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Car Fluids: The Six Essentials and When to Change

Mechanic checking brake fluid
 

Every day, you ask a lot about your vehicle. During each commute from Brockton to Taunton, your vehicle is working hard to keep you safe while delivering top-notch performance. In order to get the job done, all the parts of your vehicle must work together cohesively. While your brakes and tires are critical, your vehicle has a number of essential fluids that are often overlooked. If you’re ready to take your car care to the next level, our team can help you learn how to check essential fluids in your car, when to check car fluids, and so much more! Review our service tips to learn how to check the fluids in your car with our automotive experts.

 

 

How to Check Essential Fluids in Your Car

Essential Car Fluid One: Engine Oil

Apart from gasoline, engine oil is the most important fluid within your vehicle. Engine oil is tasked with lubricating all the moving parts within the engine. This prevents excess friction and heat, which can damage the components of your engine. While hugely important, learning how to check the fluids in your car is fairly simple, especially when it comes to your oil.

Another great thing about your oil is that your vehicle will alert you when it’s time for a replacement. That said, knowing when to check car fluids is critical, as you don’t want to wait until your vehicle is struggling to take action. Typically, you should check your oil about once a month. From there, you’ll want to have the dirty oil replaced twice a year. For many drivers, an oil change every 5,000-7,500 miles is appropriate. However, your frequency may differ based on the recommendations in your owner’s manual.

Essential Car Fluid Two: Coolant/Antifreeze

While engine oil works hard to keep your engine from overheating through friction, coolant is there alongside it to help keep temperatures in check. Coolant and antifreeze serve the purpose of keeping your engine away from extreme temperatures. This means keeping your engine cool in the summer and warm during the winter months. 

When should you check your coolant? Standard recommendations dictate that your coolant should be checked approximately every 50,000 miles. However, if there’s a leak in the system or some type of malfunction, you’ll need to have that remedied right away. 

Essential Car Fluid Three: Power Steering Fluid

Power steering is one of the unsung heroes of convenient driving experiences. The system relies on power steering fluid to operate a mechanically assisted pump that makes it easy to steer with minimal effort. 

While there isn’t a typical mileage interval that dictates when to add power steering fluid, needing frequent replacements is a sign that the system needs to be repaired as you may have a leak. 

Essential Car Fluid Four: Brake Fluid

While we’ve highlighted some automotive features and systems that are often looked over, the importance of brakes is well-known. Brakes are critical for safety on the road, and your brake fluid is an essential component of the system. Brake fluid is used by the braking system to apply pressure to the calipers, which slows your vehicle down. 

If your brake fluid has bubbles in it, that can be a hazard. So, you’ll want to stay on top of the health of your brake fluid. Typically, you’ll want a brake fluid flush every 2 years or 30,000 miles. 

Essential Car Fluid Five: Transmission Fluid

Your transmission takes power from the engine and transfers it at an appropriate ratio to your driveline. This is a serious task for one single piece of machinery. As such, it needs plenty of cooling and lubrication in the form of transmission fluid

If you’re experiencing delayed shifting or grinding noises coming from your transmission, it’s a good indication that you need to check your transmission fluid. That said, you’ll want to replace your transmission fluid every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. With such a large recommended interval range, paying attention to how your vehicle is driving is important. 

Essential Car Fluid Six: Windshield Wiper Fluid

While windshield wiper fluid may not be essential to the operation of your vehicle, it is essential for your operation as a driver. Having a clear view of the road is invaluable, so having fresh wiper blades and windshield washer fluid is a must. How do you know when it’s time to replace your windshield wiper fluid? It’s easy! If you trigger the mechanism and the fluid doesn’t come out, it’s time for you to stop at a local gas station and pick up some new wiper fluid!

All Your Fluid Needs, Taken Care of at Silko Honda 

Now that you know how to check essential fluids in your car and when to check car fluids, you can keep your Fall River travels smooth and secure for years to come. While knowing how to check the fluids in your car is a great skill to have, there are times when your vehicle needs professional attention. If you need an expert to work on your vehicle, book an appointment with us in Raynham today!

 

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