Take care of your car. Add liquids!

Every vehicle needs the correct quality and quantity of fluids to function properly. Thanks to them, the car rides well, brakes, cools and warms up. It is for the smooth operation of the car that the driver must regularly check the condition of the engine oil, brake fluid and coolant.

So how do you check the fluid level, how to replenish it in case of a shortage, and why should you remember to replace them periodically? This data depends on the type of liquid.

Machine oil – When choosing an oil, always use the one recommended by the manufacturer in the car's operating manual. Modern engines use long life oil, which extends the mileage without oil change to 30 km or every 000 years. Please note that the engine can "consume" oil, so it is necessary to check its level regularly. If we notice that its level has decreased, it should be replenished.

For refueling, we use the same oil as in the engine, and if it is not available, then an oil with the same parameters should be used. Check the oil level with the dipstick. Measurements should be made with the engine turned off but warm, preferably after waiting 10-20 minutes until the oil drains. Before using the dipstick, it should be wiped so that the condition of the oil can be clearly seen on a clean one. The oil mark on the dipstick should be between the minimum and maximum values.

Brake fluid - as in the case of engine oil, it is from the instructions that you should find out what type of brake fluid is intended for our car. We must replace it at least once every two years, or at least check its properties and, on this basis, decide on a replacement. Why?

- A feature of the brake fluid is its hygroscopicity. This means that it absorbs water from the air, and the more water in the liquid, the worse the properties of the liquid. It is estimated that 1% water reduces braking performance by 15%. In the event of sudden braking, the brake fluid in the brake system may boil, and vapor bubbles will block the transfer of pressure from the brake pump to the wheels, thereby preventing effective braking, explains Radoslav Jaskulsky, instructor at the Auto Skoda School.

Coolant - It is also better to pre-select the coolant by reading the car's operating manual. True, liquids can be mixed, but it is better not to do this. If refueling is necessary, it is better to add water than other coolant. The fluid level is determined by the dipstick in the tank.

Remember that you can not measure the fluid level when the engine is hot. Its volume increases with increasing temperature, and unscrewing the filler neck will cause the liquid to spill out and cause burns. The fluid level must be between the minimum and maximum levels. If we want to change the fluid, we must flush the cooling system. Lack of fluid will be especially dangerous in summer, when it can lead to overheating of the engine, and in winter we will be exposed to cold in the car.