Mar 10, 2022

Fluids 101: 8 Essential Fluids That Make Your Car Run

There are a variety of fluids that keep your car running smoothly. Brownsville Toyota will discuss eight essential fluids that every vehicle should have. These fluids help cool and lubricate the engine and keep other car parts running correctly. It is necessary to check your fluid levels regularly and ensure there is enough of each one. So, without further ado, let’s get started!

1. Fuel 

The fuel helps to power the car. If you run out of fuel, the engine will stop functioning. Types of fuel include gasoline, diesel, and ethanol. Which fuel to use depends on the type of car. Gasoline engines can use gasoline or ethanol, while diesel engines require diesel only. Some people also mix gasoline and ethanol variants to stoke up their gasoline engines for better performance. Ethanol has better combustion efficiency than gasoline due to its higher octane rating.

2. Engine Oil 

The engine oil helps lubricate the engine’s moving parts. It is essential to have enough engine oil, as it can help to prevent wear and tear on the machine. If your car has low engine oil levels, it could lead to expensive repairs down the road. It’s best to change your vehicle’s engine oil every five to seven thousand miles depending on the grade of engine oil, the age, make and model of your car, and other factors.

3. Coolant 

The coolant helps prevent the engine from overheating. If your car doesn’t have enough coolant, it could overheat and cause severe damage to the engine. It’s critical to check the coolant level regularly and add more as needed. The coolant reservoir is located under the hood of your car, where you can fill it up as per requirement.

4. Brake Fluid 

The brake fluid helps transfer force from the pedal to the brake pads. It is essential to have enough brake fluid, as low levels can reduce braking power and prevent your car from stopping in time.

5. Power Steering Fluid 

The power steering fluid helps make it easier to turn the wheel. If your car doesn’t have enough power steering fluid, it could be challenging to steer and damage the power steering system.

6. Transmission Fluid 

It helps to lube the moving parts in the transmission. If your car doesn’t have enough transmission fluid, it could lead to problems with shifting gears.

7. Windshield Washer Fluid 

The windshield washer fluid helps to keep your windshield clean. It will be challenging to see through the windscreen if you run out of the windshield washer fluid. 

8. Car Battery Fluid 

The car battery fluid helps to keep the battery charged. If you don’t have enough car battery fluid, the battery will not hold a charge, and the car will not start.  

Ending Note

Now that you know about the eight essential fluids, it’s necessary to ensure your car always has enough of each one. You can do this by scheduling your car service at Brownsville Toyota, serving Brownsville, TX so that we can take a look under the hood. We’ll help you keep your car running like new with the right amount of fluids and regular maintenance. Thanks for reading!