Checking These Five Essential Car Fluids are Vital for Your Smooth Ride

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Ensuring that your car is in great working order is always the best way to avoid any malfunctions in the future, as well as helping to avoid the costs of expensive repairs when parts are not well maintained. Whilst your tyres, engine and exhaust often require the most amount of maintenance over time, it is your vehicles fluids which truly keep the wheels rolling.

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To keep your car running smoothly and to minimise the risk of damaging parts of the engine, and to avoid expensive replacements you will need to check the levels and quality of the fluids in your vehicle. Usually there are a large amount of parts of your car that require different types of fluids, such as water, oil, lubricant etc, but there are 5 important fluids that you should check on a regular basis to keep you running smoothly.

Engine Oil: Keeps Vehicle's Heart Beating

One of the most important and basic tasks of maintaining your vehicle is to check its oil levels under the bonnet. Most vehicles will have a dip stick that will show you the level of oil and tell you if it needs replacing or topping up. Simply remove the dip stick from its holder and wipe it with a cloth, repeat that method to ensure you are getting a reliable reading and read the measurement on the stick itself.

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Most dip sticks will have markings on it relating to whether you need to top up the oil, or if it is in a safe zone according to the markings. You should check this oil level at least once a month – more if you have an older vehicle. If you notice that you are going through lots of oil, then call your local mechanic as there may be a hidden issue.

Coolant: That Keeps Your Car Chilled

Clearly an important fluid in hot temperatures, the coolant helps keep your car from running too hot by keeping it cool within the radiator. Keeping your radiator topped up with coolant is the best way to stay out of trouble, and allows your long journeys to run smoothly from A to B without having to stop every ten minutes to let your engine cool down.

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Coolant also stops your engine parts from freezing in the winter when the temperatures drop, and allows your vehicle to brush off the cold weather that could seize up many older vehicles. Keep your coolant topped up and change it before the summer months each year and then again before the colder months set in to keep in tip top shape.

Transmission Fluids: Shifts the Gear as Smooth as Butter

Transmission fluids play an important role in keeping your vehicle’s gears running and changing smoothly. It is literally the fluid that oils the cogs of your car. Your transmission fluid shouldn’t really run low because the idea of the transmission fluid is to keep the gears lubricated at all times.

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If you notice anything out of the ordinary in the fluid you should take your vehicle to the garage, as transmission fluid is rated for its quality and degradation over time, and not by how much is in the vehicle itself. Your vehicle’s engine needs to be running while you check this fluid, so if you have any doubts, call your local garage to point you in the right direction.

Brake Fluid: Makes Your Brake Loyal

A vehicle without brakes is about as dangerous as it gets in terms of road safety, so to ensure your brakes never fail on you, keeping a check on your brake fluid and performing regular maintenance will keep you on the road safe, and safely for other motorists. Being part of a closed system, you shouldn’t run low of brake fluid, so if you do, seek advice.

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Checking the cleanliness of your brake fluid is the best way to ensure that your brakes are working perfectly every time. Checking your brake discs and your brake fluid together is a great way to cut down maintenance times for a regular monthly pit stop. Check the levels on the side of your brake fluid meter to ensure it is a nice golden colour, and not brown or black - If the colour changes, change your brake fluid.

Power Steering Fluid: Guarantees Steady Control

Another fluid to regularly check to keep you safe on the roads is your power steering fluid. You should check this fluid at least once a month, but if you notice creaking or juddering coming from your steering wheel, check your power steering fluids immediately. Check the reservoir under the bonnet to ensure that the levels are good, and that the fluid hasn’t turned bad, and check for leaks if you are having any issues.

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Keeping your car in tip top condition will help you stay safe on the roads and allow you to drive more confidently, knowing your vehicle is in good working order. Regular check-ups for your vehicle is all it takes to maintain your car, and with the costs of repairs and replacement parts are expensive compared to checking fluids regularly. It is always best to stay on the safe side, instead of ending up with costly repairs.

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- Monday, October 26, 2015