recently I was suprised to see dot3 brake fluid labeled as synthetic....the dot 3 without the synthetic label is not found...

I read the label/spec on both dot3 containers and it was exactly the same....except for the wording synthetic....

is this because the base materials used are not from conventional petrolem????

Check out this Wikipedia article. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_fluid)
It says Most brake fluids used today are glycol-ether based, but mineral oil and silicone based fluids are also available.
A list of synthetic and non-synthetic ingredients is listed at the bottom.

I read the label/spec on both dot3 containers and it was exactly the same....except for the wording synthetic....

is this because the base materials used are not from conventional petrolem????
I believe you are correct, and, if so, then the vast majority of brake fluid ( the regular glycol kind) could be classified as 'synthetic'.

Therefore, using the 'synthetic' word on the bottle is simple marketing. Technically its correct and buyers may prefer it becuase synthetic fluids are very desirable, but the fluid is actually the same stuff that's been around for decades.

Check out this Wikipedia article. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_fluid)
It says Most brake fluids used today are glycol-ether based, but mineral oil and silicone based fluids are also available.
A list of synthetic and non-synthetic ingredients is listed at the bottom.

I believe you are correct, and, if so, then the vast majority of brake fluid ( the regular glycol kind) could be classified as 'synthetic'.

Therefore, using the 'synthetic' word on the bottle is simple marketing. Technically its correct and buyers may prefer it becuase synthetic fluids are very desirable, but the fluid is actually the same stuff that's been around for decades.

thanks ..I thought this also because, the spec was the exact same..
just a marketing change to make it appear superior...