You know you have diesel fuel or gasoline in your automobile, but what about the rest of the fluids? It’s important to know every fluid in your automobile, what color it is so you can identify if it is leaking, and when it needs to be flushed and refilled. Cergizan’s Auto and Truck Repair provides a comprehensive list of fluids by color below.
Brake
Brake fluid generally needs to be changed every 30,000 miles to every 60,000 miles. This fluid is usually light brown to dark brown in color, but some brake fluid is red. Brake fluid usually leaks behind the inside of your vehicle’s wheels.
Coolant
Engine coolant should be flushed and refilled every 30,000 miles. This fluid comes in a variety of colors including blue, green, red, and yellow. If your radiator has rust on the bottom of it, your engine coolant might look orange.
Differential
Differential fluid is also called gear lube or gear oil. Without it, you won’t be able to turn your automobile. This fluid is usually light brown to dark brown and needs to be replaced every 30,000 to 60,000 miles.
Oil
Motor oil is light brown when it is new and dark brown when it is old. Depending on the type of oil you use, it needs to be changed every 3,000 miles to 10,000 miles. It’s important to stick to a motor oil changing schedule like glue to protect your engine from serious damage.
Power Steering
Power steering fluid is red and it doesn’t need to be changed often at all. Usually, you wouldn’t change it until you put 80,000 to 100,000 miles on your automobile. It is important to keep an eye on the levels, however, to make sure you don’t need to add power steering fluid to the system.
Refrigerant
Air conditioning refrigerant is a gas that is converted into a fluid to keep you nice and cool inside your automobile when you turn on the air conditioner. This fluid rarely needs to be changed, but it may need to be charged annually as the gas evaporates naturally. You may also end up with a refrigerant leak in the system usually where the AC hoses connect to the system.
Transmission
Transmission fluid is bright red when it is brand new. As it ages, it turns light brown to dark brown. Have your transmission fluid flushed and refilled every 30,000 miles. This fluid is crucial to your transmission’s performance and protection.
Windshield
Finally, windshield washing fluid is blue. Sometimes, it can leak out of an old reservoir or out of old lines. While it doesn’t damage your engine should you drive it without any windshield washer, you won’t be able to clean your windshield if it gets dirty while you are driving.
Cergizan’s Auto and Truck Repair would be happy to check all of your vehicle’s fluids. Stop by our Chesterton, IN, auto shop today.