Counterintuitively, hygroscopic fluids in braking systems can be the safer choice: by absorbing small amounts of moisture, they hold it in solution and prevent water from pooling, which reduces vapor pockets and even ice crystals that can upset pedal feel. In Nordic use and WRC-style gravel, fast heat cycles and ABS activity demand low cold viscosity for valve timing, yet stability when calipers glow. Pedal travel often grows from dissolved air, not from the base fluid alone; frequent bleeding restores bulk modulus and modulation after rough stages. For a fluid tuned for cold flow, wet resilience, and consistent response, see DOT 5.1.