Changing clutch fluid..worth it??
Thread Starter
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From: Always living in a state of Confusion.
Gone, but not Forgotten
Cruise-In 5, 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09
Changing clutch fluid..worth it??
I did a search and found some topics on changing the clutch fluid, but you have to remove the exhaust, tunnel cover, etc :eek: ? That seems like a lot of work.
Has anyone had this done at the dealer, and if so how many $$. Also, does the "turkey baster" approach really work? Thanks :thumbs:
Has anyone had this done at the dealer, and if so how many $$. Also, does the "turkey baster" approach really work? Thanks :thumbs:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 885
Likes: 0
From: The Woodlands Texas
Re: Changing clutch fluid..worth it?? (98BlackMagic)
First - Do not use the DOT fluid from your local autoshop. The GM fluid lacks some of the acids in standard fluids at your autoshop. The autoshop fluids will soften your clutch fluid seals and soft goods causing them to leak. GM fluid costs $10 a quart - pricey but worth the $$.
Second - Changing your fluid is a good idea if the fluid has turned black or has a lot of little "rubber particles" suspended in the reservoir. Are you doing a lot of hard shifting, drag racing, street racing, etc? If so, your fluid may need to be changed out.
Third - The turkey baster is for turkeys. Not your C5. Doesn't work, waste of time.
Fourth - Dealer will bleed clutch for around $250 in labor. Car has to go on a lift and the dealer has the tools to bleed. I have bled my clutch at home and installed a little drain tube with bleeder valve so I can get to it without disassembling 1/2 of my car. Loosen bleeder, pump pedal, voila!
Have fun and welcome to the world of GM (The General) stupid designs.
Second - Changing your fluid is a good idea if the fluid has turned black or has a lot of little "rubber particles" suspended in the reservoir. Are you doing a lot of hard shifting, drag racing, street racing, etc? If so, your fluid may need to be changed out.
Third - The turkey baster is for turkeys. Not your C5. Doesn't work, waste of time.
Fourth - Dealer will bleed clutch for around $250 in labor. Car has to go on a lift and the dealer has the tools to bleed. I have bled my clutch at home and installed a little drain tube with bleeder valve so I can get to it without disassembling 1/2 of my car. Loosen bleeder, pump pedal, voila!
Have fun and welcome to the world of GM (The General) stupid designs.
Thread Starter
Moderator Emeritus
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 54,756
Likes: 0
From: Always living in a state of Confusion.
Gone, but not Forgotten
Cruise-In 5, 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09
Re: Changing clutch fluid..worth it?? (jeanlucpicard)
First - Do not use the DOT fluid from your local autoshop. The GM fluid lacks some of the acids in standard fluids at your autoshop. The autoshop fluids will soften your clutch fluid seals and soft goods causing them to leak. GM fluid costs $10 a quart - pricey but worth the $$.
Second - Changing your fluid is a good idea if the fluid has turned black or has a lot of little "rubber particles" suspended in the reservoir. Are you doing a lot of hard shifting, drag racing, street racing, etc? If so, your fluid may need to be changed out.
Third - The turkey baster is for turkeys. Not your C5. Doesn't work, waste of time.
Fourth - Dealer will bleed clutch for around $250 in labor. Car has to go on a lift and the dealer has the tools to bleed. I have bled my clutch at home and installed a little drain tube with bleeder valve so I can get to it without disassembling 1/2 of my car. Loosen bleeder, pump pedal, voila!
Have fun and welcome to the world of GM (The General) stupid designs.
Second - Changing your fluid is a good idea if the fluid has turned black or has a lot of little "rubber particles" suspended in the reservoir. Are you doing a lot of hard shifting, drag racing, street racing, etc? If so, your fluid may need to be changed out.
Third - The turkey baster is for turkeys. Not your C5. Doesn't work, waste of time.
Fourth - Dealer will bleed clutch for around $250 in labor. Car has to go on a lift and the dealer has the tools to bleed. I have bled my clutch at home and installed a little drain tube with bleeder valve so I can get to it without disassembling 1/2 of my car. Loosen bleeder, pump pedal, voila!
Have fun and welcome to the world of GM (The General) stupid designs.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 7,393
Likes: 7
From: Los Angeles CA
Re: Changing clutch fluid..worth it?? (jeanlucpicard)
First - Do not use the DOT fluid from your local autoshop. The GM fluid lacks some of the acids in standard fluids at your autoshop. The autoshop fluids will soften your clutch fluid seals and soft goods causing them to leak. GM fluid costs $10 a quart - pricey but worth the $$.
Second - Changing your fluid is a good idea if the fluid has turned black or has a lot of little "rubber particles" suspended in the reservoir. Are you doing a lot of hard shifting, drag racing, street racing, etc? If so, your fluid may need to be changed out.
Second - Changing your fluid is a good idea if the fluid has turned black or has a lot of little "rubber particles" suspended in the reservoir. Are you doing a lot of hard shifting, drag racing, street racing, etc? If so, your fluid may need to be changed out.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Re: Changing clutch fluid..worth it?? (allanlaw)
jeanlucpicard,
Do you have photo's or a tech write-up on your addition of the bleed line? I have always thought this could be done.
Do you have photo's or a tech write-up on your addition of the bleed line? I have always thought this could be done.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,927
Likes: 3
From: Glendale NY
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18- '19
Re: Changing clutch fluid..worth it?? (vettenuts)
________________________________________ ________________________
jeanlucpicard,
Do you have photo's or a tech write-up on your addition of the bleed line? I have always thought this could be done.
________________________________________ ________________________
I am also interested in a remote bleeder. I've bled my own clutch after a new clutch install. The clutch pedal engages closer to the floor than before, I thought there may be air in the line. It didn't make a difference, but what a P.I.T.A. In my garage...car on jack stands....me on my back....broken exhaust studs. I'd buy one just to keep on the side. If I ever have to go back in this area.....I would install it. SOMEONE COULD MAKE SOME MONEY HERE.
jeanlucpicard,
Do you have photo's or a tech write-up on your addition of the bleed line? I have always thought this could be done.
________________________________________ ________________________
I am also interested in a remote bleeder. I've bled my own clutch after a new clutch install. The clutch pedal engages closer to the floor than before, I thought there may be air in the line. It didn't make a difference, but what a P.I.T.A. In my garage...car on jack stands....me on my back....broken exhaust studs. I'd buy one just to keep on the side. If I ever have to go back in this area.....I would install it. SOMEONE COULD MAKE SOME MONEY HERE.
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 26,679
Likes: 17
From: This vette goes to 11 Milford MA
St. Jude Donor '03-'05
Re: Changing clutch fluid..worth it?? (jeanlucpicard)
The only thing I have read is to NOT use synthetic. At the track, with my old stock master/slave I have swapped out with a turkey baster because it takes about 20 seconds. I went with the z06 parts and regular DOT 3 and it has been fine.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,776
Likes: 5
From: Midlothian Texas
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Re: Changing clutch fluid..worth it?? (vettenuts)
Here is how I bleed my clutch. Don't know if it is right or wrong, but it works :D
I use the Mityvac pump. You attach the catch can(comes with pump) in line with one of the nozzles.
Here is my fluid. This fluid has about 1500 miles on it. Yuck.
Insert the nozzle into the master cylinder and remove the fluid from the reservoir only.
Here is the fluid from the reservoir.
Take a rag and wipe out the reservoir.
Fill the reservoir almost to the top. Insert the mityvac nozzle into the line in the bottom of the reservoir. Pump the mityvac up to about 15 in. Keep filling the reservoir.
I just repeat the procedure keeping the reservoir full until no air bubbles appear while maintaining pressure of about 15-20 in.
Note: This does not remove all of the old fluid from the system. But it does get the air out.
I have no idea why GM would tell us to remove the air from the lowest part of the system.
I use the Mityvac pump. You attach the catch can(comes with pump) in line with one of the nozzles.
Here is my fluid. This fluid has about 1500 miles on it. Yuck.
Insert the nozzle into the master cylinder and remove the fluid from the reservoir only.
Here is the fluid from the reservoir.
Take a rag and wipe out the reservoir.
Fill the reservoir almost to the top. Insert the mityvac nozzle into the line in the bottom of the reservoir. Pump the mityvac up to about 15 in. Keep filling the reservoir.
I just repeat the procedure keeping the reservoir full until no air bubbles appear while maintaining pressure of about 15-20 in.
Note: This does not remove all of the old fluid from the system. But it does get the air out.
I have no idea why GM would tell us to remove the air from the lowest part of the system.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 885
Likes: 0
From: The Woodlands Texas
Re: Changing clutch fluid..worth it?? (allanlaw)
Got my information directly from the dealer and mechanic when they replaced my clutch slave and soft goods. I told them I had been bleeding my clutch and using DOT3 fluids like the manual says. They replied that the manual was wrong. The autoshop fluids have a higher acid base to the fluid than what GM fluid has. Result is the soft goods dissolve quicker than with the OEM fluids.
That said, I have not performed a CSI exam of the fluids - and will not do so. Use your own judgement on this. I can say that my clutch requires less bleeding and feels better on the GM fluids.
That said, I have not performed a CSI exam of the fluids - and will not do so. Use your own judgement on this. I can say that my clutch requires less bleeding and feels better on the GM fluids.
