Is the Dot 4 hydro fluid bad or good? If you had a choice would you choose 'ARTEK ADC 4.1 Mechanical Disc Brakes' or 'SRAM AVID ELIXIR 1 Hydraulic Disc Brakes' Thanks for the help guys I'm sorry I'm so newbish

The type of fluid is determined by the brake, is makes no functional difference, although you must use the correct fluid for the brake you have.

For the 2 you have listed, neither, Unless your LBS can support the Artek, where are you going to get spares/pads; for Avid, wouldn't touch any apart from the latest Guide brakes, Elixir will either work fine, or you will always have issues, no way of knowing if you have a good or bad one till you have bought it.

At present, the best value/most reliable brakes on the market are Shimano, ranging from M355 to M9000, take you pick for the budget you have.

Mechanical brakes are easier for someone without experience to work on them and potentially fix any issue that might happen when riding. Hydraulic brakes on the other hand, you have to go through the bleeding and making sure you have no air in the lines. The trend is moving towards hydraulic brakes as more manufacturers are using these even on their less expensive bikes.

There is a wide variety of brakes and it really comes down to what type of riding you will be doing and what is your budget.

Shimano hydraulic brake sets

I thought we all used cooking oil... Uh Oh,,

The Avids are pretty good brakes.