C5 / C6 Hydraulic Clutch Fluid Change

[Fire22]

Early in January I changed the clutch hydraulic fluid in my C5 because it was dark in color. I used GM hydraulic clutch fluid and basically flushed the system using the whole 350 ml container of fluid. I offered to change the clutch fluid in my friends C6 that is spending the winter in my shop and he took me up on it, here are some pictures.

First here is everything that you need, Dot 3 brake fluid (or GM Dot 3 hydraulic clutch fluid), a 60 ml syringe, some paper towels and a container to put the used fluid in.

Edit April 18 - For C6's use DOT 4 (GM p/n 88901244)

Make sure you do not get any fluid on painted surfaces (including my painted floor), place towels under your path.

 

[Fire22]

Use the syringe to remove the fluid from the reservoir, remove all the fluid (about 40ml

 

[X-SPAN]

Thanks for posting the write-up and pictures. Looks like you are a very organized and meticulous mechanic. :coolgleam:
I'm curious about the fluid in the line from the master cylinder to the slave cylinder... at any time did you crack open the bleeder screw on the slave cylinder and purge the old fluid from that line? You don't mention doing that in your write-up but you do mention pumping the clutch pedal 30 times. Was that to get the new fluid to displace the old?

 

[Fire22]

Thanks for posting the write-up and pictures. Looks like you are a very organized and meticulous mechanic. :coolgleam:
I'm curious about the fluid in the line from the master cylinder to the slave cylinder... at any time did you crack open the bleeder screw on the slave cylinder and purge the old fluid from that line? You don't mention doing that in your write-up but you do mention pumping the clutch pedal 30 times. Was that to get the new fluid to displace the old?

I researched different forums and found this method to be fairly effective, I think its referred to as the Turkey baster method. I didn't bleed the slave, pumping the pedal moves fluid through the system and mixes the old with the new, that's why you have to repeat the process a number of times until the fluid in the reservoir is fairly clear after pumping the pedal. The first few times the fluid in the reservoir is still dirty, it gradually clears up as you replace most of the old fluid with new fluid. In some cases two bottles of fluid may be required depending on how dirty to old stuff is.

 

[airwilf]

Excellent write up,especially with the pics.That's pretty much the way I do mine.Nothing to add.I'm an old Dauphin boy BTW.

 

[Riley P]

Sorry to ask, but the procedure for the C5 is the same?

 

[Fire22]

Sorry to ask, but the procedure for the C5 is the same?

Hey Riley, its the same procedure that I used on my C5.

 

[Riley P]

Awesome! Thanks for the article. That is the best way I have heard for changing the clutch fluid.

 

[Manny@Dasilva]

Nice write up . Its nice to see that us Canadian's are contributing nicely to the growth of this site with great information such as you have posted . Keep it people

Thx
[email protected]

 

[Red c6]

Hey guys on my C6 should I use dot 3 or dot 4 ........some say use dot 4

 

[frankmp]

Hey guys on my C6 should I use dot 3 or dot 4 ........some say use dot 4

:iamwithstupid: THe recent flood of threads on this topic seem to indicate DOT4 for the C6? and if so what's the risk of using the wrong DOT3 in a C6 or DOT4 in a C5........

Frank

 

[Riley P]

The car explodes

 

[Red c6]

All I could find in dot4 brake fluid was synthetic ,is that going to work.

 

[Fire22]

All I could find in dot4 brake fluid was synthetic ,is that going to work.

Call your dealer and find out what is recommended. My C6 buddy did that and they gave him the DOT 3. If you decide to change to DOT 4, I don't think this method will work for you, I don't think you can mix DOT 3 and 4.

 

[SoulSurfer]

Page 6-12 of the owners manual states DOT-4

Hydraulic Clutch System
Hydraulic Clutch Fluid. Use only GM
Part No. U.S. 88958860, in Canada
88901244, Super DOT-4 brake fluid.

 

[Red c6]

Do all Dot4 come in synthetics because thats all I cuold find.

 

[Red c6]

Just returned from the dealer and he said all C6 clutches are dot4 and brake fluid is dot3.
all dot 4 is synthetic...........now if could only find one of those syringes,anyone know where to buy one.

 

[ctdrl-1]

I got my syringe at Princess Auto, it was $2 it is called a two stroke oil mixer syringe but it is exactly the same as the one Fire 22 shows in his pics.

By the way fire22 great post again man i love these not only are they good but they are intersting to read keep them coming.

Brent

 

[Red c6]

Thanks Brent,I was just there today and couldn't find one.I'll try another location

 

[Fire22]

The dealer gave my friend the wrong fluid for his C6 (DOT 3 GM p/n 89021320), he should have given him Super DOT 4 (GM p/n 88901244). Will get the fluid changed and put the DOT 4 in.