Grimlock

I have been following Ranger's technique for clutch care, but I seem to have extreme issues. I purchased the car 3 months ago with just over 40K miles. Even after replacing the fluid and bleeding it out, my clutch is still slightly sticky right at the bottom of the travel. Also the fluid turns dark after just a few miles of driving. I changed the fluid last night and drove to a car event today 20 minutes away and it is already dark in color. Three times in the past had the clutch stick twice mid travel. Once the clutch engaged about 1/4 of the way out and engaged almost instantly which caused the car to spin 180 degrees (luckily on an autocross course, not the road). I was obviously shifting pretty hard at the time. Still I want to be able to shift like this SAFELY!

So I am coming to the conclusion that I probably need to replace the clutch pretty soon. Or is this considered remotely normal? I never had this issue with any of my previous performance cars!

doveboat

Grim, keep swapping the fluid, at some point it will stay clearer. Sounds like ur hydraulics are a bit gummed up still.

Use a good dot 4 fluid.

Ed

Grimlock

OK, cool. So maybe there is a hope! I will keep doing it once a week or so. I am using Prestone DOT 4 from Walmart. I've already gone through 2 bottles and have 3 more ready.

mph1972

I bought my Z with 49K on it, the clutch fluid was light old coffee. I did the Ranger method on it several times and it finally cleared up. I still do it weekly, just to keep things fresh. I was **** about this with my previous Z, so I keep checking it regularly and keep the fluid as clean as possible.

Give it time, things will clear up.

Eddie 70

It takes several, several times to get the fluid to come clean. Seems like I remember reading somewhere that the dust from the clutch material makes its way past the seals and into the system making the fluid dark. It may have been on Rangers webpage or one of his posts that I read that.

Laser Guided

If it's the first time using the ranger method, it will take many many reservoir drain/refills to finally clear it up. After that, it's easy to maintain by just doing it every now and then.

MTPZ06

Just continue the process and it will clear up.

JETninja

Anyone got a link to this "Ranger" method?

Xx_Black-out

Once it finally clears up, switch the fluid over to Motul. Great product, especially for racing applications! I've been running it in mine and the clutch hasn't stuck yet...

Grimlock

http://www.rangeracceleration.com/Clutch_Care.html

gotz06?

it took mine about three of the big bottles, but it did clear up! now i do it ever week or two

MTPZ06

Good stuff...I run Castrol LMA synthetic in my Brake and Clutch resevoirs. Light in color so it's easy to see when it's getting dirty.

tlove32

Hey Bill...I'm pretty sure the first time the fluid was ever changed was when I did it after you bought the car. So it's going to take quite a few flushes to get it totally clean

Toque

It took mine months of cycling the Prestone Dot 4 fluid into it before it was clean. Probably 5 or more bottles. Once I got it clean I cycled a bottle thru every month or so, and it stayed good.

Toque

Grimlock

Yeah I think mine is slowly getting better. I am now swapping it out after every trip I take to try to get it cleaned out sooner. It seems that right after I swap it out the clutch is much smoother. After a few miles it feels granular. Almost like there are small rocks in the clutch which I suppose is the black debris. I do find it odd that this was never an issue in my M3 or Porsches, but I guess this is just one of those Vette oddities. I can't wait to get this car fully sorted out!!!

momo20

my z had 27k on her when i got it..and found out bout the ranger method at bout 32k . and now i just hit 42k miles..and my fluid is just now to the point to where its finally clear..

Grimlock

Yeah I am a bit crazy about it since the car spun out one time already due to clutch woes. And I am a very experienced driver, but the clutch just insta-engaged with the pedal only coming up about 20% of the way and froze. I don't want to have that happen on the street!

How long does a clutch last on a stock Z06 typically? I think on my Porsches and BMWs it was usually around 60K with some tracking and autocrossing. Is that about the same on the Z06?

doveboat

Tough to say as everyone has a different driving style.

My expectations are 100k if driven with stock power and limiting the amount of hard launches. Road Courses should not tax the assembly very much if you are rev matching on down shifts and not slipping the clutch as you leave the grid area. Autocross could be a bit tougher as you need to launch the car as you start each session.

I am more concerned about the longevity of the torque tube joints after extensive track use.

Ed

HarryZ

I bit the bullet and put in an LS7 clutch and a bleeder line.

Pedal was constantly sticking at the track

quick04Z06

Grimlock, the later C5Zs (03, 04) are very hardy automobiles and can handle a lot of abuse. I would think the clutch on a Z will outlast a BMW or Porsche clutch by a considerable margin, all things being equal. My Porsche clutch did not feel stout at all, although I sold the car before it actually needed a new clutch. Of course, excessive slippage and hard launches can kill any clutch.