The simplest and most cost-effective way of keeping your car in top shape is monitoring the condition of all the essential fluids. Every vehicle relies on a variety of fluids for its performance. In most cases, these fluids act as a facilitator for individual components of the car to perform smoothly.
The problem begins when they leak, and they inevitably do from time to time. It may not be normal, but its commonplace to spot a pool of liquid at the place where your car had been parked for a while.
A thorough understanding of the different types of fluids a car uses and identifying which one is leaking is crucial for taking appropriate measures against the same. You’ll need to take your car to a professional auto garage like Trade Price Tyres for fixing the issue. Along with fluid checks, they also perform essential car services and repairs like brakes repair, wheel alignment and Engine Diagnostics Newport.
This detailed guide will go through all the fluids found in a car and how one may identify the source of any leak.
Engine Oil
Engine oil has two primary functions.
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Maintaining proper lubrication
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Keeping the engine clean
There is a widespread myth surrounding the interval between oil changes. Most people think that it’s essential to change engine oil every 3,000 miles. However, modern cars can run anywhere between 7,500 to 10,000 miles without needing an oil change.
Radiator Fluid
The radiator fluid of a car is tasked with keeping the engine from overheating. Without it, the engine will blow out from excess heat in a few minutes. It is variously known as engine coolant or antifreeze and should be changed first after 60,000 miles and every 30,000 miles thereafter.
Power Steering Fluid
The power steering of a car runs on a hydraulic pump-and-dump system, using the hydraulic fluid pressurized by a pump to control the steering axis. The power steering fluid should be flushed and refilled after every 75,000 miles.
Air Conditioning Refrigerant
Most car ACs use a coolant known as R-12 Freon for cooling the air. If your Air Conditioning in Newport is not blowing cold air, it’s most likely because the refrigerant level is low. Experts recommend refilling AC coolant once every 2 years.
Brake Fluid
The brakes of a car are also hydraulically operated, meaning that it uses a fluid to transfer the signal when you press the brake pedal. It varies between different models, but generally, you need to change brake fluid every 20,000 miles or roughly 2 years.
Transmission Fluid
The transmission fluid is optimized for lubricating the various parts of transmission such as valves, brake band and torque converter. For cars with automatic transmission, the fluid needs to be changed after 100,000 miles. Manual transmission cars require a fluid change every 30,000 miles.
How to Recognize Fluid Leak From Colour?
All these fluids can potentially leak. Figuring out the source of the leak can go a long way in fixing it promptly. Here’s a colour guide to figure out which fluid is leaking from your vehicle.
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Light brown to black: Engine oil
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Reddish: Power steering fluid
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Green or yellow: AC coolant
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Yellow to dark brown: Brake fluid
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Orange: Transmission fluid
Never ignore a fluid leak. They are usually precursors to much bigger problems. Seek professional help whenever you spot a fluid leak. It’ll save you a lot of money that you’d have to spend otherwise on costly repairs.
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