Just as our bodies depend on fluids to stay healthy, your automobile requires several fluids to operate and to stay in good condition. You've probably heard that analogy before, and there is certainly truth to it. Without oil your engine couldn't operate. Without coolant it would quickly overheat and burn itself up. Brake, transmission and power-steering fluids are all liquids used in sophisticated hydraulic systems, without which your car would be essentially undrivable. Through age and usage, all of these fluids eventually break down, deteriorate, become contaminated or leak out. It's important to check them frequently (at every fuel fill-up, or about every 250 miles, is a good rule of thumb) and also to check their condition for signs that they need to be replaced. If you find evidence of a fluid leak on your garage floor or in your driveway, you'll want to determine the source immediately. Letting a leak go unattended, and allowing a vehicle to continue to run with an insufficient amount of an essential fluid, can easily ruin an engine. In order to determine the source of the leak, it's helpful if you are familiar with the "healthy" appearance of each type of fluid. Aside from helping you pinpoint leaks, having a good idea of how each fluid should look when it's fresh and clean will also help you recognize signs that they are breaking down or becoming contaminated and in need of a change. As a simple exercise, pour a small amount of each of the five main fluids onto a piece of white paper or cardboard to get a good look at each. They should have a slick consistency and a clear or slightly translucent appearance. Engine oil will be slightly brown or gold in color, while brake fluid is pinkish and antifreeze has the familiar yellow-green iridescence. Familiarizing yourself with the appearance of each of these samples will assist you in the event that you're trying to identify that spot on your garage floor. Engine oil: Without question, the most effective way to ensure long life for your vehicle's engine is to change the engine oil frequently. An engine's moving metal parts, such as the pistons and cylinders, move against one another at extremely high speeds and build up tremendous amounts of heat. Engine oil circulates through the engine, forming a protective lubricating barrier, so that internal parts aren't destroyed by heat and wear. Keeping the oil in good condition is critical, since it loses effectiveness as it ages. Over time oil breaks down and can accumulate particulate matter that will damage engine parts. Recommendations for frequency vary somewhat, but to err on the side of caution, change your oil about every 3,000 miles -- or 5,000 if your driving is predominantly on the highway. A couple of the most common places to look for engine-oil leaks are around the oil filter (figure A) and at the drain-plug at the bottom of the oil pan ( figure B). The latter can be particularly troublesome if the drain-plug gasket wasn't replaced during the last oil change. Antifreeze: An engine's coolant is made up of a mixture of water and antifreeze. The coolant circulates through the engine block and then into the radiator, where it dissipates much of the heat generated by the engine. The coolant also circulates through the heater core so that the heater can provide warmth to the passengers inside during the winter. The chemical makeup of the antifreeze prevents the coolant from freezing in very low temperatures, thereby causing expansion and damage to engine parts. When it is fresh, antifreeze is yellow-green in color and has a distinctive iridescent appearance. As it ages, it may take on a brown or rust appearance due to rust particles forming inside the cooling system. - Caution: Keep antifreeze stored in a secure place away from children and pets, and clean up any spills immediately. Antifreeze is poisonous, and it has a slightly sweet odor that may attract pets. Follow any precautionary measures listed on the outside of the antifreeze bottle or packaging.
Brake fluid: An automobile's braking ability results from a system of hydraulics for which the ultimate function is to dissipate horsepower. From the mechanical standpoint, brake pads put pressure against rotors or drums to slow the momentum of a moving vehicle. But the system wouldn't work without brake fluid. It is this hydraulic liquid that allows a small amount of pressure on a pedal to quickly bring a two-ton automobile moving at highway speeds to a full stop. The need for routine brake-fluid maintenance, and for keeping it at the proper level, is obvious. Brake fluid in good condition should have a clear or translucent appearance. - Important: Brake fluid will damage an automobile's painted finish. Be extremely careful to avoid spills onto your car's exterior.
Power-steering fluid: Not all cars have power steering, but for those that do it's another important system that utilizes hydraulics. The fluid, circulated through the steering system by means of a pump, allows the wheels of the automobile to be turned with the steering wheel using just a modest amount of effort on the part of the driver. Check the fluid level frequently according to the instructions in your owner's manual. If the fluid needs topping off more than every month or two, there is likely a leak. Do not overfill when topping off power-steering fluid. Transmission fluid: The transmission is what transfers the power generated by the engine to the axle and wheels, allowing the vehicle to move. Once again, this works by a system of hydraulics. Transmission fluid is a thin, specialized lubricant that fills the transmission system and allows the hydraulics to work smoothly and without generating excess heat. Since low levels of transmission fluid can lead to some of the same symptoms as a faulty transmission, it's important to be certain that this fluid stays topped off. New transmission fluid has a reddish or pink color (figure C).
RESOURCES :
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Trouble-Free Car Care
Author: Dan Ramsey
ISBN: 0028635833
Alpha Books
Auto Repair for Dummies
Author: Deanna Sclar
ISBN: 0764550896
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