Technical Unidentified tank of fluid!

[coffeebean500]

Hi all! Maybe this is a super dumb question, but for the life of me I cannot figure out what this fluid reservoir under the hood is! The cap of it is marked with the same "brake" symbol as the brake fluid reservoir for the master cylinder, but the fluid is quite dark. This mystery container is near the back of the compartment, below and between the master cylinder and the fuel filter. I cannot see that it actually has anything to do with the brakes (I recently replaced pads, rotors, calipers, and flex lines and bled the whole system). Maybe it somehow got the wrong cap! Please help!

 

[jackwhoo]

If you have hydraulic clutch it could be clutch fluid reservoir.
If you post year of your van and which engine and if right or left hand drive you may get a definitive answer.
Please post a picture if you can.

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi all! I cannot figure out what this fluid reservoir under the hood is! The cap of it is marked with the same "brake" symbol as the brake fluid reservoir
Please help!

In all probabilty .. its the clutch reservoir

IDEA:
Use the parts fische to see if there is a separate reservoir on your model..

Charlie

 

[coffeebean500]

Hi, thanks! It is a 2012 3.0 180 with the "comfortmatic" option, left hand drive. I will try to upload a photo in a minute. The tank is right by the brake booster, and the cap confuses me. Since it looks like the fluid may need topping off at some point in the near future, I want to figure out what I am dealing with.

 

[coffeebean500]

Here it is!

image: https://photos.app.goo.gl/W7xZ4zsXJkBGgx518

 

[rayc]

It is the Comformatic robotic gear box clutch control fluid.
https://www.fiatforum.com/ducato/416013-comfort-matic-clutch-fluid-level.html

See page 14 for the Scheduled Service Plan http://aftersales.fiat.com/eLumData...7_250_DUCATO_603.95.838_EN_01_10.11_SC_CM.pdf

Be careful. Do not overfill the reservoir with the 'yellow on your vehicle' cap. I am no expert and Fiat technical info is non existent outside their dealer network but I believe the larger reservoir fluid operates the clutch whilst the one with the 'yellow' cap operates the actuator which is part of the circuit which controls the clutch.

 

[jackwhoo]

The level looks correct.
If you read the linked post, linked by rayc, someone was having problems with fluid being expelled from cap if level higher than level currently in your your reservoir.

 

[coffeebean500]

Great, thanks both! I won't worry about it! I am getting to know my vehicle so "mystery parts" must be solved.

 

[varesecrazy]

Great, thanks both! I won't worry about it! I am getting to know my vehicle so "mystery parts" must be solved.

As soon as you posted 'Comfortmatic'
The answer was clear(er)

My experience of 'the robot' was in a @2005 panda where the fluid was stored low down.. in a screenwash style tank..

And checking : topping up was very time consuming

This does look like proper progress

How are you finding the Ducato?

Charlie

 

[coffeebean500]

How are you finding the Ducato?

Charlie

The Ducato has been challenging and currently has a P0262 high voltage on injector 1 error I am trying to solve. I have ordered an injector and will hope I can get the old one out with the official tool (also on order). Managed to break the retaining bolt (as predicted) and had to retapped some new threads. At least when the injector gets here I won't be worried about the bolt anymore!!

 

[FreeSpirit]

Be careful. Do not overfill the reservoir with the 'yellow on your vehicle' cap. I am no expert and Fiat technical info is non existent outside their dealer network but I believe the larger reservoir fluid operates the clutch whilst the one with the 'yellow' cap operates the actuator which is part of the circuit which controls the clutch.

Just to clarify the larger tank is the reservoir for the hydraulic pump supplying fluid under pressure for operating both the gear change mechanism & also supplies pressure to operate the Master cylinder clutch piston normally as per depressing clutch pedal, this large rear reservoir uses ATF (Auto Transmission Fluid) - Dexron 111.
The smaller one at the front (yellow cap) is the reservoir for the clutch - a clutch master cylinder to operate the concentric slave cylinder, it uses DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID only as in a normal hydraulic clutch system.
Do not top up the larger rear reservoir with DOT 4 brake fluid as it will be very costly, or for that matter A.T.F. in the clutch master cylinder - the yellow cap. Hope that makes sense The basic clutch system components are the same in both the manual versions & the "Comfortmatic" versions
Cheers

 

[coffeebean500]

Just to clarify the larger tank is the reservoir for the hydraulic pump supplying fluid under pressure for operating both the gear change mechanism & also supplies pressure to operate the Master cylinder clutch piston normally as per depressing clutch pedal, this large rear reservoir uses ATF (Auto Transmission Fluid) - Dexron 111.
The smaller one at the front (yellow cap) is the reservoir for the clutch - a clutch master cylinder to operate the concentric slave cylinder, it uses DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID only as in a normal hydraulic clutch system.
Do not top up the larger rear reservoir with DOT 4 brake fluid as it will be very costly, or for that matter A.T.F. in the clutch master cylinder - the yellow cap. Hope that makes sense The basic clutch system components are the same in both the manual versions & the "Comfortmatic" versions
Cheers

This does concern me a little because the fluid is so dark and I guess it should be clear brake fluid...should I be worried?

 

[jackwhoo]

This does concern me a little because the fluid is so dark and I guess it should be clear brake fluid...should I be worried?

If you put brake fluid in the tank that should have aft in it then you should be worried.

If you put atf in with brake fluid you should be more worried.

If you haven't done either of the above and it's just colour of fluid in small tank for clutch don't worry. If the colour bothers you get it renewed but don't let air into clutch fluid system .

 

[coffeebean500]

If you put brake fluid in the tank that should have aft in it then you should be worried.

If you put atf in with brake fluid you should be more worried.

If you haven't done either of the above and it's just colour of fluid in small tank for clutch don't worry. If the colour bothers you get it renewed but don't let air into clutch fluid system .

Have not done either! But I don't want to wait for a problem if the dark fluid should be addressed.

 

[jackwhoo]

Have not done either! But I don't want to wait for a problem if the dark fluid should be addressed.

Good I was concerned for you.
If talking about renewing the fluid in the small tank , go ahead and renew it but it holds very very little so best done with two people. Most important person making sure tank is never empty of fluid.
After bleed nipple opened old fluid should run out by gravity, important person just keeps tank topped up. Person two closes bleed nipple when they happy with colour of fluid coming out.

 

[coffeebean500]

Good I was concerned for you.
If talking about renewing the fluid in the small tank , go ahead and renew it but it holds very very little so best done with two people. Most important person making sure tank is never empty of fluid.
After bleed nipple opened old fluid should run out by gravity, important person just keeps tank topped up. Person two closes bleed nipple when they happy with colour of fluid coming out.

Sounds doable, thank you!

 

[jackwhoo]

If you ever wish to change the fluid for the robot , the tank full of atf.

Don't drain the whole robot system it can be a nightmare to bleed out trapped air on refilling.

Just Suck the fluid out of the tank , refill tank with new fluid to correct level. Use the van for a month.

Suck the fluid out of the tank , refill tank with new fluid to correct level. Use the van for another month.

Suck the fluid out of the tank , refill tank with new fluid to correct level.

So three new tank full in total.

After that just change the fluid in the tank once per year(atf d3 is cheap) it is easier to remember to do it every year than every other year.

Logic behind the above is , automatic transmission usually only drain about half of their fluid during a transmission fluid change. So you are only changing half their fluid each change. Automatic transmission fluid dexron3 has a shelf life of 5 years. Auto Transmission fluid change recommended every 5 years.

That's 5 years recommended by me not by manufactures who say oh no don't worry it's lifetime fluid.

 

[FreeSpirit]

Hi
Just a note with the "Comfortmatic"transmission it must be remembered that it is still a manual transmission - "Automated" & when stationary & in gear it is the same as sitting with the clutch pedal depressed causing excessive wear to the throw-out bearing which is an inter-crated part of the concentric slave cylinder which generates heat, wearing the bearing out quicker & cooking the brake fluid in the slave cylinder which probably explains why the fluid in the clutch master cylinder goes black!
For this reason when stopped at traffic lights etc for more than 30 seconds or so, shift the transmission to neutral, then with one quick movement downward of the lever it automatically selects first gear & off you go, saves wear & helps from cooking the Dot 4 fluid.
Cheers