6 Fluids To Keep Your Car Healthy And How to Maintain Them
6 FLUIDS TO KEEP YOUR CAR HEALTHY AND HOW TO MAINTAIN THEM
Did you know that your car uses 6 essential fluids in order to keep it running efficiently.
Essential car maintenance and the 6 fluids that will keep your car running smoothly . It's important to change them regularly and dispose of the old fluids properly so they don’t the environment.
ENGINE OIL.
Oil is the most important fluid, reducing friction inside the engine to ensure everything stays running efficiently. It will protect the moving engine parts from getting damaged.
HOW TO CHECK YOUR OIL.
Check your owner's manual to make sure you have the correct type of oil for your car.
Parked on a level surface, make sure that your engine has been off for a while so it's not hot.
Most cars will have a dipstick to give you a reading of the oil in the engine. Remove the dipstick first and wipe off any oil with a rag. Then replace the dipstick and when you remove it you will be able to see your oil level on the maximum and minimum indicators.
If your oil is below minimum add oil immediately. Please be careful not to overfill this could damage the engine
If the oil has changed from its normal amber colour to a milky colour or contains any thick deposits, this could mean it’s contaminated and should be replaced.
COOLANT
Engine coolant is there to prevent your engine from overheating. It also protects your car in the winter months as it’s resistant to freezing.
HOW TO CHECK YOUR COOLANT LEVELS.
Like checking your oil, please make sure your engine isn’t hot when checking coolant levels.
If your engine is running or hot, DO NOT open the radiator cap – its highly pressurised and the fluid inside is extremely hot which could cause severe burns.
When safe to do so, you can see the level of fluid using the minimum and maximum indicators on the coolant tank. If the fluid lies below the minimum mark, carefully remove the radiator cap using a cloth.
You will need to re-fill the tank until you can see the level is back between the minimum and maximum indicators. Please make sure you use the correct coolant for your car!Check vehicles owners manual.
POWER STEERING FLUID
If you have noticed your vehicle becoming difficult to steer it’s important to check that the fluid level isn’t low.
HOW TO CHECK YOUR POWER STEERING FLUID.
To locate the steering fluid reservoir check your owner’s manual this will also tell you which type of fluid you’ll need.
Most reservoirs have level markings on the side and some have both ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ level markings. I
If the car has not been driven for at least 8 hours, use the cold level markings, if not use the hot level markings.
When refilling use a funnel and slowly pour it while keeping check of the level to prevent overfilling.
BRAKE FLUID
Brake fluid is essential without it your vehicle will I not be able to stop. If there’s any delay or abnormal feeling when braking, Checking you brake fluid would be your first point of call.
HOW TO CHECK YOUR BRAKE FLUID.
Brake fluid needs to be changed as recommended by your car manufacturers, normally every 2 years maximum, as it becomes contaminated with water over time due to it absorbing moisture from the air.
Excess moisture can cause brake lines to rust which will may affecting your braking .
After locating your braking reservoir first look at the colour and level of fluid. Brake fluid should be transparent, not dark or misty. Like other fluids, you need to make sure the level falls between the minimum and maximum indicators.
If the fluid is below minimum, top up but make sure it’s the right type for your car.
TRANSMISSION FLUID
Transmission fluid like engine oil protects and cools the components inside your transmission. There are different types of transmission fluid ! Always check the fluid recommended in the owner’s manual first.
HOW TO CHECK YOUR TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Most manual transmission cars don’t have a dipstick for transmission fluid, unlike automatic transmission cars.
Nearly all manual cars will need a professional mechanic to change this.
We would not recommend changing your own transmission fluid unless you are a qualified mechanic as this can be very dangerous.
WINDSCREEN WASHER FLUID
Windscreen washer fluid is for cleaning the windscreen while the vehicle is being driven and its essential for safe driving. It’s illegal to drive your car without windscreen fluid in.
HOW TO CHECK YOUR WINDSCREEN WASHER FLUID.
This one is easy …
Locate the washer fluid reservoir, pour the fluid into the reservoir until it’s full and close the cap.
