OK, I change my clutch fluid regularly, but here is what I don't understand. I use high temp fluid, but don't check it every time I drive the car, so I don't always know the color after every trip. That being said, I sucked, pumped and filled until it was clear last Sunday night, today I drove 35 miles to Road America, drove it like my mother would, and just for grins, when I got home I checked the fluid and it looked like it has never been changed.

What's the deal?

 

One time didn't work. I did it several times over several days last year. Still clean this year.

 

Ok, so I need to do it again this evening, drive it 10 miles and do it again...

 

I changed mine about six times before it remained clear. Now, I change it perhaps four times a year.

 

I didn't do the whole pumping the pedal routine. I just decided to change it every time the I drove in the garage with the car fully warmed up if it appeared dirty. I estimate it took as many as 20 times before the fluid was fairly clear. It has stayed clear now for about three months with no more sucking out the resovor and relacing. I only drive arounf 7K a year, FYI.

 

I like that idea! I bought the car new in Jan 2006 and have 10K on it, so I don't drive it much, but I know it will lead to issues if I don't do something.

 

So whats wrong with he fluid turning dark? Its harmless--just leave it alone and drive it! Sucked out the fluid twenty times? you've have got to be kidding...

 

 

The contamination leads to leaking seals and a sticky clutch pedal.

 

Oh and by the way, the procedure takes about 2 minutes tops using the Walmart syrynge and the method that was posted. That's if you're not pumping the pedal and repeating. Be very careful not to get the fluid on your paint. I get the new fluid, the used engine oil bottle for recycling, and the syringe all on a rag on top of the engine. I do the procedure without passing anything over my fender. When I'm done I put the syringe back in a plastic jar, then close my fluid containers before passing them over any painted surface. If you do get the hydraulic fluid on your paint, remove it immediately.

 

Are you following Ranger's protocol? How often depends on number of trips to the dragstrip etc.

 

Granted I don't get on it much anymore, but ever since my clutch master was replaced my fluid has stayed clean for over a year without any change outs or rough shifting.

 

My 05 Convertible has 125,000 miles and still with the stock fluid and NO problems, my 07 Z06 has 100,000 with original fluid and NO problems. Anyone with fluid paranoia care to explain that and don’t even start this well you don’t drive it hard BS (clean phrasing).

 

When you're stopped on a steep uphill, is it easy for you to modulate the clutch and take off smooth with light to moderate throttle?

I have to cope with this scenario most every day. And mine was never easy until I started with the change outs. In fact before this I commonly had to use the e-brake trick.

 

I agree 100% All these stupid threads about fluid changing make me laugh. You do more harm by removing the cap and introducing atmosphere into the reservoir than you do actually replacing the little bit of fluid in the reservoir.

 

Anyone who keeps their fluid clean via the Ranger method will tell you that it leads to a much smoother and controllable clutch engagement. Before I changed my fluid via the Ranger method my clutch was like an on-off switch, hard to get any kind of a smooth, controlled engagement. My clutch since the procedure is easy to control and a pleasure to operate. Another tip: I changed the clutch pedal spring from the original C6 spring to a C5 spring (which is less stiff) and it produced an even smoother clutch pedal engagement. Anyone interested in this mod can do a search and find the posts on this changeover.

 

How about changing engine oil and brake fluid. Is that funny too? Changing fluids is standard maintenance on any vehicle. You're the first person I've run into that got a chuckle out of it.

 

Have you just made a concious decision not to maintain your cars? My clutch fluid was an inch low and thick black at 5000 miles. But I like to autox and drag race. Driving easy may make a difference and could explain how you got away with it. The minimum rule of thumb is 2 yrs for brake fluid etc.

 

Very good comparision!

I once heard a very chatty Z06 guy brag about still having the original oil in his car from when he bought it new. He had the car like 2 years, and had put close to 20k on the car. That just can't be good...

As far as clutch fluid goes, I'm on the side of keeping it fresh!! I have the bleeder line in both my vettes, and it use it regularly. Sometimes, I just ball up some paper towels, and carefully push it into the clutch fluid reservoir. This works great, and is easy to do! The towel just soaks up the fluid, and you then refill it...

The fluid serves a purpose, and does it better when fresh and free of debris. Each time the fluid gets hot, which occures more in cars with headers due to the extra heat created, and under hard/high RPM shifting, the fluid loses some of it's effectiveness in aiding the slave cylinder to do it's job.

For me, the few extra minutes and dollars to keep my fluid fresh, is well worth it. I can REALLY tell the difference in the way my cars shift if I don't keep up with it.

To each his own...

JB

 

Hate to break this to you Rob, but your car(a.k.a my old car), I used to do this religiously. At 1500 miles, I was out hammering on it and the clutch pedal dropped to the floor and stayed there. I let it cool on the side of the road for a few minutes and it started to work decently again. After that I went on the forums and saw that ranger method that states you have to cycle out the dirty fluid and cycle in clean dot 4 synthetic. I did this almost every 1000 miles and it worked flawlessly. Not only that, but my dealer found a TSB that if you get this issue, they will suck out all the dot 3 stuff from the factory and refill the entire system with the Dot 4 synthetic.....Which they did. Thats why your car is working good to this day...clutch wise. There is all truth to this method and I thought you should know that your car has had it done several times. It was topped off from the dealer with dot4 sync.