If you came here after hearing someone tell you to have your blinker fluid changed, you came to the right place. Let’s get this out of the way. There is no such thing as blinker fluid. The turning signals within cars and trucks run on electricity. In other words, the person who told you to have it checked was pranking you.
However, there are six primary fluids used within a car’s or truck’s components, so our team in Chantilly, VA, will cover those below.
WHAT FLUIDS DOES A CAR HAVE?
- Windshield Wiper Fluid
- Engine Oil
- Brake/Hydraulic
- Transmission
- Coolant
- Power Steering
WHICH FLUIDS NEED TO BE FLUSHED?
All of the six primary fluids will, at some point, need replacing. Each of them is due for a refreshing at different times. For example, windshield wiper fluid isn’t crucial for a vehicle’s health. It tends to be something a driver prefers to have at the ready. But, engine oil should be replaced every 3000-5000 miles.
Certain variables can affect when the braking system will be due for a hydraulic fluid flush. It all comes down to braking patterns, but generally speaking, the intervals run somewhere between every 30,000 miles, two years, or when the fluid is dirty.
Transmission fluid acts similar to engine oil in that it lubricates the transmission. That helps keep all of the moving parts from grinding against one another. Keeping those parts greased and happy keeps the transmission the same. Generally, it should be flushed and replaced around 30,000 miles or when the fluid is dirty.
Coolant is crucial for the engine. Its job is to keep those components cool when physics wants them to run hot. Given its importance, you cannot let it lose its efficiency. It should be flushed every 50k miles or when the coolant has lost freezing resistance or is dirty.
Power steering fluid is what enables a driver to turn their steering wheel. Without it, you’d have to be a Hulk of a person to keep that wheel in place. While it can last long, it can pick up pollutants and become dirty. We recommend a power steering flush around 50,000 miles.
FLUID FLUSHES AT CASEY’S AUTOMOTIVE IN CHANTILLY, VIRGINIA
Don’t let the person who pranked you get you down! Armed with the knowledge listed above, you can dazzle them with your expertise. Contact us when your vehicle is due for any of the flushes listed above. We’ll get your vehicle inspected, and its fluids flushed.
