Checking Fluids

Keeping your vehicle in tip-top shape requires constant
monitoring of vital fluids. Read you owners manual and look for
a diagram of the engine. Most times there will be a diagram
showing where to check all the major fluids. This should be your
starting point. If your manual is lost in the glove box or you
never had one, then ask your mechanic or a friend who knows cars
to show you all the places to check. There are 4 major levels to
check on most cars. ·Engine oil - Usually towards the front of
the engine and marked "OIL" Always check your oil level with the
engine OFF. Remove the dipstick and wipe the oil off with the
rag or towel then put the dipstick back into the hole. Now pull
out and get a reading. You might have to hold the dipstick to
the light to get a good reading as fresh oil can sometimes be
hard to see. On the dipstick there will be two marks indicating
a maximum and minimum level for the oil. Make it a habit of
checking your oil every two weeks. ·Transmission fluid - If you
have an automatic transmission then you will have a dipstick to
check the fluid level. It is most commonly found towards the
back of the engine compartment or towards the passenger side.
You should find out how to check the fluid by looking at the
owner’s manual or on the dipstick itself. Most cars have to be
running with the transmission in park or neutral. Also the
transmission should be warmed up to give a true reading. Make
sure the car has been driven for a short distance to make sure
everything is up to operating temperature. Checking the level is
just like checking your oil, wipe off dipstick, replace, pull
out again and check level. If you have a manual transmission
there is no dipstick and to check the fluid level you must crawl
under the car and remove a fill plug. I would have your mechanic
check this for you once a year if you do not feel comfortable
doing this. ·Engine coolant - -- CAUTION -- Never open your
radiator cap when the engine is hot ! The pressure in the system
can send hot coolant splashing out on to you. Most cars have an
overflow bottle, which will have level markings. Keep the
coolant between these markings. If you have to open the
radiator, make sure the engine is cold. ·Power steering fluid -
Your car uses oil to assist in steering the car. The fluid is
usually checked at the pump, but can be away from the pump in a
separate reservoir. Like the transmission, this fluid should
also be checked when up to operating temperature. Most commonly
the level is measured by a small dipstick attached to the cap of
the reservoir. ·Brake fluid - On most newer cars you can check
brake fluid level without removing the cap on the master
cylinder. There will be level markings on the side of the
plastic reservoir. If you have to remove the cover to check the
fluid level, be careful not to spill any fluid on the
surrounding paint. Brake fluid makes a nice paint remover :-)
·Windshield washer fluid - That's the magic blue liquid that
squirts out of your hood. Most reservoirs have the level marked
on the side but some newer cars have them buried underneath
everything so you can not see. Just fill to the top, there is no
harm in overfilling. If you need to add any fluids to bring the
levels up, a funnel is helpful to avoid spills. Keep track of
how often you add oil, and transmission fluid. Frequent
additions can point to leaks and engine wear.