Losing clutch fluid

[Mac626]

I noticed a while back that my 94 2.3L 5sp was getting a little cranky when I would shift. I checked the fluid and it was a little low and the rubber bladder thing was fully expanded. I popped it back into shape and refilled the reservoir, then pumped the clutch a few times and it started acting okay again. A few weeks later the problem returned and I sort of ignored it.

This problem gradually worsened until I one day I started having to match the engine speed just right to get it to shift at all. I checked for fluid leaks in the lines and at the master cylinder but saw none. I read a few posts about similar problems and decided to bleed the clutch hydraulic system. This wasn't too much trouble (the bleeder nut is 5/64ths if anyone wants to know) but the fluid was dark and oily looking on the slave-side. I could find no sign of a leak near the slave cylinder (but I couldn't see everything through that tiny inspection hole, either), so I finished bleeding the line. After that the truck shifted like new.

Now it's been almost two weeks and the shifting problem is starting again. I checked the fluid level this morning. It was about an ounce low and the bladder was expanded again. Still no sign of a leak but when I looked inside the reservoir I noticed the fluid had what looked like dark oil drops in it. I filled the reservoir and the shifting returned almost to normal after I pumped the clutch pedal several times.

Does this sound like a bad master/slave cylinder or what? Any suggestions would be helpful!

Also, is there any way to tell which cylinder (master or slave) is bad?

[stuzman]

Originally Posted by Mac626

I noticed a while back that my 94 2.3L 5sp was getting a little cranky when I would shift. I checked the fluid and it was a little low and the rubber bladder thing was fully expanded. I popped it back into shape and refilled the reservoir, then pumped the clutch a few times and it started acting okay again. A few weeks later the problem returned and I sort of ignored it.

This problem gradually worsened until I one day I started having to match the engine speed just right to get it to shift at all. I checked for fluid leaks in the lines and at the master cylinder but saw none. I read a few posts about similar problems and decided to bleed the clutch hydraulic system. This wasn't too much trouble (the bleeder nut is 5/64ths if anyone wants to know) but the fluid was dark and oily looking on the slave-side. I could find no sign of a leak near the slave cylinder (but I couldn't see everything through that tiny inspection hole, either), so I finished bleeding the line. After that the truck shifted like new.

Now it's been almost two weeks and the shifting problem is starting again. I checked the fluid level this morning. It was about an ounce low and the bladder was expanded again. Still no sign of a leak but when I looked inside the reservoir I noticed the fluid had what looked like dark oil drops in it. I filled the reservoir and the shifting returned almost to normal after I pumped the clutch pedal several times.

Does this sound like a bad master/slave cylinder or what? Any suggestions would be helpful!

Also, is there any way to tell which cylinder (master or slave) is bad?

Since you're loosing fluid and you say that you don't see any leakage around the master cylinder, then I would suspect that the slave cylinder is leaking. You'll have to pull the transmission to get access to this cylinder for a replacement.