Five Fluids You Should Check to Keep Your Car Running Smooth

[Lotr]

Found the following info. Guess it is more meant for temperate countries rather than the tropics but still quite a good reference/guide ...

 

Engine Oil

In most cars, you just need to pop up your hood, find the oil dipstick, pull it out, and wipe it down. Repeat that again and you'll have your oil level. If it's in the safe level, continue on your merry way. If it's not, you need to add more. Depending on the age of the car, you may or may not need to add oil pretty often. If your car burns through a lot of oil, it's worth going to a mechanic.

How often to check it: It was once recommended that you check your oil every time you fill up with gas, but with most modern cars you're safe checking it once a month.
How often to replace it: This depends on the car, manufacturer, and year. The "3,000 miles or every six months" saying doesn't really apply any more. Instead, check your owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommendations for changing your engine oil.

 

Transmission Fluid

Your transmission fluid is what keeps the gears on your car moving smoothly. You can check your transmission fluid the same way as your engine oil, except the car should be running when you do it. Unlike your engine oil, transmission fluid is part of a closed system, so it should never be low. If it is, take it into a mechanic. Instead of volume, you're looking at the quality of the fluid. The fluid should be red and not smell burned. If the fluid is brown or smells burnt, it's time to replace it.

How often to check it: Monthly.
How often to replace it: This varies from car to car and depends on transmission type, but it's typically between every 50,000-100,000 miles

 

Coolant

As the name implies, coolant, aka antifreeze, keeps your car running cool. If you ever run low on coolant, your car's probably going to overheat. The coolant is inside you radiator and you can typically check it by simply removing the radiator cap when the car is cool (never check it when it's hot or your car is running) and looking inside. Once you remove the cap you should see a line the coolant should come up to. If it's low, you can add more, but make sure you add the same type of coolant currently in the car.

How often to check it: At least twice yearly: once before summer and again before winter But it's easy enough to glance at whenever you pop open your hood.
How often to replace it: Every 2-3 years.

 

Brake Fluid

Just like your transmission, your brake fluid is part of a closed system so you shouldn't ever be low on it. That said, it's still worth checking to make sure it's clean. Brake fluid keeps your brakes working properly, so if they ever feel a little off, checking your brake fluid is usually the first step. You can do this by checking the brake fluid reservoir on the driver side of your car. You can usually check the level just by looking at the outside of the container. The fluid should be a golden color. If it's brown, it's time to replace it.

How often to check it: When you change your oil.
How often to replace it: Every 2 years

 

Power Steering Fluid

Your power steering fluid helps keeps your steering smooth and easy. When the power steering fluid starts to get low, you might feel a "creaking" in the steering wheel or hear some weird sounds. To check it, all you need to do is pop the hood and find the reservoir. Usually you can check it visually by looking at the reservoir. Power steering fluid doesn't usually drop too much, so if it's low, it's worth taking your car into a mechanic or looking for a leak.

How often to check it: Once a month.
How often to replace it: Between 50,000 miles and never. Typically speaking, most car manuals recommend keeping the power steering fluid levels topped off, but you'll rarely need to flush and replace it. Double check your owner's manual to make sure you can ignore yours

[ER-3682]

Some modern cars no more transmission fluid dipstick & many cars are using electric power steering.

[Shibadog]

  On 5/22/2014 at 1:03 PM, ER-3682 said:

Some modern cars no more transmission fluid dipstick & many cars are using electric power steering.

 

 

sad but true.

[Vhtfhwlego]

I got 6 fluids to check

 

Engine oil

Gearbox oil

Selespeed oil

Brake fluid

Steering fluid

Coolant.

[Watwheels]

Electric power assisted steering supposedly help give lower fuel economy as it doesn't draw power from the engine directly like those steering hydraulic pump systems. It gets its power from the alternator to power the eletric motor.

 

The steering feel is numb and disconnected I agree. New cars nowadays all adopt the EPAS.

 

As for the trans fluid dipstick I can't find them in modern cars. Maybe they want to totally seal the gearbox from moisture, dust, heat and air.

[Fuelsaver]

  On 5/22/2014 at 2:03 PM, Vhtfhwlego said:

I got 6 fluids to check

 

Engine oil

Gearbox oil

Selespeed oil

Brake fluid

Steering fluid

Coolant.

didnt know gb n ss oil different..

[Shibadog]

my car is very old school... got 3 dipsticks.. engine oil, ATF, front differential oil... heng no dipstick for the rear differential lol

[Vhtfhwlego]

  On 5/22/2014 at 2:10 PM, Fuelsaver said:

didnt know gb n ss oil different..

I also don't know until my car marks her territory.

[Fuelsaver]

  On 5/22/2014 at 2:12 PM, Vhtfhwlego said:

I also don't know until my car marks her territory.

lol ur car like cat n dog Edited May 22, 2014 by Fuelsaver

[Watwheels]

  On 5/22/2014 at 2:10 PM, JohnSHL said:

my car is very old school... got 3 dipsticks.. engine oil, ATF, front differential oil... heng no dipstick for the rear differential lol

 

Huh? I thought 4WD system is center differential. Got front diff meh?

 

 

Actually from past experience my steering fluid(supposedly red) and brake fluid(supposedly clear) all turn black. Steering wheel started to give out clicking sound when turning it. All of which never changed for 4 years. I ask AD they told me no need to change. So full of sh!t. So I went to a workshop and had them flushed and replaced. Steering no more clicking. Braking can't feel much diff.

 

I think once these fluids turn black it's time to change. EO and GB oil are changed according to AD schdule but not steering and brakes until much much later like 100K km mileage. Actually 2-3 years should replace liao.

Edited May 22, 2014 by Watwheels

[Shibadog]

  On 5/22/2014 at 2:19 PM, Watwheels said:

 

Huh? I thought 4WD system is center differential. Got front diff meh?

 

 

actually I am given to believe there are 3 diffs for the 4WD system - front diff n rear diff for left-right wheels on each of the two axles. Center diff for front-rear axles. If I am not mistaken, the center diff for my make is built into the auto gearbox. I won't pretend to understand how it all works lol

[Watwheels]

  On 5/22/2014 at 2:26 PM, JohnSHL said:

 

 

actually I am given to believe there are 3 diffs for the 4WD system - front diff n rear diff for left-right wheels on each of the two axles. Center diff for front-rear axles. If I am not mistaken, the center diff for my make is built into the auto gearbox. I won't pretend to understand how it all works lol

 

No lah . It doesn't work this way. The center diff gearbox is on its own. You can't integrate it into another gb. What it does is lock the front and rear axle to move all 4 wheel at the same time distributing the torque. There's a connecting shaft that connects the front & rear axle. Once disengage it will go back to FWD or RWD depending on how the car is designed. It has 2 sets of gear ratios, one high represented by "H", one low represented by "L".

Edited May 22, 2014 by Watwheels

[Vhtfhwlego]

  On 5/22/2014 at 2:13 PM, Fuelsaver said:

lol ur car like cat n dog

Hee hee

[N3m0]

Hklow to know the fluids to use if u dont habe the manual. I just bought a used car. And theres no manual.

[Turboguy]

  On 3/6/2018 at 12:06 PM, N3m0 said:

Hklow to know the fluids to use if u dont habe the manual. I just bought a used car. And theres no manual.

 

 

GOOGLE is your best friend

[N3m0]

  On 3/6/2018 at 12:47 PM, Turboguy said:

GOOGLE is your best friend

Google is one thing. But they always say to use the same fluids as the car is currently using

[DACH]

  On 3/6/2018 at 12:59 PM, N3m0 said:

Google is one thing. But they always say to use the same fluids as the car is currently using

Is it a very old model?

 

Maybe you should consult your workshop. 

[N3m0]

Hi.can i ask what fluid can we change ourselves and what fluid we must go workshop to change.