02 Tacoma clutch slave cylinder leak

alright, I'm hoping you experts can help.

Awhile back I replaced the master and slave clutch, it was their time to go. It took me awhile to find the best way to bleed the system, but I have it down now. I just pressure bleed it with help from my wife. It was summer time when I replaced it but now Winter is Coming and the cold has caused some shrinkage I think.

The slave has a small leak coming from the bleeder valve. About every 4-5 days I'll start it and I notice more play in my clutch, it will engage properly but the pressure is below normal and the reservoir is empty. So I bleed it out again and properly fill it up.

Question is, has my slave cylinder gone bad already? Or can I put some tephlon or sealant around the bleeder valve threads to seal it? Ultimately I don't want the band aid fix but with my slave only being about 6 months old I feel hesitant to replace it so soon. Appreciate the help, thanks.

 

Welcome! Using Teflon tape or sealant on the bleeder valve is just a temporary fix IMO. There might be a piece of debris caught in the bleeder valve/seat area. I would remove the bleeder valve, clean the valve and seat, then reinstall & tighten it down snug. If that does not work, I would go ahead and replace the defective slave cylinder which should still be covered by some type of warranty. Hopefully, you installed AISIN or OEM clutch parts which are made by AISIN. RockAuto has very good pricing on AISIN parts. Getting this clutch slave problem all sorted out before winter hits is a very smart move. Good luck with it!