Fluid Leaks — Slow Death for your Vehicle
Your car is not just a collection of moving mechanical parts. Liquids are flowing inside your vehicle to allow the most important parts to function. For proper maintenance, be sure to check the condition and level of certain fluids that flow through the main parts of your car, otherwise you may encounter frequent trips to the mechanic and huge repair bills. Want to know which fluids I’m talking about? Read on for more information. Vehicles are a mixture of sophisticated equipment consisting of various parts that perform various functions. During operation, most of the moving parts of your car tend to heat up or dry out. This is where various automotive fluids come into force. These fluids are specially formulated to prevent the heating, drying or corrosion of auto parts. Certain fluids are also used to circulate heat and pressure between mechanical parts. Without the proper level of these essential fluids, you compromise the safety and performance of your vehicle. Although vehicle fluid levels decline after prolonged use, leaks are the main reason for their premature decline. That is why it is imperative that you check the following fluids in your car for leaks and avoid damage to the main auto parts. Machine oil: This is the main fluid in your car that helps the engine run smoothly. Its main purpose is to prevent friction between moving parts of the engine. At the same time, it also prevents engine warming up and friction of parts against each other. It is important to maintain the recommended engine oil levels in your car to prevent engine damage and help peak performance. Check the engine oil level in your car every month and maintain it as a habit. For signs of engine oil leakage, check the place where you usually park your car. If there are oil stains on the ground directly below the engine, ask your mechanic to inspect the engine for leaks. Brake Fluid: The main purpose of brake fluid is to convert the pressure you apply to the brakes into the hydraulic pressure that passes through the pipes and clamps the discs to stop the wheels from turning on your car. For safety reasons, it is important to monitor the brake fluid level in the car, Low brake fluid levels can damage the brake system and damage the brakes, resulting in catastrophes. Periodically check the brake fluid level in the brake master cylinder and top up if the level drops below the recommended level. There are no clear signs of brake fluid leakage, but if the brake fluid level in the master cylinder is constantly falling, you should immediately ask your mechanic to inspect the brake system of your car. Coolant: A running engine always heats up. The function of the coolant or antifreeze is to keep it cool by circulating around it with a radiator and fan. Coolant is an important fluid that prevents the possibility of any damage to the engine due to overheating. It is worth considering that an overheated engine may cease to function and even explode. You can control the level of coolant in your car by checking the coolant reservoir located under the hood. You can also check the coolant level by opening the radiator cap. Please note that the radiator should always be filled to the brim, and the radiator cover should only be opened when the car has completely cooled down (this may be before the car starts after a night’s rest). In case the coolant level is not optimal, you can fill it with water to increase it, but if you find that you are pouring water on a regular basis, ask your mechanic to look. Transmission fluid or gear oil: similar to engine oil and maintains lubrication of gears and transmissions in working condition. You may encounter gear locks and damage to levers and other moving parts if your vehicle does not have enough transmission fluid. The leakage of transmission fluids is easily traceable, because in the event of a leak you will notice deposits of red oil under the transmission unit or on the ground under the car. You should monitor the gearbox oil level every month by opening the cover located on the gearbox assembly under the hood. Refer to your car user manual to find the exact position of this cover. Leaks can occur due to worn pipes, hoses and seals, and it can be beneficial to spend money on timely replacement of these small parts, rather than letting them damage the main parts of your car laterA qualified mechanic can tell you when to replace the seals and stoppers that connect parts containing these fluids. Timely service, constant monitoring and a little care can save you a lot of trouble. Checking for fluid leaks will definitely prevent the slow death of your car.
Jack Wilson
