Hmmmm.....cloudy clutch fluid
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Hmmmm.....cloudy clutch fluid
Last week I noticed a noise that sounds like the one here: https://www.stingrayforums.com/forum...ys-normal.html
I reminded me that I need to do the Ranger Method again (I've done it on a regular basis on my previous three Vettes). I have a container of 19299570 Dot 4 fluid (per the owners manual). I opened it in late November last year and it has been in the house since.
Anyhow, I do the ranger method, everything is nice and clear when I finish up. About 25 miles later it looks like this. I"m really surprised that got that bad that fast. It did NOT look like that when I opened her up to started the Ranger Method.
I sucked it out with the large syringe that I have and it looked clear so those aren't blobs of anything "gunky". My best guess is water or air bubbles that mixed and pretty much disappeared when I sucked it out. I've seen comments on the shelf life being weeks up to a year. I'm chunking the fluid and have a new container coming in tomorrow.
Does anyone have an experience with what causes this? My best guess is air but that is creepy. Where the heck is it coming from? If I'm lucky the fluid I used was garbage.
I reminded me that I need to do the Ranger Method again (I've done it on a regular basis on my previous three Vettes). I have a container of 19299570 Dot 4 fluid (per the owners manual). I opened it in late November last year and it has been in the house since.
Anyhow, I do the ranger method, everything is nice and clear when I finish up. About 25 miles later it looks like this. I"m really surprised that got that bad that fast. It did NOT look like that when I opened her up to started the Ranger Method.
I sucked it out with the large syringe that I have and it looked clear so those aren't blobs of anything "gunky". My best guess is water or air bubbles that mixed and pretty much disappeared when I sucked it out. I've seen comments on the shelf life being weeks up to a year. I'm chunking the fluid and have a new container coming in tomorrow.
Does anyone have an experience with what causes this? My best guess is air but that is creepy. Where the heck is it coming from? If I'm lucky the fluid I used was garbage.
Last edited by SnowyATX; 08-15-2018 at 10:19 PM.
#3
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Fluid was opened previously.
Clutch feels fine.
Clutch feels fine.
#4
Team Owner
Member Since: Jan 2007
Location: cookeville tennessee
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ttt
Clean it out and chg it make sure you get all of the old out of it.
#5
Le Mans Master
I'd probably get the system flushed. I have my dealer do it every-other year and its under 100 bucks.
#6
Safety Car
Thread Starter
I've done it multiple times on the my C5 but it SUCKS getting to that stupid bleed valve. Hmmm, trust the dealer or not. Scares me every time. I may come out with more issues than I went in with unfortunately.
#7
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Anyhow, going to do a complete Ranger Method tonight with an unopened bottle and go from there. I put a remote bleeder on my hotrodded C5 that worked great.....I wish they made it easier to bleed the clutch the right way on these cars.
#8
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Obviously I"m going to. I'm just curious if folks have ever determined if this may be air bubbles or the fact that the bottle was opened the first time like last November.
Anyhow, going to do a complete Ranger Method tonight with an unopened bottle and go from there. I put a remote bleeder on my hotrodded C5 that worked great.....I wish they made it easier to bleed the clutch the right way on these cars.
Anyhow, going to do a complete Ranger Method tonight with an unopened bottle and go from there. I put a remote bleeder on my hotrodded C5 that worked great.....I wish they made it easier to bleed the clutch the right way on these cars.
#10
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Well, still looking for ideas. My car has been to the dealer as I was an unfortunate one who had a pilot bearing take out the torque tube input shaft. Needless to say, the clutch was bled bleed several times during that time at the dealer. I got the car back and it looked like this within a week or so. They thought maybe the cap was bad, letting moisture in, so the replaced it. Obviously that isn't it. They are talking to the factory trying to get more clues.
I've Googled a lot but can't find any pictures of fluid that looks like this. I can't be the only one with fluid that is "contaminated" like this. Seems it would be moisture or air, but if it was air the clutch wouldn't work properly but it works just fine.
Any other ideas out there?
I've Googled a lot but can't find any pictures of fluid that looks like this. I can't be the only one with fluid that is "contaminated" like this. Seems it would be moisture or air, but if it was air the clutch wouldn't work properly but it works just fine.
Any other ideas out there?
#11
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Ok, went out and bought a Dot 4 moisture tester. Is it a POS, I have no idea but it does light off like a christmas tree for very high moisture.
Where the heck could it be coming from? There is no fluid loss in the system.
Where the heck could it be coming from? There is no fluid loss in the system.
Last edited by SnowyATX; 07-24-2019 at 09:21 PM.
#12
Sr.Random input generator
You're supposed to use DOT 4 fluids within one month of opening. Even your fluid in the bottle might be having too much water, now.
#13
Drifting
That's not bad at all but seems awful cheap for the amount of labor. I will have to ask my dealer what they charge.
I looked around and did see that some folks offer remote bleed kits like the one linked. Unfortunately the ones I saw that had install information said you needed to pull the clutch. It's always something...
https://store.katechengines.com/c6c7...r-kit-p96.aspx
I looked around and did see that some folks offer remote bleed kits like the one linked. Unfortunately the ones I saw that had install information said you needed to pull the clutch. It's always something...
https://store.katechengines.com/c6c7...r-kit-p96.aspx
#14
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by X25
You're supposed to use DOT 4 fluids within one month of opening. Even your fluid in the bottle might be having too much water, now.
Last edited by SnowyATX; 07-25-2019 at 08:33 AM.
#15
Pro
OP, sorry to hear about your troubles. Hope you get this resolved.
But it still bugs me that GM hasn't figured out how a hydraulically actuated clutch cylinder works. I frequent a lot of other forums for different makes/models, and this is not an issue on any other car I've read about. If other manufacturers can avoid this issue, surely GM can too.
But it still bugs me that GM hasn't figured out how a hydraulically actuated clutch cylinder works. I frequent a lot of other forums for different makes/models, and this is not an issue on any other car I've read about. If other manufacturers can avoid this issue, surely GM can too.
#16
Drifting
That is sure some nasty looking clutch fluid in the OP's car. I wonder what is going on here?? I did my first Ranger flush of the year yesterday and the old stuff was nothing like the OPs. His might be contaminated with some sort of foreign agent besides just moisture?
I know it wasn't good practice but I had a 1994 Camaro Z28 manual and I never flushed or changed the clutch fluid in the 22 years I owned it. Clutch still worked perfectly when I sold it. And I am not sure how the design of that clutch compares to the Vette's. But I am not going to take that chance with the Vette. My main quibble with the design is not having a remote bleed setup from the factory.
I know it wasn't good practice but I had a 1994 Camaro Z28 manual and I never flushed or changed the clutch fluid in the 22 years I owned it. Clutch still worked perfectly when I sold it. And I am not sure how the design of that clutch compares to the Vette's. But I am not going to take that chance with the Vette. My main quibble with the design is not having a remote bleed setup from the factory.
OP, sorry to hear about your troubles. Hope you get this resolved.
But it still bugs me that GM hasn't figured out how a hydraulically actuated clutch cylinder works. I frequent a lot of other forums for different makes/models, and this is not an issue on any other car I've read about. If other manufacturers can avoid this issue, surely GM can too.
But it still bugs me that GM hasn't figured out how a hydraulically actuated clutch cylinder works. I frequent a lot of other forums for different makes/models, and this is not an issue on any other car I've read about. If other manufacturers can avoid this issue, surely GM can too.
Last edited by raylo; 07-25-2019 at 09:37 AM.
#17
Safety Car
Thread Starter
That's not bad at all but seems awful cheap for the amount of labor. I will have to ask my dealer what they charge.
I looked around and did see that some folks offer remote bleed kits like the one linked. Unfortunately the ones I saw that had install information said you needed to pull the clutch. It's always something...
https://store.katechengines.com/c6c7...r-kit-p96.aspx
I looked around and did see that some folks offer remote bleed kits like the one linked. Unfortunately the ones I saw that had install information said you needed to pull the clutch. It's always something...
https://store.katechengines.com/c6c7...r-kit-p96.aspx
I bet its at least 30-45mins for the guys to pull the tunnel plate and mid-pipe to get to the bleed screw. I don't see how a true bleed could cost $100....if you are getting a true bleed for that then that is awesome as its a PITA even once the bleed screw is exposed. You need mini-hands to even get up in there.
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raylo (07-25-2019)
#18
Drifting
I agree, if it is only $100 I'd consider that a screaming bargain. I haven't attempted this yet and with your post I may not even bother. Sounds like my big mitts might not fit and all that R&R would be for naught.
I bet its at least 30-45mins for the guys to pull the tunnel plate and mid-pipe to get to the bleed screw. I don't see how a true bleed could cost $100....if you are getting a true bleed for that then that is awesome as its a PITA even once the bleed screw is exposed. You need mini-hands to even get up in there.
#19
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Ttt
#20
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Any additional thoughts/experience with where moisture can be coming from?
I replaced the cap and reservoir and that didn't fix it. : (
I replaced the cap and reservoir and that didn't fix it. : (