Take Care of Your Clutch--the Ranger Protocol

[Junkman2000]

Nice job on the video Ranger. Two thumbs up for you.

[AWDTBSS]

Which of the fluid would you recommend the Prestone or GM Fluid?

[asianjigga14]

your hands are so clean lol.

[TheArfdog]

Ranger, you're a good driver. But your diagnosis isn't correct. Clutch particles aren't particularly bad for clutch fluid. It doesn't change the chemical properties of clutch fluid because the particles are in mixture, not dissolved. Also, the reason a clutch might act up in high-rpm situations is 1) clutch fluid boils from the heat or 2) pressure plate is self-disengaging due to centrifugal force of high-rpm. With #2, the clutch will work again at low rpms.

[alipontiac]

whats about using DOT 5?? i heard someone did use the DOT5 and his clutch pedal like a champ.

[slowpoke96Z28]

very nice production quality video. what editor did you use? also, what do you think about DOT 5 or better fluid? i hear theres a non-silicone version now.

[arkansasrazorbackfan]

so after watching this video i went out to the garage and checked my clutch fluid on my 2008 Z06. sure enough, the fluid is black as tar and even the rubber diaphragm is dirty. i was smelling my clutch a couple weekends ago when i was rodding on the car. would this be the reason? the clutch still seems to operate fine.

[badasscobra]

I have a 2006 z06 with a tex clutch. Clutch feels very soft and engagesvery high. Well doing this help? Do you need to use the gm dot 4 or any dot 4. Thank you

[RangerC6Z06]

@badasscobra Suggest you visit the CorvetteForum >> C6 Z06 board >> Clutch Pedal Issue sticky thread atop that board. Read Post-1. I make specific recommendations there.

Ranger

[mody6930]

I'm gonna do it for my 2010 Z very soon, I noticed the fluid become black and dusty.

[tekno1er]

jesus christ! you just gaved me something to do on my car! thanks for this awesome tutorial

[BoostedZ06]

Damn the clutch pedal in my 01 Supercharged Z06 (540rwhp) is going on 30k miles since I installed Textralia clutch and I have not once had to do any maintenance on the clutch fluid or tranny and pedal is always hard as a rock. Found this thread because a friend with another stock Z06 is having mushy pedal issues.

[Ramone29]

Thanks a lot for this video, extremely helpful.

[RangerC6Z06]

@turboguy327

The actuator (slave) main shaft is sealed by a rubber O-Ring, which rides on a sheen of clutch fluid. Due to the GM design, the main shaft get sprayed by clutch dust on each launch and high-rpm upshift and downshift. That dust sticks to the fluid sheen and gets squeegeed back into the actuator by the O-Ring on the next stroke of the clutch pedal.

The dark fluid has been examined under an electron microscope. It is clutch dust in the fluid. Confirmed.

[omnibuck]

This was so helpful. The clutch pedal on my '02 Trans Am went to the floor this morning, and wouldn't come back up. I performed this procedure this afternoon, and the problem is solved! The job would have been easier if I could find one of those large syringes, though. Where do you find those?

[jjenunez]

I own an infiniti g37 and have been dealing with this issue for the past 3 years and now its at its worst. I went ahead followed your instructions but after maybe 15 times its still coming up dirty and right when i think my clutch is getting full power again it whimps out and sinks to the floor again. what should i do???

[DeerParkAuto]

Hmmm...ok, I can understand how the clutch dust gets on the outside of the hydraulic release bearing and makes it sticky. But, how in the hell is it getting inside the clutch fluid, unless you have a leak in the hydraulic system????

[50fordman]

@DeerParkAuto yeah im thinking the same thing

[ihazpowrz]

This issue is almost entirely the result of a retarded slave / release bearing design on the corvette and some other vehicles. GM also cheaped out by not installing a riser tube with a bleeder. I installed a Russell speed bleeder on my own car, now its a one man job and takes 5 minutes to flush everything out. I don't have to fiddle f**k around with a turkey baster. I have built countless cars for drifting that is more abusive on clutches than anything you have or will ever do. What a joke.

[quickboat22]

@ihazpowrz I just dont understand how that dusk is gettin past the slave shaft seal? Its like there isn't one.

[dogbone3000]

6:44 WOW

[Bearcatt]

I am now following The Ranger Protocol.

[shagedalic69]

Lotsa Love for the info bro

[DumbDuck44]

Fantastic video! You're my hero!

[wdtiger]

Great video! Just picked up my C5 a few weeks ago and this makes me want to go check the clutch fluid!

[m001316]

I did the clean on my R8 and its much better not 100% but big difference I had problems with the pedal not coming out and shifting am going to try to clean it after I race it today. Is Dot3 ok or should I look for Dot4?

[RangerC6Z06]

Suggest using DOT4 because it has higher dry and wet boiling points.--Ranger

[m001316]

You saved me 300$ thank you i was about to change the Cluch master cylinder and clutch release bearing :)

[m001316]

Thank you for the advice ill tri ti today both of my m6 cars

[Voular]

Fixed the sticky clutch on my c5 after three changes, used racing spec. dot4. (Racing Blue something). Excellent!

[RangerC6Z06]

That's probably Super Blue Racing DOT4, made by ATE. They make the same fluid in "Type 200" which is amber in color, making it easier to detect discoloration,

[Voular]

Yeah, was the only "racing" grade I could find. I live out in the woods of Sweden, so it was the only thing my local shop carried. But it does the trick!

[Scgrad98]

Thanks, Ranger! Great video tutorial.

[redhot916spd]

my thoughts exactly

[cs80fred]

Excellent!!!

[Eddie7068]

Nice work again Ranger. I have been using this method with every oil change on my vette. My clutch would be hard to push after interstate drives. After using this method of changing the fluid, I have not experienced the problem in quite some time now.

[flammrohr]

Awesome!!! Thanks alot for this video. I've got exactly that clutch problem and now I can fix it myself...absolut perfect :-)

[luweegy3]

Thanx again Ranger.