Checking and Changing Your Car's Fluids

A car is an intricately-designed machine with many components.  Checking and replacing your car’s fluids at the recommended intervals is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that your vehicle lasts for years to come. Here are some tips from Sheehy Nissan Mechanicsville for checking to make sure your fluids are in good shape.

The following fluids all play important roles in your vehicle:

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

Starting Out: Checking Your Oil

Your oil is the first fluid which will be checked during your vehicle’s lifetime, with more recent vehicles coming in around 5,000-7,500 miles. After that, a general rule of thumb is to have your oil changed approximately every 5,000 miles, with synthetic oil lasting much longer.

However, it’s easy to check your oil on your own. To avoid any costly repairs and catch problems early, we recommend checking oil levels at least once a month. Use your vehicle’s dipstick to determine your oil level—it should be between the two level markers on your dipstick. The oil should also be light golden brown and be slightly thicker than cooking oil. If you notice any irregularities, bring your vehicle in regardless of your last oil change.

Your windshield wiper fluid will also be refilled as needed starting at your first service. This fluid is what is used to clean your windshield, and will need to be changed accordingly based on the frequency of use.

Continuing Maintenance: Replace as Needed  

After your car’s first service, we’ll check all of your fluid levels regularly and refill as necessary. Your brake fluid and power steering fluid will be checked at each oil change, but do not appear in the regular maintenance schedule. However, both play important roles: brake fluid serves to generate the pressure needed to activate your brakes, and power steering fluid creates pressure to power your vehicle’s steering gear.

Engine coolant will need to be replaced at various times depending on the severity of your vehicle usage. The coolant serves to absorb the heat from your engine and disperse it through the radiator. Some experts recommend flushing and replacing your coolant every two years or 24,000 miles.

The Road Ahead: Changing the Transmission Fluid

Transmission fluid can last tens of thousands of miles, but we recommend being cautious. Even then, your first flushing will likely not occur until 35,000-40,000 miles. This process is much cheaper than getting your transmission itself repaired, which can occur if fluids are not adequately maintained.

The transmission fluid is used as a medium to create pressure for the transmission system, helps to absorb heat, lubricates moving parts, and keeps dirt and debris from building up in transmission. If you find yourself frequently towing, driving off-road, or idling your vehicle for long periods, you may need to get the fluid replaced sooner. Ask one of our service technicians for details.

The Sheehy Nissan Mechanicsville service department is your one-stop-shop for fluid service and replacement. Schedule your service online today.