How to Check the Fluid Level of the Car

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Your car is a great investment. Checking the fluid level regularly helps prevent breakdowns, mechanical problems and accidents. Learn to check the fluid level in your car yourself and do it often. When you understand how to do it, it will take you a short time.

Steps

Step 1. Your vehicle's manual tells you when to check the fluids, but this is the minimum so as not to lose your warranty

Mark your calendar, or check back very often.

Step 2. Park the car on a flat, even surface and set the handbrake

Step 3. Open the hood

Step 4. Check the engine oil

You should check the oil after the machine has had time to cool for about an hour, so that the oil in the return lines and cylinders has returned to the reservoir. Find the oil dipstick (use the car's manual). Snap the mechanism that locks the shaft and use a tissue or rag to clean it for a more accurate measurement. Insert the rod into the tank as far as it will go. Remove it, reading the oil level measurement. When you are done, put the rod back in place.

• The dipstick has markings that indicate the range of an acceptable oil level (often with a notch, dimple, or written mark). Compare the level you measured with the car's manual. If the oil level is too low, you will need to add appropriate engine oil before driving the car. If your car is new, take it to the dealer or a repair center of that brand; ask to show you how to add oil, and buy a pack. If your car is older, take it to a mechanic; will be able to advise you on how to add oil and what type of oil to buy. Since some engines consume more oil than others, top-up oil can become a common practice.

  

• Check the color of your oil. Clean oil is light and golden. Dirty oil is black or brown. If your oil is dark, check when was the last time you had the oil changed. A dark oil will still do its job, so stick to deadlines rather than color.
• You should change the oil according to mileage and time. Consult the vehicle manual for the appropriate intervals. Even if you won't be driving the reported mileage, try to change the oil every six months. Even if your machine stands still, the oil can get damaged and become less effective. Change the oil more often than the instructions in the manual if you use the car a lot.
• Repeated and significant oil leakage can indicate a faulty gasket or that your car is consuming oil. Look out for any signs of oil leakage where you park your car. Also look for signs of oil leaks on the outside of the engine, and if you notice anything unusual, take the car to the mechanic.
• If the oil appears milky or frothy, it may be contaminated with coolant, and you should take the car to a mechanic. This condition indicates a malfunctioning cylinder head gasket or other serious problem.

Step 5. Check the transmission fluid (if you have an automatic transmission, read the Tips if you have a manual transmission)

You will need to do this with the engine running and warmed up, with the transmission in neutral or park, depending on the make and model. Again, there will be a bar. Use the same procedure you used for the oil, inserting the dipstick all the way into the tank after cleaning it. Check that the level is between the two indicators.

• This transmission fluid is reddish because it is relatively fresh. You won't have to change the transmission fluid as often as the oil, but don't forget to do so. You can wait even 150,000 km if you have a new car; consult the manual to be sure. If the liquid is brown, black, or burnt, or the appearance of it doesn't suggest it was recently spilled, you should consider replacing it. The transmission fluid is used to lubricate the transmission, the gear system of your car.

  

Step 6. Check the brake fluid

Consult your manual to locate its location, or look for a plastic reservoir like the one in the picture with brake fluid or brake fluid listed. If your reservoir is like the one in the picture, you can measure the liquid level directly through the plastic. Clean the outside if necessary. It may also be helpful to gently rock the car on the suspension, so that the liquid moves slightly. If you still can't measure it, take off the lid and look inside.

Cars shouldn't consume brake fluid. A low brake fluid level can indicate a leak in the brake cable or worn brake surfaces. If your level is low, have your car checked by a mechanic. A car with a low brake fluid level or a leak in the brake system may not brake

Step 7. Check the power steering fluid

This will also generally be contained in a plastic tank. Measure the level from the outside, as you did for the brake fluid, by opening the lid and pouring more fluid for the power steering. There may be two lines, one with a warm engine, the other with a cold engine. Measure according to the appropriate line.

Step 8. Check the coolant

Make sure the engine has cooled down, otherwise boiling water may splash out when you open the tank! The coolant will likely be in a reservoir in the front of the car, near the radiator.

• Cars are designed to operate with antifreeze as a coolant, not water. Antifreeze is a liquid that has a lower freezing point than water and a higher boiling point. If you need to top up the coolant, get a bottle of the appropriate liquid.
• Read the label on the antifreeze. Some formulas need to be mixed with water in a 1: 1 solution; others can be paid undiluted.

Step 9. Check the windshield washer fluid

• Windshield washer fluid will not affect your car's performance, but driving without having the ability to use it can be dangerous in poor visibility.
• Windshield washer fluid is a formula designed to clean bugs and other dirt from road use, and it's economical. Get the appropriate liquid if you can, even if in a rush, you can use water.
• It is not a problem to have a low level of windshield fluid. You will use it normally during your travels. Remember to fill it in before it runs out.
• If you live in an area where temperatures drop a lot, be sure to use a windshield fluid that doesn't freeze in cold temperatures.

Step 10. Check the tire pressure

It is not one of the fluids under the hood, but it is an essential value for the efficiency and safety of your car. You should check the gums even more often than the fluid levels. When you check your tires, also check for tread wear.

Advice

• Take advantage of this opportunity to check and update your vehicle maintenance log. When was the last time you changed the oil or took the car for an overhaul. When is the next scheduled maintenance scheduled? Have you been spinning your tires lately?
• If you find that one of the fluids is at a low level, check it often, and verify that your vehicle does not have a leak. If you discover one, take the car to a mechanic.
• Manual transmissions also have a lubricant that needs to be checked, and can be done from under the car.
• Cars with manual transmission may have a clutch master cylinder reservoir, which can leak and must be refilled.
• If you have a rear-wheel drive car, you should check the differential.
• It is a good idea to check the air filter often. Avoid cleaning the filter with a compressor, as this could damage it. You will recover the cost of repairs thanks to the savings in consumption.
• When the term "cold engine" is used, we mean an engine that has been turned off for a few hours. A "warm engine" means an engine that has been driven recently.

Warnings

• Do not check liquids such as oil immediately after turning off the engine. Allow some time to pass to allow the oil in the circuits to return to the reservoir. You may otherwise get a lower measurement than the actual one.
• Never pour liquids from an automobile on the ground, down a drain or sink. Collect them in a bottle and ask your mechanic how to properly recycle them. Antifreeze attracts pets and is a deadly poison.
• Make sure you use the right type of fluid when topping up a car tank.
• Avoid staining the body with car fluids - you could damage it. If this happens, immediately clean the liquid thoroughly.
• The brake fluid must be completely clean and free from moisture. It is very important to clean all surfaces before opening the brake fluid reservoir. Even the slightest contamination could prevent the brakes from working properly. Also, don't use brake fluid that was opened a few months ago. A container that is not sealed will allow moisture to enter the brake fluid.