6 Car Fluids to Know

Preventative maintenance is the most important thing you can do for your car. One of the simplest things you can do is to learn about 6 important car fluids and how to check them in between service visits. You can learn to check these by watching our car care videos.

• Motor Oil—oil keeps your engine lubricated which prevents friction, overheating and premature engine damage.
• Transmission Fluid—allows your gears to move smoothly and your transmission to function properly. It should be red, if it has a foul odor or appears brown, it needs to be changed. This should also be checked monthly.
• Power Steering Fluid—allows you to control your vehicle. If you hear whining noise when you turn the wheel, it is most likely a fluid issue. This is a visible inspection that can be done simply by looking under your hood. It is worth bringing it in for a check to see if
• Brake Fluid—if your brake fluid is dirty or low, it will cause you to “lose pedal”. In other words, it will press down further to the floor of your car and poorer braking effectiveness
• Coolant—also known as antifreeze keeps your engine from overheating and should be checked 2x/year. Check your owner’s manual to see if your coolant should be changed at 30K or 60K miles
• Washer Fluid—visibility is critical to safe driving and being able to clean your windows from everyday grime or sudden splashes requires window fluid. Check it anytime you open your hood and top off as needed. Do not use plain water as it will clog the filter. Read the directions on your washer fluid to get the correct solvent to water ratio.

Because fluids are so important, we check them on every service visit as part of our multi-point inspection.

If you have any questions, give us a call.