I live in Arizona-- and as such, try to do all my preventative/routine maintenance this time of year (there's nothing worse than sweating your you-know-what off over your truck in 122 degree weather!)

Anyway, I am looking at getting busy soon just going throughmy truck's annual checkup and had a couple of questions-- specifically, about the transmission. I have the mazda m50d behind a 4.9.

Is there any way of changing the clutch fluid? (other than the obvious method of taking a turkey baster and doing it a few drops at a time)... I have replaced all other fluids but that seems to be such a pain to bleed if air gets into it that I haven't bothered messing with it.

Also, this truck has approx. 150k...I am wondering about how much life is left in the clutch. I've driven a lot of manuals but this is my first with a high enough mileage to worry about it. Is there a way to externally diagnose how much life is left in your clutch? I expect probably not but it doesn't hurt to ask, right?


thanks in advance, I really appreciate all responses. This site has been great to me and continues to be a wealth of knowledge.


Andrew

 

If it is working fine, no slipping and normal pedal feel, just leave it be and count yourself lucky.

Adrianspeeder

 

that's about what I figured-the old saying "if it ain't broke don't fix it" is sometimes too true. BUT, so is 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" and due to the whole hygroscopic thing with brake (clutch) fluid I thought it might be worth it. Is it even worth giving it the turkey baster treatment?


thanks
Andrew

 

The metal line that runs to the tranny is famous for trapping air bubbles in it, making bleeding the slave a major PITA sometimes. I would just make sure it's full, and leave it be. You'll have to change the fluid soon enough when your clutch finally goes.

 

and belive me, changing the clutch is a pain! i just had to change it in my 94 (5.0) and i still dont have it bleed right