You wake up in the morning and you drink a glass of water to quench your thirst, then you have a morning coffee and you’re up and running for the day. Your car is much the same, it has some essential fluids that it requires to run optimally.
They are all extremely important and they each play a vital role in making sure your car is running smoothly. We can walk you through how to check your cars’ fluids and make pulling the dipstick a hobby and your cars’ fluids in top condition.
Essential engine fluids to check
- Engine Oil. This is what lubricates all the moving parts inside of your engine. It is absolutely crucial to its operation. Your oil should always be topped up and changed at the recommended intervals. You need to check your oil. To do this, open the hood, find the dipstick, pull it out, wipe it off, put it back in and check it. Make sure it’s at the appropriate level.
- Coolant. Your coolant is what flows through your radiator and cools the motor while it is running. This means that your engine runs at its optimal temperature and doesn’t overheat. You need to be comfortable checking your coolant levels. Have a look at the reservoir and make sure that the fluid levels are where they need to be. If you have to top it up, use boiled water that has cooled. Make sure that, as needed, your coolant is flushed and changed at the recommended intervals.
Essential transmission fluids to check
- Transmission Fluid. This is what transfers engine power through gears to the wheels. There’s a dipstick that you can check the same as engine oil. The most important thing is that you have this regularly checked and flushed.
- Clutch Fluid. If you have a manual transmission, you’ll need to check your fluid just the same as anything else. This will ensure the maximum possible lifespan for your clutch and gearbox.
Other good fluids that need some attention
- Power Steering Fluid. This is what is pumped through your power steering system when you turn the steering wheel. It’s this system that means you don’t have to curl 30kg dumbbells to get around a carpark. There is usually a reservoir and a guide. Make sure that you top it up with the correct fluid and watch the level. If your power steering fluid gets low often, it’s a sign your rack is on the way out.
- Brake Fluid. This is what stops the car when you press the brake pedal. It’s really important. Obviously. Your cars’ braking system is based around the pumping of this fluid to all four corners. Check the reservoir and make sure that it’s serviced as it’s needed.
- Windscreen Washer Fluid. You go through a patch of bugs or some dirt gets on your windscreen and the washer fluid helps lift the contaminants from the glass and wipers get rid of them. Make sure to top this up in the correct ratio and to also ensure that the system doesn’t run dry.
If you need some of these fluids serviced or checked then it’s best to take care of it straight away.
Here at My Auto Shop we can help sort that out for you. Head over to our “Services” page and get your car what it needs.