Empty Clutch Resevoir
08-20-2011, 06:57 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
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Empty Clutch Resevoir
The clutch resevoir on my 2007 (about 40K miles) was empty. I only needed about an ounce some Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF fluid to fill it up to the max mark. The owners manual indicates that if it is low then there must be a problem or a leak in the transmission. I keep it in the garage and the car has no leaks of any kind. I don't think I should be concerned but should I be? Anyone else have the resevoir go low?
08-20-2011, 07:00 PM
#2
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
pardon my knowledge glitsch, but is that fluid DOT4?
08-20-2011, 07:05 PM
#4
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
I thought I read that our clutch reservoirs use DOT4.
08-20-2011, 07:07 PM
#5
Team Owner
You'd better get that reservoir cleaned out and filled with DOT4 brake fluid before you push in the clutch. Dexron is transmission fluid and does not belong in the clutch fluid reservoir...if it gets into the system, this could get very expensive fast.
Yes, you should definitely be concerned
Yes, you should definitely be concerned
Last edited by cclive; 08-20-2011 at 07:11 PM.
08-20-2011, 07:14 PM
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
whew!
08-20-2011, 07:18 PM
#10
Team Owner
Get a bottle of DOT4 and after getting all the Dexron out, rinse the inside of the reservoir with the DOT4 a few times before you ever touch the clutch pedal.
08-20-2011, 07:40 PM
#11
Melting Slicks
Watch this video, then get all the parts you need to clean out the clutch fluid.
I initially had to do mine about 10 times before it got clear and stayed clear for a month or two. It's now regular part of maintenance.
Doesn't take long at all. Just be careful and DO NOT get any fluid on your paint!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...al-issues.html
I initially had to do mine about 10 times before it got clear and stayed clear for a month or two. It's now regular part of maintenance.
Doesn't take long at all. Just be careful and DO NOT get any fluid on your paint!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...al-issues.html
08-20-2011, 08:31 PM
#13
Burning Brakes
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I used a syringe with a small tube about 8" long and stuck it into the hole at the bottom of the resevoir to get out all of the Dexron. The Dexron is less dense so (the DOT 4 immediately sank to the bottom of the jar I was putting all the stuff into) Once everything was out I took off the reservior and cleaned it out and then put everything back together and refilled with DOT 4. I pumped the clutch about 10 times and didn't see any Dexron in it. The Dexron is red and very easy to see. Whew!!!!!!!
So anyway, any reason is should have been low in the first place??
So anyway, any reason is should have been low in the first place??
08-20-2011, 08:37 PM
#14
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Is this the first time you have checked it? If so I wouldn't worry about it. I would flush it often as we have learned on the forum it does ware out and cause problems. It doesn't usually disappear but maybe it has never been full. 
08-20-2011, 08:40 PM
#15
Burning Brakes
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Yes, this is the first time I've checked it in a very, very long time. The only reason I checked it today is because as I was cleaning the engine bay I noticed staining on the resevior and took the cap off to clean it and saw that it empty.
08-20-2011, 10:44 PM
#16
Safety Car
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St. Jude Donor '12
One of my 09's clutch reservoir is now down the fill mark and the car only has 7400 miles on it. There are no leaks in it, but i dont think it was full when i bought the car new last August. Got to do the clutch fluid flushes on them.
08-21-2011, 01:20 AM
#17
Safety Car
The same reason your brake master reservoir gets low- the brake pads are worn out and the piston extended and took fluid behind it which depleted the excess up top.
maybe your clutch disc is down to the rivets...or maybe there is a small misty leak somewhere. I service mine every six months or so, haven't noticed any fluid loss to date.
maybe your clutch disc is down to the rivets...or maybe there is a small misty leak somewhere. I service mine every six months or so, haven't noticed any fluid loss to date.
08-21-2011, 05:28 AM
#18
Burning Brakes
The clutch reservoir should never go low . I had the same problem and after 5 or 6 trips to service I finally got a new slave cylinder . After that , no problem or fluid loss of any kind . You should not be leaking fluid . I would get this checked out right away or you will be always adding fluid . There is something going on with the car for there to be that much fluid loss . Been there and done that . Good luck .
08-21-2011, 05:46 AM
#19
Safety Car
Put some of that Dexron in the brake reservoir and in less than a day you could have you picture on an iodine bottle!
Flush that clutch reservoir with at least 2 small bottles of DOT-4. Fill only to the mark on the plastic bottle.
Flush that clutch reservoir with at least 2 small bottles of DOT-4. Fill only to the mark on the plastic bottle.
