Your automobile relies on a variety of fluids that serve different purposes in your engine and suspension. It’s important to have these fluids changed when they need it to prevent them from getting too dirty and ineffective. Dirty and ineffective automotive fluids can actually cause damage and make expensive and unnecessary repairs necessary. Auto Correct Car Care are automotive fluid experts. Let’s talk about the fluids in your automobile and when they need to be changed.
Brake Fluid
The average recommendation for changing the brake fluid is every 30,000 miles. If you don’t drive 30,000 miles in two years, change it then. This is a general recommendation, however, and it’s better to consult your owner’s manual to see what your vehicle manufacturer says. One way to make certain that your brake fluid gets changed when it needs it is to have your brakes inspected every 12,000 miles.
Driveline Fluids
Your Driveline fluids include the rear and front differential and transfer case fluids. The general recommendation for changing these fluids is every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. Again, it’s a good idea to check your owner’s manual to see what your vehicle’s manufacturer recommends. As with the other oils in your automobile, the differential oil is responsible for protecting the ring and pinion gears and keeping moving differential parts cool. It’s also responsible for differential lubrication.
Engine Coolant
Every 30,000 miles is the general recommendation for a radiator flush and refill. You may be able to go longer than that or, depending on the age of your automobile, you may need to have the engine coolant changed more frequently. It’s important to keep an eye on the engine coolant to make sure that it doesn’t get too low or dirty. Low or dirty coolant will overheat your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s engine.
Motor Oil
Conventional motor oil needs to be changed every 3,000 miles or six months. We recommend the mileage duration for synthetic motor oil changes be every 5,000 miles. Your manufacture may recommend a longer duration, but those would be under optimal driving conditions, not the normal stop-and-go traffic you find in our area. Â
Power Steering Fluid
If your vehicle is equipped with an electric power steering system, you don’t have power steering fluid. If your power steering system is hydraulic, the power steering fluid needs to be changed every two years. In some cases, you may be able to drive as much as 75,000 miles before you need a power steering fluid change, but it’s important to have the system checked annually to make sure it’s okay.
Transmission Fluid
Finally, your transmission oil (or fluid if you prefer to call it that) should be changed every 30,000 miles to every 60,000 miles. One way to tell whether the transmission fluid needs to be changed is to check its color. Bright red to light brown transmission fluid that is translucent is okay. Brown to black transmission fluid must be changed immediately because it has oxidized and is damaging the transmission.
We’ve got you covered here at Auto Correct Car Care in Finksburg, MD. You can count on us to stay on top of your automobile’s fluid changes no matter which fluid needs to be changed.