Clutch Question

[Nick S]

I was poking around the engine last night and I looked at the clutch fluid. The fluid was even with the "Add" line on the reservoir. The clutch feels fine to me. So, I assume after 58,000 miles and nine years that losing a little clutch fluid is normal?

Also, when I go to fill it to the "Full" line, should I use DOT 3 brake fluid or the clutch fluid that GM sells?

Nick

 

[Vettelt193]

brakes and clutch shouldn't leak... BUT, over the years as your brakes and clutch wear down, they will auto adjust, and fluid will fill the space. so, seeing the fluid at the add mark is fine, as long as there is no leak. keep an eye on it for sure.


I don't buy anything from GM unless I have to... I *think* dot 3 is correct, but double check your manual to make sure. I am not 100% sure

 

[Nick S]

Yeah, I don't see any leaks from the clutch anywhere. I am assuming that it is from normal wear.

I talked to someone that I know in the parts department at the Chevy dealer and he said that you can use DOT 3 or the GM stuff. He said that the GM stuff has a bunch of friction modifiers and things added to it that are not in the brake fluid. The modifiers and the fact that GM is selling it are the reason that it is more expensive. I think I'll bite the bullet and pick up some of the GM stuff just to make sure. I checked Alldata and it said to use the GM stuff. I'll have to look at the owner's manual later and see what it says.

Nick

 

[froggy47]

I used the gm stuff when I changed my slave. Works fine

 

[Vettelt193]

i can't figure out why there would be friction modifiers in the clutch fluid:confused

 

[Nick S]

Not having seen a bottle of the GM stuff yet, I cannot confirm this. But the guy at the Chevy dealer told me that he was reading it right off of the bottle that it had the modifiers in it.

 

[froggy47]

Not having seen a bottle of the GM stuff yet, I cannot confirm this. But the guy at the Chevy dealer told me that he was reading it right off of the bottle that it had the modifiers in it.

I have a bottle in my garage & it does say "has friction modifiers" and "dot 3"

Probably has to do with the seals in the master & slave & how they rub against the bore(s).

 

[Vettelt193]

I have a bottle in my garage & it does say "has friction modifiers" and "dot 3"

Probably has to do with the seals in the master & slave & how they rub against the bore(s).

that is very interesting, maybe it is worth it to get the GM stuff

 

[froggy47]

I use a lot of non gm fluids, but for clutch I use oem. Maybe it was a suggestion zfdoc had. Not sure. Ck his site.


www.zfdoc.com

 

[Nick S]

Yes, the ZFDOC does recommend using the GM clutch fluid. I bought the GM stuff and filled the fluid to the full line over the weekend. The clutch seems to engage better now. Of course, this might just be my imagination. I think that subconsciously I'm hoping that the $13 I spent for the couple ounces of fluid I added is worth it.

 

[schmaltzr]

Just a little suggestion. If it were my car, I wouldn't add new brake fluid to the old stuff, I would flush the entire system. If your fluid is more than a few years old, It's time to replace it. Nothing like loosing your brakes becuse of a few dollars of fluid boiled because of age. - Ron

 

[froggy47]

I agree,


I changed my slave @55k and of course all new fluid & castrol in the 6 speed,

was worth it, shifts better.

Same w/ brakes & p/s fluid. Change it guys.