Ranger Method Clutch Fluid
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,555
Likes: 1,255
From: Saint Albans, WV
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,527
Likes: 34
Over @ Auto Crossing/Road Racing Section, you know those guys put the highest wear demands on their whole car and their findings on oem MC and timing chain wear is very educational!
Pro
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 515
Likes: 1
From: South of I-64 Illinois
Is there any circulation of fluid that happens in the C6 clutch that happens ONLY when the engine is running?
My clutch is currently acting up, I've changed the fluid and gotten it clear in the reservoir, but was wondering if starting the car allows any fluid to circulate that doesn't circulate when the car is off and you're only pumping the clutch.
Mine isn't driveable--the clutch goes to the floor and sticks--so I can't drive it. Looking for last-ditch tries before a trip to the dealer.
My clutch is currently acting up, I've changed the fluid and gotten it clear in the reservoir, but was wondering if starting the car allows any fluid to circulate that doesn't circulate when the car is off and you're only pumping the clutch.
Mine isn't driveable--the clutch goes to the floor and sticks--so I can't drive it. Looking for last-ditch tries before a trip to the dealer.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 708
Likes: 1
From: Blaine Minnesota
Same topic as usual... does the Ranger method work? YES. it took me about 25-35 changes to clear my clutch fluid on a 21k 08 MN6, and I kept thinking the idea was a myth until my fluid finally stayed clear. I would suck out and refill the reservoir and then drive for the day/week. A lot of people claim their fluid was clear almost instantly, and that's great but it didn't happen that way for me or a lot of others I have read about. Your talking about a few bottles of dot 4 Pennzoil for like $6 a piece... once the fluid is clear it just requires periodic changes, the more the merrier and with the cheap price of fluid and ease to change why the hell not!?? Without even considering Ranger's full on experiment that pretty much proves this method is at a minimum worth the time and price why can't people understand that new "clean/clear" fluid is better than dark and dirty fluid running through anything..... just because your clutch doesn't fail without fluid changes is not a reason to dis-credit the Ranger method which seems to happen fairly often on this site. It's so simple that its sad to see dark clutch fluid in corvettes at car shows, makes me laugh a little inside for some reason.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 708
Likes: 1
From: Blaine Minnesota
Is there any circulation of fluid that happens in the C6 clutch that happens ONLY when the engine is running?
My clutch is currently acting up, I've changed the fluid and gotten it clear in the reservoir, but was wondering if starting the car allows any fluid to circulate that doesn't circulate when the car is off and you're only pumping the clutch.
Mine isn't driveable--the clutch goes to the floor and sticks--so I can't drive it. Looking for last-ditch tries before a trip to the dealer.
My clutch is currently acting up, I've changed the fluid and gotten it clear in the reservoir, but was wondering if starting the car allows any fluid to circulate that doesn't circulate when the car is off and you're only pumping the clutch.
Mine isn't driveable--the clutch goes to the floor and sticks--so I can't drive it. Looking for last-ditch tries before a trip to the dealer.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 515
Likes: 1
From: South of I-64 Illinois
Most (or a lot anyway) use a turkey baster or a syringe to suck the fluid out, but whatever works. The turkey baster is a little cleaner than rags. This is what's considered the Ranger method.
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Pro
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 515
Likes: 1
From: South of I-64 Illinois
For that price difference, I'll be going OEM and doing a better job of monitoring and changing my clutch fluid.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 175
Likes: 1
From: Caledonia MI
So I tried the ranger method and I've also just jammed some paper towel in the master. With the baster thing I had to move quickly so it didn't drip on stuff as I tried to empty the baster. Using a good paper towel, no drips.. It just works. Screw the ranger method. :-)
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Same topic as usual... does the Ranger method work? YES. it took me about 25-35 changes to clear my clutch fluid on a 21k 08 MN6, and I kept thinking the idea was a myth until my fluid finally stayed clear. I would suck out and refill the reservoir and then drive for the day/week. A lot of people claim their fluid was clear almost instantly, and that's great but it didn't happen that way for me or a lot of others I have read about. Your talking about a few bottles of dot 4 Pennzoil for like $6 a piece... once the fluid is clear it just requires periodic changes, the more the merrier and with the cheap price of fluid and ease to change why the hell not!?? Without even considering Ranger's full on experiment that pretty much proves this method is at a minimum worth the time and price why can't people understand that new "clean/clear" fluid is better than dark and dirty fluid running through anything..... just because your clutch doesn't fail without fluid changes is not a reason to dis-credit the Ranger method which seems to happen fairly often on this site. It's so simple that its sad to see dark clutch fluid in corvettes at car shows, makes me laugh a little inside for some reason.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,448
Likes: 56
From: Bath NC
Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't bother with too much concern. But my first time at the drag strip with my first 09z, I lost my slave cylinder going into second gear. warranty covered the repair but I use the Ranger method religiously now, especially since I have about a month on the GM warranty (second 09Z). This clutch and slave has 45k miles and no issues. the other one went out at 12k. Heck, the slave lasted longer than the engine. It only made it 41k.