture than the DOT 3 fluid, and many enthusiasts have converted their hydraulic brake systems from DOT 3 or DOT 4 for this reason. Changing the fluid is not all that is involved in this conversion, though. To prevent cross contamination you should also change all the rubber components in the brake system. All steel lines and brake hoses need to be flushed, too. DOT 4 has a boiling point of 311 degrees F., and it is rated at a viscosity of 1800 at -40 F.DOT 5 is silicone-based brake fluid and is used in most new cars today. DOT 5 is expensive, but it has a dry boiling point of 356 degrees. Newer brake rotors tend to be smaller and thinner, which means they disperse heat a lot less efficiently. Also, DOT 5 does not absorb any moisture. DOT 5 will not harm painted surfaces and acts as a weather barrier for your brake system, preventing rust. DOT 5 can be used as an upgrade or replacement for both DOT 3 and 4, but should not be mixed with any of the other fluids. The procedures to convert your DOT 3 or 4 systems to the silicone-based DOT 5 are similar to the Dot 4 conversion procedure mentioned above. Silicone-based brake systems tend to be more difficult to bleed, but once this is accomplished, a DOT 5-filled system will resist rust better and last longer than the other formulations. Silicone brake fluid is also much lighter in cold temperatures, only about 900 weight at -40 F.A new formulation has recently been developed called DOT 5.1. This fluid is identical to DOT 5 silicone in both boiling point and viscosity; however, it is compatible in the poly-glycol based systems and anti-lock brakes as well. DOT 5.1 can be used in place of either of the poly-glycol-based fluids even though it has half the viscosity of DOT 3 or DOT 4 fluid. In fact, DOT 5.1 can be intermixed with the other non-silicone based fluids.Many imports also require special brake fluids be used, so as not to void original equipment vehicle warranties. Pre-2005 Audis and VWs use a Super Dot 4 that is light yellow in color and has a boiling point of 509 degrees F. This fluid was also OE-specified fluid for BMW until mid-2002, and all new Land Rover, Jaguar, Volvo, Porsche and Mercedes. Audi and VWs after 2005 use a low viscosity type DOT 4 LV that is yellow in color and has the same boiling point as Super DOT 4. The LV formulation is also used exclusively on Mini, Saab and BMWs built after mid-2002. Both of these import-specific fluids are available from the manufacturer Pentosin (as well as others) and sold at many dealerships and retailers, but they are not necessarily out front on the shelf with the other more common DOT fluids.Amazon why do you ship food with brake fluid?