former50

Replaced my clutch slave cylinder fluid today for the first time using the Weaver method that was posted by a fellow member on this site. Super easy to do, and highly recommended. I actually noticed a difference in a smoother shift. Went with the Prestone DOT 4 synthetic available at Wallmart, and the wife's (now mine) turkey baster to draw out the old fluid. Car has 11,000 miles on it and the fluid was original and black in color. Took three cycles of draining and filling to get it nice and clean. Definitely on the list of routine DIY stuff that will be on an as needed basis.

Cyber2010

Having just completed a successful swap of my master cylinder, I will be much more diligent about checking and changing the clutch fluid.

The job isn't terribly difficult, but I don't wanna do it very often.

KSUPROF

I was in the same boat as you ie dirty fluid when we picked up our car (2006 z06) in February. I cycled the entire bottle of Prestone through the reservoirs using the Ranger tech that I learned here on the forum. It took about 8 to 10 cycles before the fluid maintained a light yellow color. I am sure you are aware but watch out about getting fluid on your paint. Use plenty of rags around the work space.

Al Gumby

Nice to hear you did the Weaver method to your slave cylinder.

PRE-Z06

It sounds like he meant master cylinder, I'm not sure who Weaver is but Ranger was one of the first to mention how important it is to R&R the clutch fluid (especially when drag racing and inducing more slippage) as the nature of the slave cylinder being inside the bellhousing clutch dust will get past the seal even with the rubber boot and contaminate the fluid. Regardless replacing only the fluid in the reservoir is really only a half-baked way of doing it and there is a bleeder on the slave where the fluid is dirtiest, but it is difficult to access without a remote bleeder. Which imo should have been installed from the factory, but regardless keeping that fluid as fresh as possible with whatever maintenance is a good idea as I believe the particles eventually contribute to the deterioration of the seals which causes a leaking slave or blowby in the master. Just my 2 cents, hope that helps.

Al Gumby

Sorry, sometimes I loose my patience. I knew exactly what he WANTED to say.

former50

Sooooo sorry. I'll do my best to be much more precise just for YOU in the future.

Huskerman

Is the factory fluid that comes in the car DOT 3 or DOT 4? Can you mix the two as you are in the process of cleaning up the system....? My car is a 10 GS that I have had for 2 years and I'm thinking the fluid has never been changed. Got some Super Dot 4 from GM and going to clean it up tomorrow......

jerry07dx

what exactly is the Weaver method? I do the ranger method once a week it seems like

Neil Baker

Clutch fluid is DOT 4...suck out old, add new, work clutch and change again, do this until clear. BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO GET FLUID ON PAINT!

former50

To clarify, it is called the Ranger method, not the Weaver. My mistake, I didn't check my spelling prior to posting.

PC2

I changed my clutch fluid last night using the method described here. It was easy to do and, with proper preparation, little to no clean up was necessary. I did not know I had any clutch issues, but after changing the fluid shifting was smooth and easy. Thank you for sharing the information.