Automotive fluids are crucial to your – you guessed it – automobile. CAR FIX can change your automotive fluids when they need it, and the duration between changes varies depending on the fluid itself. For example, you have your motor oil changed the most because it should be changed every 3,000 miles. Your transmission fluid can go as long as 30,000 miles between changes usually. Let’s talk about automotive fluids and their different colors so you can identify them if something is leaking.
Brake Fluid
Your car cannot stop without brake fluid. Brake fluid is a hydraulic fluid that helps your vehicle slow down and stop when you depress the brake pedal. Low brake fluid can impede your stopping ability as can air in the brake lines. Brake fluid is usually amber or light brown when it is brand new. It darkens as it ages and it leaks from behind your tires.
Engine Coolant/Antifreeze
Engine coolant and antifreeze are usually one and the same these days. The mixture can take cold winter weather as well as hot summer heat. This fluid comes in a variety of colors. The most common colors are green or red. Your engine coolant/antifreeze might also be blue, bluish-green, or even yellow. Check the color by popping your hood and looking at the radiator overflow container.
Motor Oil
You probably already know this. Motor oil is light brown when it is brand new and turns dark brown as it ages. You probably also know that leaking motor oil can spell serious trouble for your engine. Did you know that an engine without oil will die in less than 30 minutes? This is how important this fluid is to your automobile so get your oil changed every 3,000 miles.
Power Steering Fluid
There are two types of power steering systems in today’s automobiles. The first one is a hydraulic system with power steering fluid, and the second one is an electronic system without power steering fluid. If you have a hydraulic power steering system, you have red power steering fluid. Rarely does this fluid change color because it is locked tight within the power steering system.
Transmission Fluid
Things can get confusing, however, because transmission fluid is also red. This fluid darkens as it ages, and it turns pink if coolant mixes with it. You probably don’t need us to tell you that the pink fluid means serious transmission damage and expensive automotive repairs, so we hope you never end up with this problem. Transmission fluid tends to leak underneath your automobile toward the center.
Windshield Washer
Finally, you probably also know that your windshield washer fluid is blue. This pretty hue keeps your windshield squeaky clean when you’re driving along and somebody hits a mud patch in front of you. It also helps to keep your windshield clean in the spring when bugs decide to go splat into your windshield.
No matter the fluid, CAR FIX in Oak Ridge, TN, can change it when it needs it and fix any leaking problems. Give us a call today for an appointment.
