Auto Care Advice From Capitol Chevrolet: How To Check Your Vehicle's Fluid Levels

April 27, 2020

Even if you're not handy with a wrench, you can monitor the condition of your vehicle and save money on service by keeping tabs on your vehicle's condition! You'll be able to get the maintenance you need before major damage can develop, and you won't have to overpay for services you don't need. We're in your corner at the Capitol Chevrolet service center. We can answer any questions you might have about caring for your car the right way. Below, we'll tell you how to check the oil, coolant and other fluids in your vehicle.

5. Wiper Fluid

If you can safely operate a motor vehicle, you can safely check the wiper fluid level and top it off with more wiper fluid as needed! On most every car, the wiper fluid reservoir is located under the hood. You may be able to see into the translucent reservoir itself to see how much fluid is inside, but on some vehicles you'll only be able to see the filler and cap. That means you'll know you need more wiper fluid when the sprayers just stop spraying.

When that happens, just pop the hood, remove the wiper fluid cap and add wiper fluid, taking care not to splash onto nearby components. Once the reservoir appears full, replace the cap and keep on driving. It's really that easy! But some fluids require a bit more expertise to check.

4. Coolant/Antifreeze

Adding coolant to the engine isn't much different than adding wiper fluid, with one caveat: you must allow the engine to cool down completely before removing the radiator cap! Pulling over to the side of the road to top off the wiper fluid is reasonably safe, even with a warm engine. Just make sure not to touch any hot components. But the coolant in a warm engine is boiling-hot and under pressure. Removing the radiator cap while the engine is hot could cause a dangerous geyser of piping-hot coolant!

Once the engine is cool, you can pop the radiator cap off the radiator, and look for a green, orange or pink fluid. It should fill up the radiator nearly to the top of the radiator cap. If the level is low, you may need to top off the system with fresh coolant. Furthermore, that's a sign that you could have a coolant leak or a leaking head gasket, allowing the engine to consume coolant over time. You may want a professional technician to inspect your vehicle's cooling system to find a leak, or the engine may begin to overheat.

3. Power Steering Fluid

Vehicles with hydraulic power steering systems feature power steering fluid. On some vehicles, this system includes a separate reservoir for power steering fluid and a dipstick which you can check on the underside of the reservoir cap. Note that the dipstick may have two different indicators, one for when checking the level when the engine is warm and one for when checking the level when the engine is cold. For your safety, we always recommend waiting until the engine is cold before popping the hood.

Learn more about proper dipstick testing in section #1 below.

2. Transmission Fluid

On some older cars, the transmission also features its own dipstick, but most modern cars have sealed transmissions which you cannot check yourself. Instead, take a look at your vehicle's owner's manual. It'll tell you when the transmission fluid needs to be changed. Transmission fluid breaks down over time, and failure to change the fluid on time can cause rough shifts, transmission slipping, failure to go into gear and even stalling.

For instance, the owner's manual for the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox recommends replacing the transmission fluid every 45,000 miles. Be sure to check your vehicle's owner's manual to find out what maintenance schedule is right for your vehicle.

1. Engine Oil

While dipsticks are vanishing from modern transmissions and power steering systems, they're still commonplace for checking the engine oil. It's important to make sure you perform this check the right way for an accurate reading.

As always, let the engine cool before popping the hood, for your own safety. Then, locate and remove the engine oil dipstick. Next, wipe it clean with a shop towel or rag -- splashing from the movement of the vehicle the last time it was driven could lead to an incorrect reading. Instead, after wiping the dipstick clean, reinsert it all the way, then remove it again. Now it's ready for you to read. The oil should come up as close as possible to the MAX line without exceeding it, or without falling below the MIN line. If the oil level is low, have a technician look at your vehicle right away. A low engine oil level could be due to a loose oil filter, an engine leak or a blown head gasket.