I have a 89 ranger 4 speed/OD with 282,000 plus miles. It has the original clutch in it. It started slipping and I checked the fluid level and it was empty. Could this be the reason it is slipping or will I have to replace the clutch?

 

[sm=welcomesign.gif]First you will have to find the leak then replace the part. You may get lucky.But having that many miles on it it may be time.

 

Damn, that is alot of miles on the original clutch. It is probably do to be replaced. The 93 I had was close to 150,000 miles and started slipping. But that was also driving in Los Angeles traffic alot.

 

Would it be worth trying to just add fluid first instead of replacing the cluth?

 

You will have to add fluid to see where the leak is coming from first . But wont make the problem go away.

 

At 100,000 LESS than yours I had to change the original clutch on my '89 and I took out the TEENIEST clutch disc I think I ever saw on something with four wheels. I replaced it with one almost twice it's size.
If yours is the same size I find it truly amazing to make almost 300,000
To avoid dealing with the hydraulic line which I still am not sure how it comes apart, and I kept reading a lot on these forums of people having a world of trouble after messing with them, I just took the whole engine out instead. It sounds like you might have to deal with yours. Good luck