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Check these four fluids before you drive

Sanjay · Jul 19, 2020 12:00 PM

Check these four fluids before you drive 01

Car care isn't daunting. It pays to do these simple checks and avoid repair bills and headaches in the end. Got it? Simple concept for a simple topic, so let’s go!

1. Check your coolant level

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Check these four fluids before you drive 01

See the radiator cap? Some cars have it placed differently, so if you can’t find it on your car at that position, look for the boat shape and bright sticker up top.

Check these four fluids before you drive 02

All you have to do is unscrew it and add plain water (nothing else) to it.

Engines heat up while driving, and if there’s not enough water in your car, your engine will overheat, leaving you stranded at the side for what was an entirely avoidable problem. 

Just remember to absolutely do not open the cap when it’s hot because it becomes a mini-volcano. 

2. Engine oil level

Check these four fluids before you drive 03

That highlighted bit is the dipstick and it tells you how much engine oil is left. If there isn't enough engine oil (or worst case, none at all), you engine goes kaput. Plain and simple. 

Check these four fluids before you drive 04

To check engine oil level, just pull out the dipstick, wipe clean the remnant, and dip it again. Pull it out, and you can see how much is left inside.

Check these four fluids before you drive 05

It should be at F (full), viscous but not sludgy. Oil levels usually won’t drop too far from full, but if yours is, it’s best to get your car checked.

Check these four fluids before you drive 06

However, oil degrades over time and if you haven’t done it in some time, make sure to set aside around RM 300 and go for a service.

3. Brake fluid level

Check these four fluids before you drive 07

Brake fluid is important because it facilitates braking. Without getting too technical, if there’s no brake fluid in your car, your brakes don’t work.

Check these four fluids before you drive 08

Brake fluid normally does not drop (or be empty for that matter), so they don’t need to be topped off or changed constantly. If you see the levels dropping, best get it checked out by a professional - it could be a leak somewhere.

Check these four fluids before you drive 09

That said, pay attention when braking next time. If it feels spongy, makes weird noises or has less ‘bite’, get those checked too to be safe.

4. Windshield washer

Check these four fluids before you drive 10

If you want to get fancy, you can put windshield washer fluid in there but for general use, plain water is fine.

Keep this one topped off, it comes in handy when getting some dirt and dust off your windshield.

Sanjay

Senior Writer

With humble beginnings collecting diecast models and spending hours virtually tuning dream cars on the computer, his love of cars has delightfully transformed into a career. Sanjay enjoys how the same passion for cars transcends boundaries and brings people together.

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