HOW TO: Flush clutch fluid
 

I flushed my clutch fluid today and thought I'd do a write-up to show how I did it. The fluid that was in there was the original fluid...more than 27 years old! So it was pretty well worn out.

Here's the setup I used to catch the fluid. I put the rag in the jar just to keep the tube from flying around when I started pushing fluid through the system.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...98_24_full.jpg

This is what the fluid looked like when I started...obviously needs changing!
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...98_25_full.jpg

I took an extra cap and drilled a hole in it the size of my air gun.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...98_26_full.jpg

Then I pressurized the fluid reservoir with the air gun. I set the pressue on the compressor to about 35 psi. Leave the white plastic piece in the cap...this will help to diffuse the air stream so you aren't shooting the air straight into the fluid. Also, there is a small hole in the cap that needs to be plugged with your finger. You could plug this with some epoxy or JB Weld, but it's a handy way to release the pressure by just removing your finger, so I left it this way.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...98_27_full.jpg

This is what the reservoir looked like after I had pushed all the fluid out of it...yuck! I cleaned all this out with several paper towels, then ran 4 or 5 tankfuls of fluid through to completely flush the old fluid and junk out of the system. By the way, I used Valvoline synthetic brake fluid.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...98_28_full.jpg

And this is what it looks like now...much better!
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...98_30_full.jpg

Here's what the captured fluid looks like...pretty nasty, and this includes the 4 or 5 tankfuls of clean fluid!
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...98_31_full.jpg

I haven't taken it for a test drive yet, but this is how we did the brakes on my MGB when I restored it and it worked great!

Rich

Sweet, because I need to do this! Awesome!

I had question. If I dont have an air gun can I just pump the clutch and keep adding fluid to accomplish the same thing?

you'd need a second person to tighten the bleedvalve before you released the clutch or you'd suck air back into the system.

^^^^Thanks

Exactly...that's why I did it the way I did, so I could do it by myself.

Rich

What if I don't have an extra cap to drill holes in

You could use engine vacuum to draw the fluid out too. You'd need a jar with a lid, drill two holes in the lid, with one vacuum type line going into the top of the lid and to a vacuum source. Another line would run from the bleeder on the slave, then into the jar. Start the engine and let the vacuum draw the fluid out. Works great with brakes too. :)

Vacuum bleeder
 

Here's a drawing to help explain what I just described. Hope this helps. :bigthumb:

I can bleed my brakes like that?

Yes, you could bleed your brakes that way. By the way, Parts America (Advance Auto Parts) sells the cap for $1.88.

Rich

I use a peanutbutter jar. It's plastic, won't break like glass. Just drill a hole in the lid, slightly smaller than the old vacuum line you put on the bleeder screw. Put a little fliud in the jar, make sure the hose is at the bottom of the jar and the jar is below the bleed valve, the pump away. You can bleed the clutch by your self doing it this way. Brakes are a little tougher.

I like the idea of pressure bleeding the system.