When Is It Time to Replace My Fluid?

June 29, 2011 by

The fluids under your car’s hood require regular attention. If you don’t routinely check and replace these vital fluids, your car will be more prone to breakdowns, mechanical damage and even accidents.

While every fluid is vital to maintaining and protecting your car, below is a list of fluids that require regular maintenance. In addition to the tips below, check your owner’s manual for complete details on recommended scheduled maintenance times.

  • Motor Oil: The general rule of thumb for replacing motor oil is every 3,000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first. It is important to note, however, that this rule is not written in stone. Depending on the make and model of the vehicle, your car’s engine oil may only need to be replaced every 5,000 or 6,000 miles. Check the owner’s manual for specific details.
  • Transmission: Transmission fluid typically should be replaced every 20,000-30,000 miles for manual transmissions or 50,000-100,000 miles for automatic transmissions. In addition to following the scheduled maintenance times, it is important to regularly check your transmission fluid levels. Make it a point to do this once a month.
  • Brake Fluid: Brake fluid is easy to overlook, but it definitely should be included in a monthly checkup of your car’s fluids. For preventive maintenance purposes, it is a good idea to have your brake fluid replaced every two to five years.
  • Coolant: To properly protect your car, the coolant needs to be filled to its maximum level. Because this is a closed system, you should have it checked for leaks if coolant is low. Also, depending on the make and model of the vehicle, the coolant system will need to be flushed every few years.

Do not limit your car’s maintenance to simply regulating the above fluid levels. Other fluids to monitor on a regular basis include power steering and windshield washer fluid. By maintaining all of your vehicle’s fluid levels, you can ensure the reliability of your car for years to come.



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