Checking Your Car Fluids - Introduction

So, I'd like to go through, in the next few posts, the subject of checking your car fluids.  You should know how often to check, what to look for, why each type of fluid is important to your car's health, and what you need to do to keep up with each of these fluids.

You should check your car's fluids at least every other time you fill your gas tank, and definitely before you go on a drive of any length.  Once you become adept at this series of checks it will take less than 5 minutes.  It's also a great way to keep tabs on the health of you car's vital systems.  You can catch problems before they become severe enough to leave you stranded.

Some important things you need to know before we start going through each individual fluid (We'll start with the first fluid in the next posting):

- It's not normal for a car's fluid to be low.  It's a closed system and if everything is sealed properly, the fluids don't get used up (except gas, of course).

- Low fluid level is the sign something is wrong. The exceptions are brake and windshield washer fluid.

- Over time, as the brakes wear, the brake fluid will lower slowly.  This is normal.

- Now if you have to add brake fluid every few weeks, it means there is a leak--Get the brakes checked right away!

- Windshield washer fluid needs replenishing as it's used.

- There are eleven possible fluids depending on the model of car you own.

We'll begin by talking about Gasoline as the first fluid, in the next blog post.