What Fluids Are Needed To Maintain Your Vehicle?
When discussing good routine and preventive auto maintenance, we often talk about tires and breaks, but fluid maintenance is also crucial.
What Fluids Does Fluid Maintenance Cover?
Your automobile uses several fluids to function properly. At Gurr Auto, we can help drivers in the St. Thomas area of Ontario change, top-up, or flush these vital automotive fluids. The five fluids that require the most maintenance are; motor oil, transmission fluid, hydraulic brake fluid, hydraulic power steering fluid, and windshield washer fluid.
Motor Oil
Motor oil, also known as engine oil, cools and lubricates engines. Oil is absolutely crucial to the performance of an internal combustion engine. Motor oil is also the fluid that typically needs to be changed most often.
Motor oil gathers particulate matter from within the engine as it cleans it. The longer you leave motor oil in your engine, the more it becomes weighed down by all that particulate matter. Eventually, it can turn into a sludge that can actively damage your engine.
Your vehicle owner’s manual should recommend how frequently to change your oil. The usual recommended interval is approximately every 5,000 km, or every three months, whichever comes first. Synthetic oil, an increasingly popular option, usually needs to be changed less frequently. At Gurr Auto, we can offer you a more personalized estimate based on your vehicle and your driving habits and the type of oil bed for your car.
Transmission Fluid
Automatic transmission fluid, or ATF, performs a similar role to motor oil, just for the transmission instead of the engine. ATF cleans and lubricates the transmission. Automatic transmissions use ATF, but so do some manual transmissions. Manual transmissions might also use transmission oil or simply regular motor oil. You should check your transmission fluid monthly and if it looks opaque or smells foul, it should be changed. You should change your ATF every 45,000–90,000 kms.
Brake Fluid
Your brake fluid levels are important to the safety of your vehicle. Brake fluid is a chemical solution used in hydraulic braking systems to amplify your foot’s force on the brake pedal. Brake fluid enables you stop your large and fast-moving vehicle with the simple tap of your foot. If you’ve been having problems braking, your brake fluid might require a change. The most common interval for brake fluid exchanges is four to five years.
Power Steering Fluid
Power hydraulic steering fluid works similarly to brake fluid, except instead of making it easier to stop a large, fast-moving vehicle, it makes it easier to move the steering wheel in your, fast moving vehicle. You power steering system, including the fluid levels usually needs to be changed about every 50,000km.
Windshield Washer Fluid
Windshield wiper fluid is key to helping you clean your windshield. It helps your wipers wipe away dirt, dust, bugs, stains, snow, and ice. You should replace this fluid as soon as you run out. Be sure to check for the type as there are ones specifically meant for the frigid Canadian winter season.
Contact Gurr Auto For Fluid Maintenance In St. Thomas, ON.
There’s no need to keep searching for fluid maintenance near you if you’re in or near St. Thomas, ON. Gurr Auto can top up or exchange all the fluids mentioned in this article to keep your engine running well.
If you would like to book an appointment for fluid maintenance, or any other type of auto repair or maintenance, please click here. To learn more about the many different services we provide, please contact us via our website or call us at 519-637-9861.
