chuckster

************UPDATE***************
Update....

I went to the dealer and picked up the "Super DOT4 Brake and Clutch Fluid" PN 88958860. MY Mechanic buddy ordered it for me even though the dealer does not stock it..

and........


It FIXED my Squeaks.....

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I used Valvoline Synthetic Syntec Brake Fluid.. It supposed to exceed DOT 3 and DOT 4 and have a boiling temp of 500 degrees..

I sucked out the reservior with a turkey baster and the fluid was BLACK all the way though.. I even put in in a clear container just to see how dirty it was..

I wiped the inside of the reservior clean.. and filled it with the Valvoline.. I pumped it about 20 or 30 times... IT was very cloudy... so I sucked that out and refilled it again..

Now my Clutch is making a god awful squeak! it squeaks al the way to the floor and back up again...

I read a few posts about having to use GM fluid because of the extra lubricants it contains.. Is this fact? I cannot use any other fluid but GM or get Squeaks?

Anyone else use a non GM fluid without squeaks??

Monster231

what squeeks.. the actual pedal, or pads, or is it the master?

Usually with that kind of fluid, you have to bleed the crap out of it. let it sit and them bleed again a few hours later because it tends to airate

chuckster

No Bleeding is needed.. I did not break the line... I am doing it the turkey baster method..

The squeak is coming from the Master.... I can feel it in the pedal..

pewter99

Turkey baster is OK..I found that a marinade injector works better...

anyway I just did mine with Valvoline....no issues..did it last time as well...

chuckster

Yeah it's wierd... The squeak came after pumping the pedal... and 2 refills.. "confused:

pewter99

hmmm maybe it will work itself out...

its always the simple jobs that turn into a nightmare

vettenuts

Its likely the fluid you used. The GM fluid has a lubricant in it for this reason.

chuckster

You may be right.. But lot's of people are using the Valvoline Synthetic with no issues...


I wonder if it's because I went like 15 or 20K miles before the fluid swap..

chuckster

Story of my life....

Today's problem is..

My car went about 30k before I switched the fluid over to the valvoline and I didnt have a problem, but I have heard that the GM fluid has an extra lubricant in it for this very reason.

vettenuts

Wouldn't hurt to swap it again with the GM fluid.

chuckster

Until I can get to the dealer... What should I use in the meantime? I have a can of ATF Blue Racing...sitting on my shelf...

If not...
I gotta go run to the parts stores before they close..

97C5ENVY

I've done the turkey baster method every year for the past 4 years on my brakes, my clutch master, and my power steering and have never had any issues.

The only thing i can think of is did you mix regular brake fluid with synthetic fluid?...just a thought.

chuckster

The synthetic is supposed to be compatible... who knows...

vettenuts

Personally, I would leave it until you can get the GM stuff. Not sure if it will correct it.

chuckster

Stopping by the dealer this morning...I'll get the GM stuff.. This is crazy.. Lots of people used Valvoline..


I wonder if it was because the bottle sat in my garage for about 2 years... It was tightly capped in a plastic bottle.. Is there a "shelf life" for Brake fluid?

VetteDrmr

Chuck,

No shelf life that I know of. I'm one of the nameless thousands of people that have done exactly what you said with no squeaking. Of course, mine clutch MC has 140K+ miles on it, so mine may be looser than yours.

I think you can drive it for a short time and then swap out for the GM fluid.

Also, I think a lot of that black stuff (that would make a brake system go ) is coming from the rubber bladder, and is harmless. Sure looks nasty, though.

HTH, and have a good one,
Mike

craig04c5

Had it been open previously (seal broken)? Brake fluid attracts water and here in Florida there is plenty of humidity to ruin it in 2 years.

chuckster

Actually yes.. I only used 1/4 of the container then capped it.. I also have some ATE Blue Racing fluid but.. I put that can inside of a Ziplock bag before putting it on the shelf..

You may have a point here..

By the way.. I went to the dealer and wanted to buy the "Super DOT4 Brake and Clutch Fluid" PN 88958860
They did not even carry it.. So the mechanic said he would order it for me.. When I asked him what they normally fill them with he replied... We don't. They come prefilled..

I totally forgot that.. GM prefills the Master and the Slave at the factory.. Then ytou simply quick connect em.. So I's like to know if the fluid I ordered is the fluid that comes prefilled???

craig04c5

Hi Chuckster,

You reminded me that I had not changed my brake fluid and power steering fluid so I went down to Jochem Chevrolet and gave them the part # from my manual. They only sell it by the case (12). I said how do you change a clutch and they told me the same thing as you. But when I had my clutch changed in my LS1 firebird 6 speed a couple tears ago they had to purge it several times to get the air out so it would engage properly. So I can't believe they don't stock it. I did get the recommended brake fluid from them and like you used the baster method for my brake master cylinder reservoir. I looked on the cap of the clutch reservoir and it says fill with DOT 3 fluid??? No wonder GM is hurting. So I am guessing fresh DOT 3 is O.K. but am going to do a search before I do mine after your problem. The service rep did tell me he has a different GM Brake/Clutch fluid, PN 88958860 that another CorvetteForun member uses. So who knows? Maybe someone else can chime in here with an answer for us.