Black gunk inside clutch fluid cap.
Discussion
Does this indicate a potential problem guys? Checked today while removing wiper motor (or having a coffee while somebody else removed it) and although the level is right to the brim, the fluid looks quite dark and there has been a build up of black gunge. I always thought this was a clue that seals were disintegrating...
I always believed that was the case but Tanguero pretty much blew that theory out the water
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
It could be seals in the master cylinder, however I find the fluid always seems to get black gunk in it even with a brand new master and new fluid. I suspect it is some sort of oxidation. If you are having clutch problems then it may be indicative of an issue but if you are not then I wouldn't worry too much.
If you aren't happy with it then you could always change the fluid for clean and see if it comes back.
If you aren't happy with it then you could always change the fluid for clean and see if it comes back.
You'd get black gunk in there even if you never used the clutch. In fact if you look in the bottom of a brake fluid container there's sometimes a dusting of black bits in the container, that's before it's gone anywhere near a master cylinder. If it really was seals breaking up like everyone says there'd be none of you out there with a working clutch. Change the fluid regularly is the best defense 
spitfire4v8 said:
You'd get black gunk in there even if you never used the clutch. In fact if you look in the bottom of a brake fluid container there's sometimes a dusting of black bits in the container, that's before it's gone anywhere near a master cylinder. If it really was seals breaking up like everyone says there'd be none of you out there with a working clutch. Change the fluid regularly is the best defense
Welcome back Joo!!!robsco said:
Thanks all. No clutch issues touchwood, so I'll keep an eye on things. Was a little worried as mine seems to have an insatiable appetite for clutches (now on number 5, last replaced at 41k, now done 52k).
Hi RobClutch wear seems excessive, I have had issues with slave seals going on a regular bassis and always was a bit clunky going into gear, got back from Le Man the other week and left Cerb outside garage went to put her in garage and no clutch pedal checked fluid and thought not again only changed slave seal 3000 miles ago so filled it up and was ok, but thought as I was going back to teh classsic Le Man I would get it checked at Taylor TVR as he is only down the road, get a phone call and yes leaking seal and slave knackered and fingers on way out, so I said cahnge the lot, goes to pick up her early Friday as got a lift and Dan says it will not go into gear properly and we discussed what could be wrong might be master cylinder but I changed that 4 years ago and it was not leaking after they took off gearbox and checked every thing they had changed all was fine so they put back together and still the same so they changed master cylinder and when they looked at it, it was the wrong size it was too small and was not getting enough pressure to engage slave properly, now I thought hold up I changed the master cylinder myself and changed it for the same one that was on there, so I looked back at all the invoices and the master cylinder was changed in 2001 by a TVR garage when the crank snapped and damaged the all the clutch, so it turns out the cause of all teh problems I have had was that the wrong master cylinder was fitted, but I,am not surprised because that TVR garage had ripped me off so I stopped using them, lets hope this stops all my problems.
Might be worth checking to see if you have correct master cylinder.
P.S Had the Cerb 13 years now just had major work done to engine and now whole new clutch system so she will not be going anywhere for a long time.
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