Clutch system bleed
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2021
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Clutch system bleed
How much fluid is contained in the whole clutch hydraulic system on the stock C5? Since my remote bleeder currently is routed straight down by the header, would it gravity bleed if I just open it up, or would I still need to pump the pedal? I will reroute the remote bleeder line before I fire the engine again.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2022
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From: Southern California
the whole system holds about 7-8 fluid ounces. The remote bleeders usually have a check valve that wont let liquid just run out when its opened, fluid will only come out of the speed bleeder when the pedal is depressed. So crack open the bleeder, and open the reservoir cap, pump pedal 3-4 times, nice slow full presses (clutch pedal will have no resistance when the bleeder is cracked open so don't be alarmed), check reservoir (DO NOT LET IT GET FULLY EMPTY WHEN YOU ARE PRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL OR IT WILL SUCK IN AIR), once reservoir is about half-way empty re-fill reservoir with fresh fluid, pump 3-4 more times, repeat a handful of times and the whole system should be bled and ready to seal back up.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2022
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From: Southern California
A remote bleeder and speed bleeder are the same thing, just different ways to call it. So you should be able to crack open that bleeder (only need to open it about 1/4-1/2 a turn), and it should have a check valve in it that won't let the fluid just come running out. If for whatever reason it does start running out as soon as you open it, then you would need a second person refilling the reservoir while you were underneath doing the remote bleeder, to make sure the reservoir never gets fully empty and sucks in air.
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From: Da U.P.
Instructor
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From: Southern California
Thread Starter
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I agree with both of you. I will relocate the end of the remote bleeder to the top of the engine before I fire it up, but this is the way I found it as it was when I bought the car. It was probably boiling the fluid all the way up to the slave cylinder, since it's laying about 1/4" from the header collector. The clutch would barely disengage at all.
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So this is the old fluid. My son helped me today, and we bled and changed the fluid today with DOT4. Although I still can't fire it up for a road test quite yet, I can already tell the clutch is going to work much better.
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Might want to check that remote bleeder hose routing. I've heard of a few rare cases where clutch hoses have burned through and caught fire with longtubes. It also isn't doing any favors to the fluid being that close to the header.
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Yes, I'm going to reroute the remote line up to the top before I fire it up again!