Auto Fluids

Fluids are the lifeblood of your car, and checking them regularly is one of the easiest and least expensive parts of routine maintenance that you can perform. Let's rundown the five basic fluids in your car and how to check each of them.

Before you begin, have a clean white paper towel handy to wipe off dipsticks, to help you examine fluids and to wipe up any spills. Make sure your car is parked on a level surface. It is generally recommended that your car be driven for a few miles so that it is warm when the fluids are checked. This will ensure that the fluids are at their normal temperature and density when you check them.

As always, before making any adjustments to your motor vehicle, even those as simple as adding fluids, consult your owner's manual. Check for specific fluid requirements or recommendations. The manual may also have illustrations or instructions to help you find a dipstick for a particular fluid if you are having difficulty.

OIL

Oil is the lubricant that keeps your engine's moving parts friction-free. Checking and changing your engine oil is probably the single most important thing you can do for your car. Oil should be a light golden brown (not black) and should have a consistency slightly thicker than cooking oils.

Locate the engine oil dipstick and remove it completely from the small tube attached to your engine. Frequently, this dipstick will have a large or brightly colored looped handle to aid you in locating it. Cars with an automatic transmission will have a second dipstick that is used to check the transmission fluid level. This dipstick is rarely as obvious as the engine oil dipstick.

After removing the dipstick, wipe it clean with your rag or paper towel. Notice the end of the dipstick opposite the handle. It will be marked in some manner to indicate the "full" and "low" levels of the oil. The markings may be notches, holes, lines, or letters.

Place the dipstick into the tube from which it was removed being sure to insert it completely. Remove it again and check the level on the dipstick. If the oil is low, add only enough oil to bring the level up to the full mark. Oil is added to the engine by removing the screw cap on the top of the engine. There is usually an illustration on the cap to help you find it, but again it should be fairly obvious. Add oil a little at a time, checking after each addition.

Check the oil a final time to insure that it is indeed full, then fully reinsert the dipstick.

TRANSMISSION FLUID

Transmission fluid lubricates the constant changing and your car's gears, allowing your car to ride and shift smoothly. Transmission fluid should be free from debris and have a pinkish color. It should not have a burnt smell.

On most vehicles, the transmission fluid is checked "hot," or while the car is running. Check your owner's manual to be sure. Begin by turning on your vehicle and let it run for a minute while you locate the transmission dipstick. After you have located the dipstick, remove it and wipe it clean with the towel.

Notice the markings and reinsert it fully. Remove the dipstick again, and check the level of the fluid. If the fluid is low, transmission fluid will need to be added. On most vehicles, transmission fluid is added directly to the tube from which you removed the dipstick. Use a narrow funnel and add only enough fluid to raise the level to full.

COOLANT

NEVER OPEN THE RADIATOR CAP IF IT IS HOT, YOU COULD BE SEVERLY BURNED BY THE SCALDING PRESSURIZED COOLANT! When checking your engine coolant, never remove the radiator cap if the car is running or is warm to the touch. Wait until the radiator has completely cooled before removng the cap.

Radiator coolant is water mixed with a chemical additive. The result is a fluid with a boiling point that is higher and a freezing point that is lower than just water alone. This compensates for the temperature extremes that your engine will experience. Radiator fluid should have a bright green color and have a thin water-like consistency.

Look under the hood and note if your vehicle has a coolant resevoir. The resevoir is usually located on either side of the radiator and is usually a clear or lightly colored plastic. If your auto does not have a resevoir, remove the radiator cap and check the coolant level in the radiator. (Again, and I wouldn't keep repeating it if it were not important, please do not check the coolant level if your car has not completely cooled down.) If the level is low, add a 50/50 mixture of water and antifreeze to the resevoir. If your auto does not have a resovoir, fill the radiator to approximately one inch below the neck.

BRAKE FLUID

The tiny pedal that operates the tiny brakes that stop your giant car get their power through hydraulics, or the power of fluids. Your car's master cylinder must pump brake fluid to the brakes if you want to stop.

On most newer cars, the brake fluid can be checked simply by looking at it's level through the master cylinder. Late model vehicles are often equipped with a master cylinder that is at least partially translucent. Older vehicles without translucent master cylinders must be opened to be checked.

It is normal for the level of brake fluid to gradually decrease as the brakes wear. It is not necessary to continually top off the fluid as long as the level remains above the minimum mark. If you do add brake fluid, first wipe the cylinder free of dust and debris, as you do not want any of that to find its way into the brake fluid.

POWER STEERING FLUID

Much like your brakes, hydrolics make maneuvering even a large car easy. If you've ever parallel parked a car without power steering and your arm muscles ached the next day, you understand the importance of keeping the power steering operational. Not all cars have this feature. If yours does not, take your bulging biceps back on to the end of the article.

Power steering can be checked on autos with this feature simply by removing the screw top lid from the fluid resevoir. In most vehicles, the dipstick is attached directly to the cap. The dipstick should be marked for checking levels either "hot" or "cold." If it is not, consult your owner's manual for the proper technique.

MYSTERY PUDDLE?

A puddle under your engine can be an indication of a problem or a harmless byproduct of normal operation. If you suspect your car is leaking something, place newspapers under the engine to catch any leaking fluid for examination. If you park your car outdoors, use bricks or other weights to keep the paper from blowing away.

If you are certain that your car is indeed leaking a fluid, you can often determine its source by its color:

1. Bright green or sometimes pastel blue or orange may indicate an overheated engine or an antifreeze leak caused by a bad hose, water pump, or leaking radiator.

2. Red spots indicate that you are losing either transmission or power steering fluid.

3. Dark brown or black spots let you know that the engine is leaking oil. This could be caused by something as simple as a bad seal or gasket.

4. A clear puddle of water is usually not a problem. Quite frequently it is the normal condensation from running your vehicle's airconditioner.

Keep one eye on your fluids and one eye under your engine to catch a small problem before it becomes a big one!