I think it's about time to flush out the clutch fluid, and was curious if any of you have done this yourself or can point me to a writeup that I can take a look at.

Thanks in advance.

 

By clutch fluid I guess you are referring to the hydraulic fluid for the actuator. I've flushed mine three times in the last year. Once when I blew the hydraulic line last year, once when I blew the seal on the actuator last month, and last week when I replaced the clutch in the truck. All three were not by my choice. If it's the same set up on my truck, just open the bleeder screw on the actuator and open the top of the fluid resevoir. Once it's empty close off the bleeder screw, refill the resevoir, and bleed the system just like you would for the brakes. I'm not sure why you would have to flush it unless you got water in the system and the pedal is spongy, but that's the procedure.

 

MN,

Is that the only way (or correct way) to do it? Is it possible to take a siphon hose (or siphon pump) and extract it that way? And then just refill?

Bob

 

Thanks for the info!

The main reason I want to do it is because I don't know when the last time it was done. I haven't done it since I purchased the truck last year. Where's the drain plug located approximately?

 

It's the messy way if you don't have a jar or something to catch the fluid. You could suck the fluid out of the resevoir, but you still have the old fluid in the line that needs to be bled out.

There isn't really a drain plug, it's a bleeder screw same as you have on the brakes. If you look under the truck, there should be a small cast metal cylinder bolted to the bell housing, with a pin coming out one end that actuates the arm that sticks out of the transmission. The bleeder screw is on the side of the cylinder.

You probably don't have to flush the system unless you are having problems with the clutch. Check the fluid in the resevoir to see that it is light yellow in color like clean brake fluid (which is what it is) and make sure the clutch is operating correctly and just leave it alone until you have to replace the clutch, which will be sooner than you want if you are wheelin your truck at all.

 

MN,

Thanks for the advice. I haven't looked at this fluid yet but b/c I bought it used, I definitely want to change out all my fluids by 80,000 (which is coming up).

Bob