6 Essential Car Fluids and How to Check Them

Internal combustion engines rely on gasoline, oil, and transmission fluid for parts to move properly. We’re more than happy to service your car, pickup truck, or SUV at our service center. Our team wants you to get the most out of your car and to help you keep your vehicle running smoothly on the Grand Island roads. 

Our technicians and service professionals are here to ensure your vehicle runs in top condition for as long as you own your vehicle. As such, we’re dedicated to making sure your vehicle has the proper fluid levels needed to maintain optimal performance. Your vehicle needs essential car fluids inspected and replaced at regular intervals, which makes your Hastings commute or on that family road trip in the summer easier.

Before you schedule a service appointment with us to have things like your brake fluid or windshield wiper fluid replaced, are you wondering when to check car fluids? Learn when and how to check your car fluids with our experts at Midway Auto Dealerships! 

How to Check Essential Fluids in Your Car

While there are many important fluids in your vehicle, here are the six most important ones you should keep an eye on regularly:

• Engine oil
• Brake fluid
• Engine coolant
• Transmission fluid
• Power steering fluid
• Windshield wiper fluid

We’ll go over how to check essential fluids in your car.

When to Check Car Fluids & How to Check Essential Fluids in Your Car

When you need to replace these six essential fluids depends on your make and model. We recommend referencing your owner’s manual or your driver information screen for more details on when to check your car’s fluids. Your manual will also teach you how to check essential fluids in your car. To better prepare for regular maintenance on your vehicle, feel free to explore our comprehensive guide on how to check essential fluids in your car and when to check them. 

Engine Oil

Engine oil changes are arguably one of the most important maintenance items for your vehicle. Motor oil lubricates the pistons in your car that turns the transmission (which, in turn, provides power for the wheels to turn) to move your vehicle forward. 

Having robust motor oil ensures your engine doesn’t let you down on your Holdrege travels. In many modern vehicles, engine oil should be replaced around every 7,500 to 10,000 miles, depending on your driving habits and driving conditions. Older vehicles may still recommend oil changes every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

Oil gets thinner and dirty over time and becomes dark black in color instead of the amber-brown hue when it first goes into your vehicle. That’s normal. Even when you’re not driving very much, expect to change your oil about once every six months. To check the oil in your vehicle, you’ll find the dipstick underneath the hood. It lets you inspect your oil level, consistency, and color. Look at the markings on the dipstick that should say full, add, or similar verbiage. Modern vehicles may have an Oil Pressure Monitor System (OPMS) that will indicate to you if there is a problem with the engine oil.

Brake Fluid

Brakes are an essential safety feature in your vehicle. You need plenty of braking power when you’re driving around Kearney. Brake fluid is responsible for many moving parts in your braking system. It can collect debris and get thinner over time. Brake fluid allows the calipers and brake pistons to operate efficiently to stop your car as you expect.

Plan on replacing the brake fluid every 30,000 miles or two years. Most vehicles have a clear brake fluid reservoir underneath the hood. The reservoir has an indicator that tells you the brake fluid level. You can even look at the brake fluid level without even having to remove the cap on the reservoir. If brake fluid needs to be changed completely, a factory-trained service technician can perform that service.

Engine Coolant

Your engine produces a great amount of heat as you’re driving. The cooling system in your engine typically utilizes engine coolant to help keep things at optimal operating temperature while preventing your engine from overheating. Coolant is made of a mixture of water and ethylene glycol, which has a boiling point much higher than water and a freezing point much lower than water.

The general rule of thumb is to replace engine coolant every 50,000 miles. You’ll want to check your coolant at regular intervals as it makes sure your engine temperatures stay at the optimal level. This type of vehicle maintenance is called a radiator flush and fill. 

Check your engine coolant by locating the coolant reservoir underneath the hood. Do not check your coolant if your engine is hot and has just been running because you could end up burning yourself. Sometimes, the coolant reservoir is labeled, so you can easily identify if you’re low on coolant without removing the reservoir cap. Look at your coolant level every month or so. If the level seems low, follow instructions on how to fill it up all the way. If you live in a hot climate, check your coolant level every week or if you’re about to go on a long trip.

Transmission Fluid

Your transmission provides power to the wheels. Transmission fluid is a type of hydraulic fluid and is vital for ensuring your transmission and the gears inside stay cooled and properly lubricated, so you don’t run into any issues such as friction or gears that stick. Dirty or broken down transmission fluid can often cause shift delays and even grinding noises. Transmissions are very expensive to replace, so you’ll want to change transmission fluid when recommended.

To avoid issues, consider replacing transmission fluid every 30,000 to 60,000 miles, depending on your exact model. Inspect your transmission fluid with a dipstick underneath the hood, much like checking your engine oil. Unlike engine oil, transmission fluid is often red. Note that some transmissions are sealed and can only be checked by a service technician with the proper tools. Old transmission fluid will be dark, dirty, and not very thick.

Power Steering Fluid

Your power steering system can be an overlooked component of your vehicle when it comes to fluid replacement. It provides steering assistance so that you’re not struggling to manually steer your vehicle. Power steering makes turning the steering wheel much easier. 

As with many other components, your power steering system normally utilizes a type of thick fluid to assist with smooth operation and to keep the moving parts from sticking. There technically isn’t a recommended service interval for power steering fluid. However, if your power steering system regularly needs to be serviced or replaced, it may be a good idea to inspect your power steering fluid. There might be something else amiss within your vehicle’s steering system.

Windshield Wiper Fluid

You might not need windshield wiper fluid for your vehicle to run properly. But windshield wiper fluid can help you safely see the road in front of you by giving an assist with clearing your windshield for better visibility. We recommend replacing the windshield wiper fluid as needed. 

For example, when you try to spray washer fluid on your windshield and nothing comes out, it likely means you need to add more to your washer fluid reservoir, found under the hood. There’s usually a reservoir with a windshield washer symbol, and you can inspect the fluid by peeking into the reservoir. We recommend checking it before and after winter because some types of wiper fluid can help keep your windshield free from the ice when driving along Lexington roads in winter! Windshield wiper fluid is normally blue, but it is sometimes pink.

Maintain Your Essential Car Fluids at Midway Auto Dealerships!

If you have any questions about auto maintenance, please don’t hesitate to contact us or call (888) 330-0761. You might even save some money with our service specials. Find out more about our service and maintenance tips before bringing your vehicle in for service.