The 5 Fluids That Keep Your Car Alive

Fluids to Check at Your Nearest German Car Service Shop

If you are struggling to glean the inside scoop on preventative maintenance tricks from a truly reliable BMW, Audi, Mercedes, or Porsche service professional near you we have your back. When booking in your German sedan for a service, the last thing you want is to get a call informing you that your pride and joy needs a lot more work than its regular, scheduled maintenance, especially if that extra work was caused by your own negligence.

Even if you prefer never to get your hands dirty with car upkeep, it’s good to know that by purely checking your fluid levels regularly, you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble down the line. Fluids are quite simply the lifeblood of your car, and these are the big five to keep your eye on:

• Engine oil
• Transmission oil
• Coolant
• Brake fluid
• Power steering fluid

We’ll start with engine oil, which beyond merely lubricating some of the most expensive components on your car, also serves cooling and cleaning duties. Driving with low oil levels can severely damage your engine’s rings, cylinder walls, and bearings. While the old-school train of thought dictates checking your oil each time you fill up, most modern cars are good with being checked monthly. You’re best off consulting your owner’s manual for your car’s specific recommendations.

Next up is your transmission fluid, which can also be checked monthly, although as with engine oil, this will vary greatly from one car to the next. As your transmission’s shift quality relies on healthy transmission fluid, the importance of checking this is clear. There are several easy ways to tell if transmission fluid levels are low, or if the fluid quality is suspect. With the Germans now offering double-clutch gearboxes on many of their models (such as Audi’s DSG and Porsche’s PDK), fluid changes become even more important to ensure that the clutches don’t overheat.

Coolant or antifreeze does exactly what it says on the tin: it keeps your car cool and prevents overheating, even more significant in Florida’s warm, humid climate. The coolant fluid is situated inside your radiator, and can be checked by removing the radiator cap – importantly, this should never be done when your car is not cool or if the engine is running. Checking your coolant twice per year is sufficient, and the fluid should be replaced every 2-3 years.

If your brakes ever feel a bit off, your first step before visiting your mechanic should be to check your brake fluid level, which should never be running low as it is part of a closed system. Healthy brake fluid should be golden in color, and brown indicates that it is time to be replaced, which will usually be every two years. Again, factors such as the age of your car and different operating conditions could necessitate more regular checking. If you drive a performance car regularly on track, your car’s standard braking fluid may need to be substituted for a performance type to maintain safe braking under extreme conditions.

If your vehicle’s power steering system ever feels compromised in any way, it could be because of a rare but possible drop in power steering fluid levels. You can check this easily by popping the hood and locating the relevant reservoir. If the fluid levels are low and drop again after topping up, a leak could be the issue.

By ensuring that these five fluids are up to scratch, you can drastically extend the life of some of your car’s most complex components. Finally, remember to consult your owner’s manual for the specific requirements of your vehicle.