Clutch Fluid Question
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
Re: Clutch Fluid Question (vettejoel)
It is not recommended to use DOT 5 fluid because it is silicone based. DOT 4 fluid will work just fine and increase your boiling point by about 100 Deg. Motul and ATE SuperBlue are very popular ones. We have the Motul in stock if you are interested. It is used quite a bit in the high performance motorcycle market. Thanks!
Mike
Mike
Racer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 452
Likes: 2
From: Lynnfield MA
Re: Clutch Fluid Question (vettejoel)
There's actually a TSB that states that the clutch master
may squeak if the wrong fluid is used. GM has a specific
fluid they call out for the clutch. If the issue is noise,
you may want to look into bleeding out whatever is in
there.
may squeak if the wrong fluid is used. GM has a specific
fluid they call out for the clutch. If the issue is noise,
you may want to look into bleeding out whatever is in
there.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 397
Likes: 2
From: Marstons Mills MA
Re: Clutch Fluid Question (SilvaDragon)
Question.. should I change the clutch fluid? The previous owner put ATE Super Blue (it is blue!) in when he owned the car for one year. Now 5 years later.. clutch is fine but it is brake fluid..right? Absorbs moisture and should be changed? PM?
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
Re: Clutch Fluid Question (CapeCodCoupe)
Correct, it is just brake fluid and will absorb moisture. It is a PM item that a lot of people neglect. They change their brake fluid regularly, but do forget the clutch fluid even though it is the same thing. On a completely closed system, you shouldn't have to worry about moisture too much. As soon as the cap is opened though, it will take the moisture right out of the air.
Under hard racing conditions, it should be changed pretty regularly because of the heat in the clutch and slave cylinder. I've seen plenty of burnt (boiled) stock (DOT 3) fluid.
Under hard racing conditions, it should be changed pretty regularly because of the heat in the clutch and slave cylinder. I've seen plenty of burnt (boiled) stock (DOT 3) fluid.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 203
Likes: 31
From: Baltimore MD
Re: Clutch Fluid Question (vettejoel)
If you do not race, DOT5 is an excellent choice for the clutch. It is non-hydroscopic so it does not attract moisture, it is not harmful to paint, and the silicone lubes the seals. I put it in my C4 clutch 8 years ago, have not changed it since, it is still clean, and has never leaked. It can easily handle the heat of a non-race driven clutch. Brakes cause much more heat to the fluids. As an aside, Harley uses DOT5 as stock fill in their brakes. DOT3 should be changed every other year due to moisture. At the two year mark, I will change my C5 clutch fluid to DOT5.
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Re: Clutch Fluid Question (luvinc5)
I thought DOT 5 will cause havoc with the seals and rubber in the brake hoses.
Robert