Owning a car comes with some responsibilities that can not be negotiated. One of these is vehicle maintenance, especially when a car is getting older.
The simplest car maintenance task you can do yourself is checking fluid levels to ensure they are within the recommended range. Doing this regularly reduces wear and tear on your car, keeping it in good health for longer.
We have put together a simple guide on how to check your car’s fluid levels and how Cartrack’s maintenance solutions can help you.
We all want a car that always runs smoothly and never suffers any issues, but unfortunately, that is not always the case. Every car will eventually experience one mechanical problem or another. These can compromise vehicle health and roadworthiness, affecting driver and passenger safety.
Your fluid levels can be checked monthly or as recommended based on your vehicle’s age and condition. This process is quick, easy, and requires no special tools; most drivers can take the task on with relative ease.
Here are some reasons why checking car fluids is important:
Low or contaminated fluids can cause overheating, braking issues, or engine damage, which may lead to costly repairs. These are all consequences that can easily be avoided with a few maintenance checks on a car every once in a while. Auto Trader estimates that a mechanic can charge up to R5000 per hour to examine and fix your engine, with the total cost coming up to R180 000 for some engine replacements.
These are very large sums of money, especially when unexpected. This is why doing these smaller checks are important, we can assure you that when done correctly, these measures can yield great results for your car in the long-term.
Checking fluids can be done as part of a pre-or post-car inspection, both for daily use and long-distance travel. Let's go through the steps you need to take when checking your car’s fluids.
When starting a fluid check, the car must be parked on a stable and level surface with a cooled engine. This ensures accurate readings from the fuel rods and other measuring tools.
We advise switching off the engine and waiting a few minutes before opening the bonnet to start the checks. This will protect you from the steam build-up that will come jetting out of the engine or water tank, which happens when those liquids have not cooled sufficiently.
The next step is to identify the specific fluid you need to check or replace. Here is a list of the key fluids that need regular inspection and what the fluid does:
Most of these can be accessed directly from the engine, with symbols on each to indicate what they are and do. If there is any uncertainty, check your car’s manual for further explanation on where to find these fluids.
One of the easier fluids to check is engine oil. Once the bonnet is open, pull out the dipstick from the engine, wipe it clean, reinsert it, and check the level. The oil level should be between the two marks on the dipstick. If it falls below the lower mark, it needs to be topped up.
It is also important to consider the oil colour and consistency. The darker and grittier the oil is, the likelier it is to need changing.
In order to check the coolant level, you must look at the reservoir markings. They will indicate where the coolant needs to be for it to be full. Make sure not to overfill the coolant by going over the “Full” marking.
We must warn you against opening the radiator cap when the engine is hot. This will release heated coolant and gas which may cause severe burns.
If you are looking to check brake fluid, look for the brake master cylinder, usually on the driver's side, where the brake fluid reservoir will be attached. You can check these fluid levels against the "Min" and "Max" marks, this will let you know if you need to top it up or not.
It is important to know that low brake fluid could indicate worn brake pads or a potential leak. This will need to be investigated by a technician in order to get the most accurate prognosis.
The best way to check automatic transmission fluid is by using a dipstick. This process will be similar to the brake fluid one, where you check the stick’s markings. The level should be between the “Max” and “Min” markings.
Transmission fluid should be red or pink. A darker colour may indicate contamination or burning, which requires attention.
When topping up fluids, make sure to clean the area and, where applicable, remove components for cleaning. If the fluid appears to be contaminated, then you should drain it and replace it with new fluids.
Engine oil, coolant, and other car fluids can be found at major supermarkets or petrol stations, ranging from R25 to R70 for 500ml of engine oil and coolant from R100 to R350 for 1 litre. This price will depend on the brand and quality of the fluid being purchased, with more premium brands costing more.
Always make sure to use the correct fluid type as specified in the owner's manual. This should also be the case when replacing fluids or topping them up.
Check your dashboard after doing these changes and make sure none of the lights are on, as this could indicate that one of the fluids is still low.
Keeping track of fluid checks can be challenging amid a busy schedule, however, it is important to do so if a driver wants to avoid getting into a car accident. Fortunately, Cartrack has features that can assist with this problem.
Here’s what we have on offer to help:
Cartrack’s advanced car tracking system does more than just monitor your car’s location, it comes with a host of solutions to help with car maintenance. Our technology has built-in telematics and vehicle diagnostics, all of which are meant to give accurate reports on driver behaviours that might influence vehicle health.
Unexpected breakdowns can be both inconvenient and expensive. This is why receiving early warnings is important, as it allows you to address minor issues before they escalate into costly repairs.
Cartrack’s vehicle diagnostics provide real-time alerts on key vehicle health indicators, fluid level detection depends on your vehicle’s CAN bus compatibility with telematics. The alerts can be for:
Checking your car's fluids with this system in place is much easier as you will now have a more comprehensive view of all the factors affecting your car’s overall health.
Whether you drive a brand-new car or an older model from your grandparents, our app ensures you will never miss a critical maintenance check. With the mobile app, keeping up with car maintenance has never been easier. The app provides:
Having this technology at the tip of your fingers makes it easier to stay on top of all car maintenance. These can be sent to you as reminders and come as reports as well so you have an overview of what is happening in your car.
Your car will not always run smoothly, but there are things you can do to help. Doing regular fluid checks and changes is one of the things that you can do, it is fairly simple and does not require technical skill. What is important is that they are done early or as soon as there is an indication that something is wrong.
With Cartrack, these issues are a thing of the past. Our offering provides full diagnostics and gives you alerts when something is wrong. If this sounds good to you, then contact us to learn more about what we can do for you.
Avoid engine trouble! Discover how to check your car’s oil, coolant, brake fluid, and more with this easy step-by-step guide.
