Auto Repair: The Importance of Fluid Checks

If the engine and transmission are the heart and brain of your vehicle, then your fluids might be considered the blood. And without that blood, your car isn't going to last long. Precision machinery requires these fluids to avoid excessive friction and wear. When the heat builds up from that friction, the parts are going to fail in no time at all. You don't want to let that happen. To avoid expensive auto repair, you should check your fluid levels on a regular basis. How to do this will differ from car to car, but here are some basic guidelines that should translate to most vehicles.

The Oil

The engine oil is probably the most important fluid in your car. Don't take a chance on driving your car when the reservoir is low or empty and don't depend on your dashboard light to tell you there is a problem. By the time that light comes on, you may already have done some damage. The dipstick should be found near the front of the engine and marked appropriately with the word "oil". The engine should be off and cold when you check this level. There will be marks indicating the maximum and minimum levels, so aim to get it somewhere between those lines. Don't overfill, as this can cause problems as well.

Transmission Fluid

You don't need to check your transmission fluid nearly as often as you should check your oil, but there's nothing wrong with giving it a look now and then. For automatic transmissions, the dipstick should be found near the back of the compartment. The owner's manual should have a guide to checking the level. This should be checked on a warm car with the engine running. For manual transmissions, the process is a lot more involved, requiring you get underneath the vehicle. Unless you are an amateur mechanic, you might want to take it into the auto repair shop once a year or so for this check.

Engine Coolant

It's very important that you do not open the radiator cap when the engine has been running. The engine should be completely cold before you touch the cap. Taking it off on a hot car can result in splashback, which could result in very serious burns. To check the level of your coolant, of course, you shouldn't even need to open up the radiator. You should see a clear reservoir in your engine compartment with two fill lines. Once again, keep coolant between these levels. If you need to add more, you may be able to do so directly into the reservoir, which means you can leave the radiator alone. Pay attention to this, as an overheated engine could result in some expensive auto repair.