My 98 SE has 61K miles on it and I've never changed the clutch fluid (or the brake fluid, for that matter). I'm wondering if I need to change the clutch fluid? Anyone out there have theirs done yet?

 

i assume you mean MTL (manual tranny fluid)??
61K..good idea to change it. use Redline syn...people swear by it.
brake fluid should be flushed/bled every brake change.

 

or get speedbleeders. You only have to bleed the system(like the brakes) when there is air in the system(spongy pedal feel), or the fluid is dark(muddy), otherwise leave it alone.

 

It won't hurt to do it, but this service is not needed.

 

Daniel,
I must disagree with you here. DOT 3 and 4 brake fluids are hydroscopic, that is they absorb moisture. Two bad things happen then, the boiling point drops as moisture level increases and the moisture causes brake part internals to rust.

Here in New Orleans, humidity is a real problem so I change the brake fluid every 30K-40K miles. A 60K change would not at all be out of line.

 

We don't have any real disagreement.

I agree that ordinary brake fluid is hygroscopic.

I agree that humidity is a problem in New Orleans.

I agree that the boiling point drops as moisture level increases.

I agree that a Maxima owner in New Orleans could/should change his brake fluid at 60K miles.

Our minor disagreements are whether ItchyRichy lives in New Orleans... I say he lives in Boston... and whether the lower boiling point makes any difference in clutch operation... I say it doesn't.

[Edited by Daniel B. Martin on 03-09-2001 at 07:31 PM]

 

You're right, boiling point makes little difference in a clutch system. I would still be concerned about moisture in any hydraulic system.

So what't the humidity like in Boston?