Clutch Fluid
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 7,695
Likes: 51
From: Imperial Beach CA
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,712
Likes: 3
From: TEXOMA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
im sure someone else has said this already,, but it just takes time to get the clutch fluid to stay clear.
i only need to do it one time per month to keep it clear. 40k and 600whp stock ls2 clutch
i only need to do it one time per month to keep it clear. 40k and 600whp stock ls2 clutch
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
From: Hayfield VA
St. Jude Donor '10
Give this some thought http://www.castrol.com/castrol/secti...tentId=7024043
can't complain and in the mountains of WV it has been run hard with no failure...for the clutch.
can't complain and in the mountains of WV it has been run hard with no failure...for the clutch.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 3
From: Austin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Elgin, etc.. Texas
Just the fact I change the clutch fluid frequently makes me feel like I did something good. And that counts for something, right?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
I bought my car with 9400 miles on it, I drove it to the 74,000 miles it has today. 34000 of those were with a supercharger and it has had bolt-ons and a tune since 12K. Its been autocrossed and drag raced multiple times, and gets beat on daily. Stock clutch untill about 14K miles ago, with zero issues. I swapped it out when I didn't have to and regretted it.
I have changed my clutch fluid exactly twice in 3 years. The first time when I bought it, the second when I changed the clutch
The only problem I've ever had with my clutch hydraulics has been from installing an aftermarket remote bleeder kit; it failed and all my fluid leaked out.
Last edited by PowerLabs; Jun 27, 2010 at 12:46 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,290
Likes: 0
From: Willow Springs IL
But, if it's on the forum it must be true Sam. Oh... and Brian I haven't had any issues with the clutch at all and I have driven it hard enough to break the output shaft right off the trans. The only issues I have had with the car have been with the hack job work that was done when the supercharger was installed. I found some really ugly things when I put the Dewitts radiator in it. But that's another story.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 5
From: Tampa FL
Seriously. You buy a 50 - 80thousand dollar car, and then think you need to change the clutch fluid on it every single day, multiple times a day? Jesus christ... If the clutch hydraulics on the car were this bad you can rest assured NO ONE would ever buy it. The only people who subscribe to this myth are the ones who have been "enlightened" by this forum. It is a sealed system. Also, the distance between the slave cylinder where the hydraulic fluid sits, and the actual clutch plate where heat is generated, is so large, that you could VERY EASILY incinerate the clutch before the fluid ever got lukewarm. There is no heating of the fluid from a launch. If your clutch is sticking it is not because the fluid is getting hot.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,860
Likes: 5
From: Tampa FL
Going 5 years without changing your clutch fluid is simple neglect. Since clutch fluid is just brake fluid it should at least be changed as often as you change your brake fluid. Now don't tell me you still have the original brake fluid.
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
From: McHenry IL
But, if it's on the forum it must be true Sam. Oh... and Brian I haven't had any issues with the clutch at all and I have driven it hard enough to break the output shaft right off the trans. The only issues I have had with the car have been with the hack job work that was done when the supercharger was installed. I found some really ugly things when I put the Dewitts radiator in it. But that's another story.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,290
Likes: 0
From: Willow Springs IL
You havent had any issues with it because the car has Dot4 synthetic in it now. It has a much higher temp that it will boil at compared to the stock dot 3 regular. And I didnt install the blower, all I know is it worked fine for me. The only thing I had to do was change out the belt a few times. If you want to know who installed it, PM me and I will give you all the info. But the clutch fluid thing is real, and your car suffered from the clutch dead pedal syndrome until I started doing the ranger method.
I'm not complaining about the car. As for the clutch fluid then you're right. If there is Dot 4 in there then I do not see any need to change it. Sucking out the reservoir and re filling it does NOT replace all the fluid as people here seem to think. It will only replace what is in the reservoir. I don't understand why you had problems with the belt on the car though. I have put over 8000 miles on it with no belt problems. I know who installed the blower and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. Their work was sloppy at best and the tune was horribly rich. But after working out a few bugs everything is cool now so no big deal. How do you like your Mustang?
2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
clutch fluid
A July '09 GM bulletin said that fluid related clutch feel issues were cause by water in the fluid. It implied that frequent cap removal was a cause and to only inspect the fluid level by looking through the trasparent resevoir. GM recomends changing the fluid every 2 years.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
A July '09 GM bulletin said that fluid related clutch feel issues were cause by water in the fluid. It implied that frequent cap removal was a cause and to only inspect the fluid level by looking through the trasparent resevoir. GM recomends changing the fluid every 2 years.
Thanks!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,290
Likes: 0
From: Willow Springs IL
A July '09 GM bulletin said that fluid related clutch feel issues were cause by water in the fluid. It implied that frequent cap removal was a cause and to only inspect the fluid level by looking through the trasparent resevoir. GM recomends changing the fluid every 2 years.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
From: McHenry IL
Brian,
I'm not complaining about the car. As for the clutch fluid then you're right. If there is Dot 4 in there then I do not see any need to change it. Sucking out the reservoir and re filling it does NOT replace all the fluid as people here seem to think. It will only replace what is in the reservoir. I don't understand why you had problems with the belt on the car though. I have put over 8000 miles on it with no belt problems. I know who installed the blower and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. Their work was sloppy at best and the tune was horribly rich. But after working out a few bugs everything is cool now so no big deal. How do you like your Mustang?
I'm not complaining about the car. As for the clutch fluid then you're right. If there is Dot 4 in there then I do not see any need to change it. Sucking out the reservoir and re filling it does NOT replace all the fluid as people here seem to think. It will only replace what is in the reservoir. I don't understand why you had problems with the belt on the car though. I have put over 8000 miles on it with no belt problems. I know who installed the blower and I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. Their work was sloppy at best and the tune was horribly rich. But after working out a few bugs everything is cool now so no big deal. How do you like your Mustang?
The shelby is awesome. I just had me, my wife and our 8 month old daughter in it last friday at the rolling meadows cruise. The diaper bag, and stroller fit neatly in the trunk...LOL. Thats why I bought it. I do miss the vette, but the shelby is the perfect replacement for it. I heard you had issues with the bap fuse too? I would never go back to that guy either who installed and tuned it. I didnt know any better, but now I do.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 7,695
Likes: 51
From: Imperial Beach CA
You must think I'm like most and it's a garage queen. I replaced the brakes at 70K along with the fluid, 13 months of use. I just decided to change the clutch thinking it has to be near its end of life at 105K miles. Clutch looked like it was good enough for another 60K if not more, and yes I changed the cylinder and fluids at that time. Oh that was just under two years, now do you have anything else you would like to know, maybe the GM bulletin number involving improper machining of flywheel that leads to clutch hang up, damn was I suppose to say that.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,290
Likes: 0
From: Willow Springs IL
I had to change the belt from the gates belt that Andy sends out with the kit because it was chirping when cold. Very annoying. I broke the first one, the second one chirped and the third one that was finally silent was the gatorback.
The shelby is awesome. I just had me, my wife and our 8 month old daughter in it last friday at the rolling meadows cruise. The diaper bag, and stroller fit neatly in the trunk...LOL. Thats why I bought it. I do miss the vette, but the shelby is the perfect replacement for it. I heard you had issues with the bap fuse too? I would never go back to that guy either who installed and tuned it. I didnt know any better, but now I do.
The shelby is awesome. I just had me, my wife and our 8 month old daughter in it last friday at the rolling meadows cruise. The diaper bag, and stroller fit neatly in the trunk...LOL. Thats why I bought it. I do miss the vette, but the shelby is the perfect replacement for it. I heard you had issues with the bap fuse too? I would never go back to that guy either who installed and tuned it. I didnt know any better, but now I do.
