Fluid Leaks – Slow Death For Your Vehicle

Your vehicle is not just an assembly of moving mechanical parts. There are fluids that run inside your vehicle allowing the most critical parts to function properly. For proper maintenance, make sure you check the condition and level of certain fluids that flow through major parts of your vehicle or else you could face frequent trips to the mechanic and huge repair bills.

Wondering what kind of fluids I am talking about? Read further for more information.

Vehicles are a mix of complex machinery comprising of various parts that perform various functions. While in operation, most moving parts of your vehicle have the tendency to either heat up or dry out.

That's where the different vehicle fluids come into effect. These fluids are specially formulated to prevent auto parts from heating, drying out or rusting. Certain fluids are also used to circulate heat and pressure between mechanical parts. Without proper levels of these essential fluids, you are compromising on the safety and performance of your vehicle.

Although fluid levels in vehicles reduce after prolonged usage, leaks form the major cause for their premature decrease. That is why it is imperative that you check the following fluids in your vehicle for leaks and avoid damage to major auto parts.

Engine Oil: It is the prime fluid in your vehicle that helps the engine run smoothly. Its main purpose is to prevent friction between the moving parts of the engine. In the process, it also prevents the engine from heating up and the parts from rubbing against each other. It is important to maintain recommended levels of engine oil in your vehicle to prevent damage to the engine and aid peak performance.

Check the level of engine oil in your vehicle every month and maintain it as a habit. For signs of engine oil leakage, check the space where you usually park your vehicle. If there are any oil stains on the ground directly underneath 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 exert on the brakes into hydraulic pressure that travels through pipes and clamps the discs to stop the wheels of your vehicle from rotating. It is important to monitor the brake fluid levels in your vehicle for safety purposes. Low levels of brake fluid can damage the brake system and impair brakes leading to catastrophes.

Monitor the level of brake fluid in the Brake Master Cylinder periodically and refill it in case the level drops below the recommended mark. There are no sure-shot signs of brake fluid leakage but if the level of brake fluid in the Master Cylinder is consistently dropping you should immediately have your mechanic inspect the brake system of your vehicle.

Coolant: A running engine always tends to heat up. The job of the coolant or antifreeze is to keep it cool by circulating around it with the help of the Radiator and a fan. The coolant is an important fluid that prevents chances of any damage to the engine as a result of overheating. It is a fact worth considering that an overheated engine can cease to function and even explode.

You can monitor the level of coolant in your vehicle by checking the coolant reservoir located under the hood. You can also check the coolant levels by opening the Radiator Cap. Note that the radiator should always be filled up to the brim and you should only open the radiator cap when the vehicle is completely cool (this may be before starting the vehicle after a night's rest). In case the coolant level is not optimum, you can fill water to increase it but if you find yourself filling water on a regular basis, ask your mechanic to take a look.

Transmission Fluid or Gear Oil: This is similar to the engine oil and keeps the gears and the transmission in working condition by lubricating them. Your might experience locking of gears and damage to levers and other moving parts if there are inadequate levels of transmission fluid in your vehicle.

Leakage of transmission fluids is easily traceable as you would notice red colored oil deposits underneath the transmission assembly or on the ground beneath your vehicle in case there is a leak. You should monitor gear oil levels every month by opening the cap located on the part of gear assembly under the hood. Check you vehicle's user manual to locate the exact position of this cap.

Leakages may occur due to worn out pipes, hoses and seals and it can be advantageous to spend money on replacing these minor parts on timely basis rather than allowing them to damage the major parts of your vehicle later. A qualified mechanic can tell you when to replace the seals and stoppers that connect the parts containing these fluids.

Timely service, constant monitoring and a little bit of care can save you from a lot of hassles. Checking for fluid leaks will definitely prevent your vehicle from dying a slow death.

James Rodham

Quality Auto Parts