Clutch Fluid Exchange

potownrob · Post by **potownrob** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 1:06 pm

Has anyone ever changed out their clutch fluid if you have a hydraulic clutch (most newer clutches are hydraulic)

I'm wondering since I once read about it making the clutch modulation much smoother, but I can't find where I read that. I also read that you should change it out whenever you change your brake fluid since they are similar systems. Any insights or words of wisdom from my fellow standardshifters

JackBauer · Post by **JackBauer** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 1:27 pm

the brake and clutch fluids are the same system, if you are loosing hydro clutch fluid, you are also loosing brake fluid, and the problem should be quickly resolved. You bleed the clutch fluid the same way you would the brakes, exept of course the clutch has a seperate bleeder. then you plug a line back in, and dump new fluid back in. What kind of fluids are you going to be using? im not sure, but i think that redline may make fluids for the hydrolic clutch. Also, if your fluids aren't dirty, your probably not gonna feel much from changing the fluid. You may feel a difference by changing the transmission fluid

potownrob · Post by **potownrob** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 1:43 pm

Thanks for the quick reply. My clutch fluid looks much darker than my brake fluid, but I did have brake work done last fall, and the mechanic must have replaced at least some of the brake fluid when he changed the rear pads... I was planning on just going with whatever my mechanic puts in, probably brake fluid. I did feel a noticeable difference after changing out my transmission gear oil with AMSOIL. Not only was it easier to shift gears, but it instantly felt like more power was being put to the ground

.

JackBauer · Post by **JackBauer** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 1:46 pm

Yes, Amsoil is good stuff. Don't let your mechanic put brake fluid into the clutch, it wasn't made for that. for ex. You can use motor oil in a transmission but its not made for that, so performance will suffer. Just go to your dealer and pick up a bottle of cluthc juice and tell him to use it. -Good Luck

potownrob · Post by **potownrob** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 1:55 pm

Who sells Clutch Juice? My old Civic called for brake fluid to be used as clutch fluid; can't find what the Maxima takes.

victim · Post by **victim** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 5:29 pm

JackBauer wrote:the brake and clutch fluids are the same system, if you are loosing hydro clutch fluid, you are also loosing brake fluid, and the problem should be quickly resolved. You bleed the clutch fluid the same way you would the brakes, exept of course the clutch has a seperate bleeder. then you plug a line back in, and dump new fluid back in. What kind of fluids are you going to be using? im not sure, but i think that redline may make fluids for the hydrolic clutch. Also, if your fluids aren't dirty, your probably not gonna feel much from changing the fluid. You may feel a difference by changing the transmission fluid

this cannot be true, it may for some cars, but not all.

if it were the same system, then why do most cars have a different resivore for the brakes and the clutch?

I just saw that my clutch fliud was low a few days ago, but my brake fluid wasnt low at all.

It would be kind of dumb to have a system like that, if you leave your parking brake on, and loose your brakes, you will lose your clutch too, totally not safe at all.

victim · Post by **victim** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 5:32 pm

potownrob wrote:Who sells Clutch Juice? My old Civic called for brake fluid to be used as clutch fluid; can't find what the Maxima takes.

i thought ALL cars with a hyd. clutch took brake fluid (DOT 3)

mine does, it will mostlikely say on the resivore cap

potownrob · Post by **potownrob** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 5:40 pm

Mine takes brake fluid too:
http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/803

victim · Post by **victim** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 6:57 pm

potownrob wrote:Mine takes brake fluid too:
http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/803

thats a great website, i bookmarked it, just for future reference, although it isnt for my car, it is all the same aspect

JackBauer · Post by **JackBauer** » Sun Apr 09, 2006 10:13 pm

My brakes take dot 4, but my clutch gets the stuff from the dealer ship. Alot of the time, a severe loss in brake fluid means that the clutch is loosing fluid

victim · Post by **victim** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 3:36 pm

JackBauer wrote:My brakes take dot 4, but my clutch gets the stuff from the dealer ship. Alot of the time, a severe loss in brake fluid means that the clutch is loosing fluid

i talked to my friend, wh is a mechanic, and he said the brake and clutch lines are totally different, and that is no possible.

JackBauer · Post by **JackBauer** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:00 pm

He said that a brake fluid leak couldn't pssibly affect the clutch fluid? Thats kool i learnd something new

victim · Post by **victim** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:19 pm

JackBauer wrote:He said that a brake fluid leak couldn't pssibly affect the clutch fluid? Thats kool i learnd something new

yes, because they are 2 different systems.

acually, same goes with brake fluid, if one of your lines go out, you will only lose half of your braking, as the 2 lines are dependant from each other.