Brake Fluid Change Out Results (and a quick question) - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Camarotobeornottobe · 04-28-2015, 11:20 PM

So, my 1LE has only 2095 miles on it. I do not have a separate clutch reservoir, and I do not track the car. It is mostly babied, though with a few spirited romps. I tried launch control twice for fun and decided no more.

So, I used the "turkey baster" method and pulled out the clutch fluid -- down to just above the MIN line. I then filled to about the MAX line with Valvoline Synthetic Dot 3/4 and pumped the clutch 50 times. I did this four times, and you can see the difference with each cycle:

I'm definitely glad I did it, and I will plan on it every 2000 miles or so. A ten mile drive didn't reveal much difference in tranny engagement, but I wouldn't have expected it -- I've never had a tranny problem (knock on wood), and this was preventative maintenance only.

But a quick question:

On the final fill, I went to just below the MAX line. Do I have to worry about brake/clutch fluid expanding during a spirited run on a hot day, and thus ending up with an overfill? If so, I'll use the baster to pull back the level a little.

Trip · 04-28-2015, 11:27 PM

That's an eye opener. Hard to believe how fast it gets dirty. I better get on mine.

Camaro Dude · 04-28-2015, 11:35 PM

Max and min marks are cold settings, just like your oil dipstick reading and your coolant.
You will be fine if nothing higher than Max mark

Now time for you to order that nifty H20 gauge to test if your system is as fresh can be.

Camarotobeornottobe · 04-28-2015, 11:36 PM

Yea, I was surprised.

As sort of an answer to my own question, I went ahead and pulled a little fluid out so that it is halfway between MIN and MAX . . . out of an abundance of caution. Got it right on the line where the top half meets the bottom half.

EDIT: Camaro Dude, I posted at the same time you did.

Camaro Dude · 04-28-2015, 11:44 PM

Our systems are vented right?

So if you do accidently do over fill, you will find a little tiny mess of corrosive fluid laying around loose, dripping from your reservoir cap most likely.

It "breaths" anyways, so in theory and most likely practice, you may notice a film around the cap over time. Some have reported this, but I have never seen this on mine, lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camarotobeornottobe

EDIT: Camaro Dude, I posted at the same time you did.

lol I noticed it's all good

Camarotobeornottobe · 04-28-2015, 11:51 PM

Dumb question, but just to be sure . . . the minimum line is the short line directly below the word, MIN, right? As opposed to that thick line above it that seems to separate the top half from the bottom half of the reservoir . . .

Camarotobeornottobe · 04-29-2015, 09:34 PM

EDIT: I change my mind -- doing the change out did make a difference in the tranny engagement. Feels even better than before. Highly recommended to anyone who still has the original fill.

04-28-2015, 11:20 PM	#1
Camarotobeornottobe Drives: 1LE Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: East Coast Man Posts: 550	Brake Fluid Change Out Results (and a quick question) So, my 1LE has only 2095 miles on it. I do not have a separate clutch reservoir, and I do not track the car. It is mostly babied, though with a few spirited romps. I tried launch control twice for fun and decided no more. So, I used the "turkey baster" method and pulled out the clutch fluid -- down to just above the MIN line. I then filled to about the MAX line with Valvoline Synthetic Dot 3/4 and pumped the clutch 50 times. I did this four times, and you can see the difference with each cycle: I'm definitely glad I did it, and I will plan on it every 2000 miles or so. A ten mile drive didn't reveal much difference in tranny engagement, but I wouldn't have expected it -- I've never had a tranny problem (knock on wood), and this was preventative maintenance only. But a quick question: On the final fill, I went to just below the MAX line. Do I have to worry about brake/clutch fluid expanding during a spirited run on a hot day, and thus ending up with an overfill? If so, I'll use the baster to pull back the level a little.

04-29-2015, 09:34 PM	#7
Camarotobeornottobe Drives: 1LE Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: East Coast Man Posts: 550	EDIT: I change my mind -- doing the change out did make a difference in the tranny engagement. Feels even better than before. Highly recommended to anyone who still has the original fill. Last edited by Camarotobeornottobe; 04-30-2015 at 06:52 AM.

04-28-2015, 11:27 PM	#2
Trip Drives: 2015 White RS 2SS 1LE Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Littleton, CO Posts: 254 View My Garage	That's an eye opener. Hard to believe how fast it gets dirty. I better get on mine.

04-28-2015, 11:35 PM	#3
Camaro Dude Drives: ‘13 1LE Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Earth Posts: 3,904	Max and min marks are cold settings, just like your oil dipstick reading and your coolant. You will be fine if nothing higher than Max mark Now time for you to order that nifty H20 gauge to test if your system is as fresh can be.

04-28-2015, 11:36 PM	#4
Camarotobeornottobe Drives: 1LE Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: East Coast Man Posts: 550	Yea, I was surprised. As sort of an answer to my own question, I went ahead and pulled a little fluid out so that it is halfway between MIN and MAX . . . out of an abundance of caution. Got it right on the line where the top half meets the bottom half. EDIT: Camaro Dude, I posted at the same time you did.

04-28-2015, 11:51 PM	#6
Camarotobeornottobe Drives: 1LE Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: East Coast Man Posts: 550	Dumb question, but just to be sure . . . the minimum line is the short line directly *below* the word, MIN, right? As opposed to that thick line above it that seems to separate the top half from the bottom half of the reservoir . . .