Clutch Fluid Replacement

Mr Pinchy

I looked all over the manual, internet and this site and can't find an answer. Question is when should I replace the clutch fluid. I was thinking to do it whenever I replace the brake fluid. Any recommendations?

ayrton88

With all the problems with our CSC I change both every 2 years.

Mr Pinchy

Thanks ayrton88 for the reply. I guess you are the only member that changes their clutch fluid.

MicntaeG35

is there a DIY on replacing it?

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carlitos_370z

most owners change the clutch line and the clutch fluid at the same time im going to do that soon... Im just thinking on what clutch line im going to buy hahaa! if the Z1 Motorsports or the ZSpeed... For sure the clutch fluid are going to be the Motul RBF600

JARblue

I recommend changing it when the fluid starts to get dirty - in mine, the normal amber color begins to turn brown. The stock hydraulic system is especially susceptible to dirty fluid. Dirty fluid can cause seals in the slave and master cylinders to fail, and failed seals can contaminate fresh fluid.

I put a fair amount of miles on my Z, so I generally replace the clutch fluid at least once a year. But that's down to about every six months now that I'm on my 4th master cylinder in 73K miles I've replaced virtually every other part of the clutch hydraulic system with great results. But there is no plug-n-play aftermarket CMC for the 370Z

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40 to 332

I also bleed the clutch twice a year ... once when I put the car into winter storage, and then again in the spring usually within a few weeks of driving it. As indicated by JARblue, the fluid (Motul RBF 600) definitely begins to discolor
within several months.

SouthArk370Z

As has been mentioned above, the CSC and CMC are not particularly robust and degraded/dirty fluid only exacerbates the problem. I would change the clutch fluid more often than what the OM calls for. Much more often if the car were tracked. If not listed in the OM, something like one year or 15000 miles would probably be a good target for a DD. YMMV

You can usually eyeball the condition of the fluid - it darkens as it ages. I'm not sure if clutch fluid is hygroscopic, like brake fluid, but I wouldn't take the cover off the reservoir very often, just in case.

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JARblue

Considering many people use the exact same fluid (Motul RBF600 in my case) for both the clutch fluid and brake fluid, I'm going to say that, in general, clutch fluid is also going to be hygroscopic, and your recommendation of limiting how often you open the reservoir is a quite appropriate. One should be able to determine the fluid color and level without opening the reservoir.

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enrique_370

Motul RBF600 FTW works great in my car.

Burnt350

With all the CSC horror stories I just changed my fluid at 27k miles with Motul. Stock fluid was dark brown/black.

It was only me so I couldn't get under the car and bleed. What I did was sucked the old fluid out of the reservoir, poured in the new fluid and pumped the clutch pedal gently around 30 times. I repeated this a couple more times until the fluid stayed clean. I took it for a spin afterwards and the pedal feels much better. It could be my imagination.




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carlitos_370z

Im going to do this soon!

nis350

Since the clutch fluid doesn't circulate, the fluid is still old at the other end where the CSC is. This may work ok for the CMC.

Ritch7714

with all the horror stories and my clutch starting to feel spongy i thought the worst and was thinking it was the csc (which its still possible). im looking at the fluid and its very dark (dark redish), seeing as i just purchased my 2009 nismo with only 10k i can only assume this is the stock clutch fluid from the previous owner. 7 years and New England moisture im really hoping i just need a fluid change to get potential air/moisture out of the system.

ayrton88

I'm surprised Nissan doesn't call for more frequent clutch fluid changes. I came from a BMW and they insist the fluid be changed every 2 years regardless of mileage. I have continued that practice with the Z and so far so good.