hey,

Just a quick question, i have an 05 sunfire(standard obviously) and when i was lookin under the hood today i noticed that my clutch fluid is not its original clear self.... its now brownish red... is this bad? is this normal? how often does one change clutch fluid and what do u use?

thanx for the help

Not sure about the discoloration.

It would be considered normal if your car was older. Through normal use there will be some discoloration over time (i.e., years), but it should be gradual.

If you're sure it's changed color in a relatively short period of time, it would be wise to have it looked at; with an '05 I have to assume you're still under warranty.

The fluid itself is merely brake fluid, aka Hydraulic Fluid. Just like your brake system, the fluid should be almost clear when new, and should be topped off as needed with clean fluid. As parts wear (wether it be brake pads, or clutch disc), small amounts of fluid should be needed over time to keep it topped off. As a general rule, though, a complete drain/flush of the system (brake or clutch fluid) should rarely, if ever, be needed over the lifetime of the car. The obvious exception is when major overhauls of the components are being done.

In other words, you should only have to actually replace all of your clutch fluid at the time of clutch replacement.

And most folks don't even do it then, merely add enough new fluid to top it off.

Good luck.




-Ferrite

ic ic, because the fluid itself is just slightly discolored, but there are chunks of what look like to be grime.... its wierd...