6 Essential Car Fluids Everyone Must Know

Car fluids are significant in the smooth working of an automobile! Though their importance can’t be over-stressed, the drivers still look over them. It’s infrequent for them to observe these oils’ condition and remaining levels. If you want your vehicle to continue running at optimal conditions with efficient fuel economy, it is necessary to have a regular check on the car fluids. This will help you drive your beloved car for an extended period.

Some essential car fluids, apart from the fuel, that you need to check and monitor regularly are as follows.

Types of Car Fluids

Fluids in your car are of diverse kinds. They play different roles to ensure that your vehicle runs efficiently. Together, they let its complex machinery work in some coordination for optimal results. Car Fluids range from engine coolants to window washer fluid and from the transmission fluid to the brake fluid.

To evade all the chances of any kind of mishap or an unfortunate incident, you need to be regular in checking the working condition of these fluids.

Engine Oil

As its name specifies, it is a fluid that lubricates the internal parts of the engine and cools it down when it starts heating up. An engine comprises various parts, including pistons, valves, bearings, pumps, and chains. These moving parts need a liquid to lubricate them and reduce the tension that arises when they rub together.

Engine oil works best in this regard and lets the engine work efficiently for the longest possible period.

Transmission Fluid

The second most crucial car oil is that of the transmission fluid. It also works as a lubricant, but it greases the transmission’s internal parts, including bearings, pumps, seals, and gears.

Contrary to popular belief, your vehicle’s transmission fluid isn’t lifetime, and you need to replace or refill it.

Brake Fluid

Brake fluid is quite a vital lubricant that lets all the parts of your car’s brake work efficiently. It, furthermore, gives the braking system a hydraulic pressure that ensures its smooth working.

The working of the brake fluid is simple. When a driver exerts pressure on the brake pedal, the master cylinder’s plunger gets activated. This forces the brake fluid to come out from the reservoir, and the brake pads slow down the car.

Power Steering Fluid

The name of the power steering fluid pretty much explains why it is needed in your vehicle. This fluid ensures that your car stays in the running position for the longest possible time. Its presence lets you take twists and turns on your vehicle smoothly and swiftly.

In simple words, the power steering oil limits the amount of effort the driver has to put into turning the steering.

Engine Coolant

The engine coolant fluid is undoubtedly one of the most crucial ones and lets the car work smoothly no matter the weather. In the summer season, it lubricates the car’s water pump and then cools down the engine when the chances of over-heating are high. This way, it counters the internal combustion engine that produces excessive amounts of heat while working.

During the winter season, it performs the duty of providing enough heating fluid to the car’s climate-controlling system. This way, the vehicle doesn’t get too cold to move!

Hydraulic Clutch Fluid

It is more or less like the brake fluid, except it is present in the clutch master cylinder. While driving a car, you need to change gears frequently. For that matter, end up depressing the clutch time and again.

This fluid ensures the efficient working of the clutch. Once you press the pedal, this fluid moves from the clutch master and goes all the way to the slave cylinder. This creates a certain level of pressure, which helps you change the gears.

How to Check Car Fluids

Checking car fluids is simple and takes merely a few minutes. However, each one is examined differently, and you have to go through different steps for them all.

Checking Engine Oil

To check the engine oil level, you need to make sure that the engine is off and wait for some time for it to cool down. Now you need to open the bonnet and pull out the oil dipstick. Wiping it will let you know if the oil level.

If you can see that the engine fluid has gotten dirty or has low presence levels, you need to refill it as soon as possible!

How to Check Transmission Fluid

To check its levels or refill it, you need to find the transmission dipstick. You will spot it right in front of the engine. If not there, it would be located at the backside of the car’s rear wheel.

You simply need to pull out the dipstick. Wipe it off and put it back. Once you pull it out once more, you will be able to witness fluid levels.

It is undoubtedly time to replace it if it comes with a burnt smell!

Checking Brake Fluid

A lot of advanced cars have brake light signals on their dashboards. If the fluid goes low and a refill is needed, the sensor will turn on the light. Resultantly, you will be notified immediately.

However, if you don’t have that in your vehicle, you must manually check it. For that, open the brake reservoir and see the brake oil level. Also, observe the color of the fluid. If it appears dirty, it’s time to change the fluid.

How to Check Engine Coolant?

The process to check engine coolant levels is pretty easy! The coolant tank is located on the corner of the tank. It is translucent in color and comes with proper markings of minimum and maximum. This lets you see whether the fluid is enough for the car’s working or is low and needs to be refilled!

Before refilling it, you need to realize whether you need to mix water with the coolant or already integrated. Almost half the amount of water and coolant is mixed for refilling purposes as a regular activity.

Checking Hydraulic Clutch Fluid

Checking hydraulic clutch fluid is simple! The driver needs to push down the clutch pedals two to three times. The pedal should be smooth when pressed and spring up every time you remove the pressure. If you feel like the pressure is still there and you have to exert some extra force, the hydraulic clutch fluid is low in quantity. Hence, a refill is needed.

Summary

Automobiles need regular refills or replacement of the car fluids to keep running smoothly. Any negligence in this regard will either lead to heavy repair bills or, in the most unfortunate case, an accident. A possible leak or low lying level of some fluid are common causes of road accidents!