Clutch fluid

[swordfishcoupe]

Hi Gals and Guys,

As I am at the Thunder Road event next week I am wondering about clutch fluid. Last couple of days my second gear has felt a little more notchy than normal and wondering if its time to change the fluid (would also be the outside temps being colder). I have not checked the colour yet, but doing a little planning.

What brake fluid have some of your used ? I can either get the ATE (although shipping from Monkfish is rather expensive) or get something else like Motul RBF600 (£15 for 500ml). Also how much does the clutch res take ?

Many Thanks
Steven

p.s. Can't wait to meet some of your guys next weekend (especially Chris, Harry, Gareth and Mel), even though I have a long drive on Sat and Sunday from Manchester.

[Bonnie and Clyde]

swordfishcoupe said:

Hi Gals and Guys,

As I am at the Thunder Road event next week I am wondering about clutch fluid. Last couple of days my second gear has felt a little more notchy than normal and wondering if its time to change the fluid (would also be the outside temps being colder). I have not checked the colour yet, but doing a little planning.

What brake fluid have some of your used ? I can either get the ATE (although shipping from Monkfish is rather expensive) or get something else like Motul RBF600 (£15 for 500ml). Also how much does the clutch res take ?

Many Thanks
Steven

p.s. Can't wait to meet some of your guys next weekend (especially Chris, Harry, Gareth and Mel), even though I have a long drive on Sat and Sunday from Manchester.

I don't know about the first thing's you've asked for but i'm really looking forward to next weekend too, and of course meeting you and the rest of the family

[after_shock]

swordfishcoupe said:

p.s. Can't wait to meet some of your guys next weekend (especially Chris, Harry, Gareth and Mel), even though I have a long drive on Sat and Sunday from Manchester.

Pah thats not a long drive lol

I was wondering the same about the fluid, but as its a 1 mile event im not going to be going for it off the line so am not too worried about changing it.

Curious though how big a job is it and how is it done?

[TerryS]

Always had good luck with RBF600 previously.

[S800VXR]

after_shock said:

swordfishcoupe said:

p.s. Can't wait to meet some of your guys next weekend (especially Chris, Harry, Gareth and Mel), even though I have a long drive on Sat and Sunday from Manchester.

Pah thats not a long drive lol

I was wondering the same about the fluid, but as its a 1 mile event im not going to be going for it off the line so am not too worried about changing it.

Curious though how big a job is it and how is it done?

If your talkikng a monaro then Id do a search first as its a PITA!

[Magic919]

after_shock said:

Curious though how big a job is it and how is it done?

Simple enough using the syringe method - http://rangeracceleration.com/Clutch_Care.html

[stevieturbo]

Im using Millers at present, but previously used Castrol.


Ive never had any issues with either fluid. An event like Thunder should not place any strain at all on the clutch fluid.

[after_shock]

Magic919 said:

after_shock said:

Curious though how big a job is it and how is it done?

Simple enough using the syringe method - http://rangeracceleration.com/Clutch_

This wont get all the fluid out though will it?

[after_shock]

S800VXR said:

after_shock said:

swordfishcoupe said:

p.s. Can't wait to meet some of your guys next weekend (especially Chris, Harry, Gareth and Mel), even though I have a long drive on Sat and Sunday from Manchester.

Pah thats not a long drive lol

I was wondering the same about the fluid, but as its a 1 mile event im not going to be going for it off the line so am not too worried about changing it.

Curious though how big a job is it and how is it done?

If your talkikng a monaro then Id do a search first as its a PITA!

Yeah monaro, shame its not as simple as on a GTO but its a different set up underneath as I found out today.

[S800VXR]

Simply syringing out the fluid in the reseviour (spelling!) will do not alot TBH. The time you spend taking fluid out gives the clutch assembly time to cool down which is all that was needed to temp solve the problem anyhow but people then think renewing the reseviour change is the key....

[Magic919]

after_shock said:

Magic919 said:

after_shock said:

Curious though how big a job is it and how is it done?

Simple enough using the syringe method - http://rangeracceleration.com/Clutch_Care.html

This wont get all the fluid out though will it?

You don't have to get it all out. You just keep removing the dirty stuff and replacing with clean. Works well enough.

[sneakygloworm]

My clutch pedal used to stay mashed into the carpet after hard starts or sprints. I would syringe fluid out of the little bottle then all would seem okay....until I repeated the above, again. Then Monkfish changed the fluid and all is good! Slight sloppiness every now and then but nowhere near as bad as before. My gearbox is also notchy regardless of clutch fluid, though. Best bet is to change both clutch fluid and gearbox oil. One of the guys on here reported rececently, after changing gearbox oil, his gear changes were as smooth as silk.

[snowwolf]

surely the reservoir, is only a mass of fluid that does not go round the system each time you press the clutch in, to be honest, I would think it's the same bit of fluid going back and forth each time you press the clutch.

[Magic919]

snowwolf said:

surely the reservoir, is only a mass of fluid that does not go round the system each time you press the clutch in, to be honest, I would think it's the same bit of fluid going back and forth each time you press the clutch.

If that were the case the fluid in the reservoir would never go black. But it does.

[stevieturbo]

Magic919 said:

snowwolf said:

surely the reservoir, is only a mass of fluid that does not go round the system each time you press the clutch in, to be honest, I would think it's the same bit of fluid going back and forth each time you press the clutch.

If that were the case the fluid in the reservoir would never go black. But it does.

Snowwolf is correct.

The only time any fluid can move freely, which never actually happens anyway is when the clutch is not depressed.

The dirt is obviously lighter, and is able to float back up into the reservoir.

The only way to clean properly, is to bleed. Simply emptying and refilling the reservoir is a waste of time IMO.
And dirty fluid never bothered me

[snowwolf]

Quite correct Stevie, only way to change fluid is to bleed, same with brakes too

[Magic919]

And yet it works well enough.

[ringram]

Motul do some high temp fluid which wont boil as quickly.

[stevieturbo]

Magic919 said:

And yet it works well enough.

Mine works perfectly dirty too. In fact, Ive never made any attempt to clean mine, and never had any clutch related issues.

[essexhsv]

stevieturbo said:

Magic919 said:

snowwolf said:

surely the reservoir, is only a mass of fluid that does not go round the system each time you press the clutch in, to be honest, I would think it's the same bit of fluid going back and forth each time you press the clutch.

If that were the case the fluid in the reservoir would never go black. But it does.

Snowwolf is correct.

The only time any fluid can move freely, which never actually happens anyway is when the clutch is not depressed.

The dirt is obviously lighter, and is able to float back up into the reservoir.

The only way to clean properly, is to bleed. Simply emptying and refilling the reservoir is a waste of time IMO.
And dirty fluid never bothered me

I agree with you fully there Steve, So seeing as the life of most brake fluid is about 3 or 4 years in most cars even in the brake system, really all we are doing is keeping the reservoir clean seeing as the dust always ends up there.

After being a mechanic for too many years, changing only the reservoir fluid does nothing to the overall quality of the fluid in the whole clutch system.

Due to the heat at the clutch end changing the whole system is the best thing to do. But im told it’s not as easy as it should be. The only reason you really need to change the fluid is because over time water is absorbed into the brake fluid and very small particles of air join together and make a bigger bubbles and once you have fluid, air and water and dirt in the system you lower the boiling temperature of the fluid which can boil and cause gas in the system leading to the clutch or brakes not to work well or at all. Also known as brake fade.