Know Your Vehicle's Fluid Levels

Precision CJDR Knowing Your Vehicle's Fluid Levels 

Drivers may experience unexpected damage when they fail to regularly check their vehicle fluids levels. Knowing what fluids to monitor and maintaining their levels can enhance a vehicle's performance and longevity as well as cut down on costly and time-consuming repairs.

To keep your vehicle running optimally, completing simple maintenance tasks is crucial. When you regularly inspect under the hood of your vehicle, you stay on top of its inner workings and decrease the possibility of a breakdown. 

One reason that drivers end up with serious and costly vehicle problems is because they forget about the fluid levels. The unseen heroes of vehicle operation, the fluids lubricate various moving parts and ensure safe mechanical movement. However, many drivers lack general knowledge about their vehicle's fluids, including where they're located, what they do, and how to check them. 

Here, you'll find valuable information regarding these vehicle fluids: 

• Transmission fluid 

• Engine coolant 

• Engine oil 

• Brake fluid 

• Power steering fluid 

Engine Oil 

The oil lubricates the various moving parts of your engine so there's limited grinding and friction that causes premature wear and tear. An integral part of your vehicle, check your owner's manual for the recommended intervals at which your engine oil should be changed. 

However, drivers should check the engine oil level every time they fill their gas tank. To do this, pop open the hood and look for the oil dipstick, which usually has a yellow ring at the top. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, slide it back into place, and then pull it out again.

Near the bottom of the dipstick, you'll see a line that indicates whether you need more oil. If the oil doesn't reach this line, it needs to be replaced as soon as possible or you risk serious damage to your engine, which can lead to costly repairs. 

Transmission Fluid 

Like engine oil, transmission fluid lubricates moving parts in your vehicle, but it this case, it benefits the transmission. When you shift from drive to reverse or from first to second gear, for example, various parts of your transmission move to drive the shift change. These parts need to move smoothly so they don't wear down and wind up becoming ineffective. 

It's recommended that you replace your transmission fluid every 50,000 to 100,000 miles, but drivers should check the status of their transmission fluid level on a monthly basis.

Drivers will be able to tell if there are any issues with the transmission fluid by noting its color and odor. Transmission fluid is red and odorless, but a surefire sign that it needs to be replaced is when you open your hood and find that it has turned brown and smells burnt. At this point, the fluid isn't properly lubricating your moving gears, and your vehicle is at risk for major repairs. 

Also, because the transmission fluid is part of a closed system, it should never be low. If it is, there's a leak that a mechanic needs to handle.

Brake Fluid 

If drivers have difficulty when they engage their brakes, there could be a problem with the brake fluid. Designed to transfer force into pressure, brake fluid is hydraulic and amplifies braking force so your vehicle can stop the way that it's intended to. 

Like transmission fluid, brake fluid is part of a closed system, so it should never be low. However, if you're doing a checkup and find that it is low, there's a leak in the system that requires immediate attention from a mechanic. 

While brake fluid usually doesn't need to be replaced until after two years, you should check the fluid's quality and level whenever your vehicle gets an oil change. The outside of the brake fluid container will help you to determine whether the level has gone down and there's a leak. 

Also, you should observe the color of the fluid. It should be golden brown, so if it appears to be dark brown, your brake fluid needs to be replaced promptly. Faulty brake fluid will result in inefficient braking ability, which causes a dangerous situation for you and your passengers.

Engine Coolant 

Your car's engine generates a lot of heat when it runs, so your engine coolant makes sure that it doesn't overheat. The last thing you want to see when you're on the road is smoke billowing from under the hood, which generally results from drivers failing to check the level of engine coolant in the vehicle. 

Coolant doesn't need to be replaced often, usually every two to three years. But you want to check the level at least twice each year. Season changes are a good way to remember to check your fluid, doing it once before summer and once before winter. 

To check your vehicle's coolant level, just lift the hood and remove the cap on the engine coolant container. Looking inside the container, you should be able to see a line that indicates the optimal level. If it's low, fill it up to the suggested level, but be sure that you add the same type of coolant that's already for consistency.

Also, make sure that your vehicle is cool before checking the coolant level to avoid injuring yourself. 

Power Steering Fluid 

Power steering fluid creates less resistance in your steering so it's easy to turn your vehicle. Without this fluid, you'll notice that your vehicle is exceptionally hard to turn, as the steering wheel will feel like it's locked in place. You may also hear strange noises coming from your steering wheel when you try to turn it. 

Your power steering fluid should remain filled because a power steering failure will result in a dangerous scenario where a driver will have trouble turning their car. Although your power steering fluid will run low over time, you should be concerned if, when you perform your monthly check, your power steering fluid is almost empty. If you run in to this issue, it's usually the result of a leak that a mechanic will need to address. 

Otherwise, you should just top off this fluid level if you notice that it's a little low. And unless there's a leak, you don't need to replace the power steering fluid. But by topping it off every month, it will operate efficiently and help you to control your car as it needs to be. 

Summary 

Monitoring your fluid levels is a great way to ensure that your vehicle runs well and avoids costly damage. So whether you're checking your engine coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid, oil, or transmission fluid, noting the levels will benefit you in several ways, including the following: 

• Determining which fluids need to be replaced so you can drive confidently 

• Staying up-to-date and aware of any potential leaks 

• Doing your part to prevent any costly maintenance repairs 

With this knowledge, you can pop open your hood, check the status of your fluid levels, and make sure that your car has the right amounts to stay healthy.