6 Essential Car Fluids and How to Check Them

Your vehicle has many complex components and systems that help it run smoothly on the Van Buren roads, and many of them rely on special fluids to function correctly. If you know how to check essential fluids in your car, you can ensure it lasts a long time and prevent minor issues from turning into critical problems. These are regarded as the 6 essential car fluids to check regularly:

• Engine oil
• Brake fluid
• Engine coolant
• Transmission fluid
• Power steering fluid
• Windshield wiper fluid

Learn more about how and when to check car fluids with Spitzer Buick GMC below! 

How to Check Essential Fluids in Your Car

Whether it’s windshield wiper fluid or brake fluid, regard every essential car fluid with equal importance for the safety and performance of your vehicle on the Arcadia roads. Read below to learn when to check car fluids and how to check essential fluids in your car:

Note: If you’ve just driven your vehicle, allow at least 30 minutes for the engine to cool down before popping the hood to check these essential car fluids, except transmission fluid, which should be checked warm.

Motor Oil

• What does motor oil do?: It regulates the engine temperature and lubricates the moving parts to prevent friction.
• When to change motor oil:Change your motor oil every 7,500 to 10,000 miles or every 6 months.
• How to check motor oil: Locate the oil dipstick — the handle is often yellow or orange — then pull it out of its housing. Check that the oil level lines up with the marking on the dipstick, and check the color and consistency of the oil.

Brake Fluid

• What does brake fluid do?: Takes the force of your foot on the brake pedal and converts it to pressure on the brakes.
• How often to replace brake fluid: Every 30,000 miles or 2 years. 
• How to check brake fluid: The brake fluid reservoir is transparent, so you can visually check the fluid level against the maximum fluid line.

Engine Coolant

• What does engine coolant do?: Prevents the engine from overheating. 
• When to replace engine coolant: Every 50,000 miles.
• How to check engine coolant: Like brake fluid, the engine coolant reservoir is slightly transparent. All you need to do is check that the fluid level reaches the maximum line on the reservoir.

Transmission Fluid

• What does transmission fluid do?: Lubricates the transmission’s moving parts to make gear shifts smoother.
• When to replace transmission fluid (automatic transmission): Every 30,000 to 60,000 miles.
• How to check transmission fluid (automatic transmission): Locate the transmission fluid dipstick, situated close to where the back of the engine meets the transmission. Pull the dipstick out to check the fluid level against the marker, and check that the color is a translucent dark red. If you can’t find a dipstick, you likely have a sealed transmission that needs to be checked at a service center near McComb.

Power Steering Fluid

• What does power steering fluid do?: Power steering fluid is the fluid that makes it easy to steer and turn your vehicle. 
• When to replace power steering fluid: As needed, when it becomes difficult to steer and turn or the power steering system is experiencing frequent problems.
• How to check power steering fluid: The fluid reservoir’s cap should have a “power steering fluid” label and/or a steering wheel symbol. Check that the fluid line is at the marked level.

Windshield Wiper Fluid

• What does windshield wiper fluid do?: Cleans your windshield when it’s too dirty to see out of.
• When to replace windshield wiper fluid: As needed, when there’s little or no fluid coming out of the windshield sprayers. 
• How to check windshield wiper fluid: The fluid reservoir’s cap has a windshield washer symbol on it. The reservoir is transparent, so you can see how much fluid is in it.

Learn More at Spitzer Buick GMC!

We’ve covered how and when to check car fluids to keep your vehicle in top condition, but you should feel free to contact us if you still have questions. If you’re looking for more essential car service tips, check out our guide on jump-starting your car. Our team is here to help you be a more confident car owner in Findlay!