How To: Check and Fill Your Vehicle's Fluids, by O'Reilly Auto Parts on YouTube. 8 min 26 s.
- Video length
- 8 min 26 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Park on level ground, switch off the engine and set the parking brake. Chock the wheels if you will be working near a slope.
Open the hood and find the engine oil dipstick. Pull it out, wipe the end with a shop towel, push it back in fully and pull it out again.
Read the level against the min and max marks. If it is low, add the oil weight listed in your owner's manual through a funnel, a little at a time, and recheck.
Check the coolant level only when the engine is cold. Compare it with the marks on the translucent overflow tank and top up with the correct coolant mix if needed.
Find the power steering reservoir, usually marked with a small steering wheel icon. Check the level against the hot or cold marks and add the fluid your manual specifies.
Wipe the brake fluid reservoir clean before opening it. The level should sit between the min and max lines, and you should top up only with fresh brake fluid from a sealed container.
Check the transmission fluid using the dipstick if your car has one, following the manual for whether the engine should be running or off. Add fluid through a funnel if the level is low.
Open the washer fluid cap, usually marked with a windshield symbol, and fill the tank with washer fluid until it is nearly full.
Tips and common mistakes
Never open a hot coolant cap or reservoir, since pressurized hot coolant can spray out and burn you.
Use only the fluid types and weights in your owner's manual, because the wrong fluid can damage seals and components.
Check fluids once a month and before long trips, and look under the car for leaks if a level keeps dropping.
Keep brake fluid off painted surfaces, as it can strip paint.
Questions
How often should I check my engine oil?
About once a month, and more often if you suspect a leak or see a warning light. Check it with the engine off and the car on level ground.
Can I mix different coolant colors?
No, stick to the coolant type your manufacturer recommends. Mixing different formulas can reduce protection and cause problems in the cooling system.
Do I need to check transmission fluid on a sealed transmission?
Many newer cars have no transmission dipstick. In that case, have the fluid level checked by a shop or follow the service procedure in your manual.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
