[Z06] Clutch reservoir cap
09-21-2011, 11:04 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Clutch reservoir cap
Is it just me or is it odd that the cap has a pressure relief in it. Its brake fluid in there so wouldn't moisture be getting into the system through there. Any disadvantage to sealing it up? Does anyone make a cap that does seal it?
09-22-2011, 01:12 PM
#4
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
I follow you but wouldn't a vented cap allow moisture into the system. Or is it 100% a one way system and if it was once pressure was vented out would it not create a minor vacuum in the system?
09-22-2011, 01:32 PM
#5
Race Director
The cap is sealed from the bellow down. The area above the bellow is vented. No air can get into the system. Gm has been doing this for years. No need to rethink the wheel.
09-22-2011, 01:49 PM
#6
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
LOL fine. So my question now is what is the purpose of the bellow? Why couldn't it be the same setup as the brake fluid reservoir?
09-22-2011, 05:40 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Just wondering more than anything. The reason I posed the question is because recently I had changed the fluid and the car sat for awhile without being driven and I noticed that it still darkened up as if moisture was hitting it.
09-22-2011, 08:13 PM
#9
Wil Cooksey #256
09-22-2011, 09:54 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
I agree on it being clutch dust but why would it darken up if the car isn't being driven? Ponder that one my friend lol
09-22-2011, 11:05 PM
#11
Pro
Member Since: Mar 2005
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 607
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The brake fluid reservoir does have a bellows that's vented on the topside like the clutch master. I've always assumed that the bellows was designed to seal the fluid from the air but still accomodate a pressure differential between the reservoir and the atmosphere when the fluid level in the reservoir changes.
09-22-2011, 11:44 PM
#12
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
The brake fluid reservoir does have a bellows that's vented on the topside like the clutch master. I've always assumed that the bellows was designed to seal the fluid from the air but still accomodate a pressure differential between the reservoir and the atmosphere when the fluid level in the reservoir changes.
09-23-2011, 12:16 AM
#13
Pro
Member Since: Apr 2011
Posts: 570
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Using Rangers method, the last thing you do is pump the pedal, so after the procedure, the fluid is always going to be a little darker than out of the can. The first pedal pump brings fluid from the clutch slave cylinder back up to the reservoir.
Still wondering?
09-23-2011, 07:31 AM
#14
Tether Man
Member Since: Dec 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, South Hills
Posts: 4,534
Received 2,013 Likes
on
1,038 Posts
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Clutch Debate
No, the reservoir draws from the bottom, and unless the reservoir goes completely empty (you have a leak), it will purge itself of air, as long as there is the volume of fluid available to replace the air.
Using Rangers method, the last thing you do is pump the pedal, so after the procedure, the fluid is always going to be a little darker than out of the can. The first pedal pump brings fluid from the clutch slave cylinder back up to the reservoir.
Still wondering?
Using Rangers method, the last thing you do is pump the pedal, so after the procedure, the fluid is always going to be a little darker than out of the can. The first pedal pump brings fluid from the clutch slave cylinder back up to the reservoir.
Still wondering?
dcamick
09-23-2011, 10:28 AM
#15
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
The reason I asked the whole question is for 2 reasons:
1) Even with crystal clear fluid these cars under an extremely hard launch lose the clutch and was wondering could this be to partial loss of hydraulic pressure and so the clutch doesn't have enough clamping force leading to it slipping and glazing itself.
2) This was my clutch fluid recently after doing the ranger procedure a solid 5 times and then leaving the car to sit without touching it whatsoever for 5 days. Pedal was never touched. The fluid is darker and as you can see something is floating in it. Also I do the Ranger method all the time. Sometimes I do it just for the hell of doing it even when the fluid looks good just to make sure its extra clean. So no need to preach to the choir on swapping the fluid every little bit.
Also as a side note if I remember correctly my E46 M3 used one reservoir for both brake fluid and clutch fluid and it had no bellow or any sort.
1) Even with crystal clear fluid these cars under an extremely hard launch lose the clutch and was wondering could this be to partial loss of hydraulic pressure and so the clutch doesn't have enough clamping force leading to it slipping and glazing itself.
2) This was my clutch fluid recently after doing the ranger procedure a solid 5 times and then leaving the car to sit without touching it whatsoever for 5 days. Pedal was never touched. The fluid is darker and as you can see something is floating in it. Also I do the Ranger method all the time. Sometimes I do it just for the hell of doing it even when the fluid looks good just to make sure its extra clean. So no need to preach to the choir on swapping the fluid every little bit.
Also as a side note if I remember correctly my E46 M3 used one reservoir for both brake fluid and clutch fluid and it had no bellow or any sort.
09-23-2011, 04:10 PM
#16
Race Director
The reason I asked the whole question is for 2 reasons:
1) Even with crystal clear fluid these cars under an extremely hard launch lose the clutch and was wondering could this be to partial loss of hydraulic pressure and so the clutch doesn't have enough clamping force leading to it slipping and glazing itself.
2) This was my clutch fluid recently after doing the ranger procedure a solid 5 times and then leaving the car to sit without touching it whatsoever for 5 days. Pedal was never touched. The fluid is darker and as you can see something is floating in it. Also I do the Ranger method all the time. Sometimes I do it just for the hell of doing it even when the fluid looks good just to make sure its extra clean. So no need to preach to the choir on swapping the fluid every little bit.
Also as a side note if I remember correctly my E46 M3 used one reservoir for both brake fluid and clutch fluid and it had no bellow or any sort.
1) Even with crystal clear fluid these cars under an extremely hard launch lose the clutch and was wondering could this be to partial loss of hydraulic pressure and so the clutch doesn't have enough clamping force leading to it slipping and glazing itself.
2) This was my clutch fluid recently after doing the ranger procedure a solid 5 times and then leaving the car to sit without touching it whatsoever for 5 days. Pedal was never touched. The fluid is darker and as you can see something is floating in it. Also I do the Ranger method all the time. Sometimes I do it just for the hell of doing it even when the fluid looks good just to make sure its extra clean. So no need to preach to the choir on swapping the fluid every little bit.
Also as a side note if I remember correctly my E46 M3 used one reservoir for both brake fluid and clutch fluid and it had no bellow or any sort.
09-23-2011, 09:08 PM
#17
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
12-06-2011, 03:54 PM
#18
Advanced
Member Since: Nov 2011
Location: Walnut Creek CA
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
of the time in Ohio. When I was changing out the fluid (thank you Ranger) I couldn't see any dust
particles as are shown in Ranger's excellent video. I believe that both factors can darken the clutch fluid. Hope this doesn't add confusion to the already
perplexing issue of why GM has allowed this
engineering glitch to be. Also, there is no "perfect" seal when the cap is on properly so moisture can find it's way inside due to the many fluctuations in temperature in an engine compartment.
