One of the issues with DOT5 is that it easily aerates (holds air bubbles), which is very hard to get out of the system.
One thing I do with ALL my brake systems when "bleeding" them, I reverse bleed. I fill from the caliper, UPWARDS, so all the bubbles rise and exit into the master fluid pool. Then, I let the system sit for a while, and then compress the piston(s) into the calipers, pushing fluid upwards, and air out of the system. After that, I gently pump the system to put the fluid back n the caliper(s), and do it again. Usually, that gets the system to top notch level performance.
Dot's 3 and 4 are alcohol based, DOT5 is silicone based, don't know what 5.1 is.