Tips for Checking Car Fluid Levels Yourself

Every car and truck owner in the United States wants to keep their car working at peak performance. Of course, most of us don’t possess the extensive knowledge of auto technicians. As a result, the complex pumping, pulsing, revving parts of an engine don’t make a whole lot of sense.

If you’re a do-it-yourself car or truck owner who would like to do some maintenance for yourself, but don’t possess the knowledge, there is one simple chore you can do: check your fluid levels.

Want to know how to check your car fluid levels in Athens County, OH? Read on!

You will need some tools

Before you get started, you’ll need a few things to make the process go smoothly:

• A roll of paper towels
• Several funnels
• A pair of gloves

Once you can read the levels of your engine fluids, you can also replace them. Just use caution—and different funnels. If you only have one funnel, make sure to rinse it thoroughly in between uses. You do not want to mix and match vehicle fluids. It’s a very bad idea.

If you find that you’re having to refill your fluids frequently, it could be an indicator of a more significant problem in your vehicle.

Oil

Most modern engines stay lubricated with help from engine oil. That’s why the oil is far and away the most important of the car fluid levels in Athens County, OH. Fortunately, checking it is easy.

First, make sure the car’s engine has been turned off for at least 10 minutes. That said, it’s best to make sure that your car’s engine is as cool as possible. Once your engine is ready, pull out the dipstick located in the front-center of your engine block. Then, wipe it clean with a paper towel before reinserting the dipstick. When you remove the dipstick once again, your accurate oil reading will display.

It should always be at a safe level—otherwise, you should take action to refill it.

Checking the usual suspects

In addition to the engine oil, most cars have five other fluids that are important to the proper function of your vehicle: coolant, power steering fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid and windshield washer fluid. Unfortunately, most of the locations for these fluids vary from model to model. Fortunately for car owners, the owner’s manual should be able to pinpoint the locations of these fluid reservoirs. From there, identifying and refilling them should be a breeze.

Get help from Dana’s Tire Center

Not sure about your car fluid levels in Athens County, OH? Dana’s Tire Center can help. Don’t be confused by our name—the highly-skilled pros at Dana’s Tire Center can help with nearly any problem that plagues your vehicle. Even better, we take pride in offering service that’s as courteous as it is knowledgeable.

For over 35 years, Dana’s Tire Center has taken immense pride in helping our friends and clients breathe new life into their vehicles. We know how much your car or truck means to you. That’s why it’s our honor to help you keep it on the road. Give us a call to schedule an appointment today. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Categorised in: Fluid Levels

This post was written by Writer