Transmission Flush

Archive for June 30th, 2010

Your car can survive and operate efficiently for years as long as it has access to certain fluids. For example, your engine requires oil; your radiator needs coolant (or antifreeze); your transmission and brake system also need their respective fluids. If these systems are starved, they will eventually fail to perform. Your engine and transmission, in particular, will sustain expensive damage.

Unfortunately, millions of drivers fail to check their fluid levels on a regular basis, even though doing so is simple and requires very little time. In this article, we’ll provide a blueprint you can use to check the levels and ensure your car’s major systems are in good health.

How To Check The Oil

Your engine is comprised of moving parts that create friction and heat during operation. Oil helps to lubricate these parts and prevent them from destroying each other. If your engine lacks sufficient oil, it will seize up or overheat, leaving you by the side of the road.

If you have been driving, let your car cool down for several minutes. Then, lift the hood and find the oil dipstick (it’s usually located near the front of the assembly). Pull the dipstick from its housing and wipe the oil off with a rag. Then, stick the dipstick all the way back into its housing and withdraw it again. You’ll see two noticeable markers. The oil should be between them. If the level is next to, or below, the lowest marker, add a quart of oil and pull the dipstick out again to reexamine it.

How To Check The Transmission Fluid

While the oil should be checked when your engine is cold, the transmission fluid must be checked while your engine is idling. It has its own dipstick, which is usually located near the oil dipstick. Let your engine idle for several minutes before checking the level.

Remove the dipstick and wipe the fluid off onto another clean rag. Then, stick it back into its slot and remove it again. Like the oil dipstick, it has two obvious markers. The transmission fluid should appear between them. If the level is low, add more.

One side note: you can expect your oil level to decline over time. Your transmission fluid is different. The entire assembly is completely sealed, which means the fluid should not escape. If the level is low, that usually means a seal or gasket had developed a leak. It needs to be addressed by a mechanic.

How To Check The Coolant In The Radiator

The coolant level in your radiator should be checked once the engine has cooled a bit. Never check it while it’s hot; the pressure within can cause injury. Your vehicle’s radiator cap should be located on the driver’s side near the engine. Take the cap off (use a rag to protect your hand from heat) and peer inside. If the level is lower than the top, you’ll need to add more.

In most vehicles, there is also a coolant reservoir. Coolant expands and flows into this receptacle during operation. It should be approximately two-thirds full. If it’s low, add more.

How To Check The Brake Fluid

Your brake system should never be low on fluid. In that way, it is similar to your transmission; a low level means there’s a leak somewhere. It should be repaired before it worsens and places your safety – and that of your passengers – at risk. There is a brake fluid reservoir that is normally located near the firewall on the driver’s side. It sits atop the master cylinder. You should be able to identify the level without removing the lid. If it is lower than two-thirds full, add more.

The fluids described above are essential to your safety and the operation of your vehicle. Get into the habit of checking them every few weeks. It only takes a few minutes and will prolong the life of your car.

Because of the constant increase in fuel prices, many people are now considering getting rid of their gas guzzling conventional car and are now purchasing a cheaper alternative. Some people purchase cars with smaller engines for fuel efficiency and some people are now thinking of purchasing the car with the latest technology that enables them to cut fuel consumption by half.

These cars are called plug-in hybrid cars. With this car, you will be able to cut fuel consumption by more than half by taking advantage of the hybrid technology that many car manufacturers are now integrating in their new car models. Although plug in hybrid cars have existed for quite some time now, it was only about a few years ago that it was released in the market. Plug-in hybrid cars are cars that combine the gasoline energy and the electric energy to run or to propel the car. Plug-in hybrid cars will enable you to run your car up to a hundred miles per gallon depending on the engine and the battery installed.

If you think that getting a good mileage per gallon is non existent, think again. With the technology being integrated by car manufacturers in their hybrid vehicles, it is now possible. This vehicle has two engines to run your car. One is the gasoline engine and the other is the electric motor. Just imagine a car that has an extension cord that you can plug-in in your home electricity outlet to recharge. You do not even to worry about the cost of your electric bill because the recharging will just be equal to less than a dollar per gallon.

Just imagine a car that has two fuel sources. If one runs out, the car will still be able to run. You do not have to plug in your plug-in hybrid car but if you do, your vehicle becomes an electric vehicle that will be able to run quietly, cleaner, cheaper and more efficient than conventional gasoline powered cars. You have to consider that the gasoline tanks are there for long driving purposes.

However, when you are only driving locally, you do not need to fill your car with gasoline. All you need to do is plug-in your car to your home’s electric outlet and once it is fully charged, your car will be ready to go using the electric motor. Imagine the savings that you can get with a plug-in hybrid car. However, these things are not the only benefits that you can get with plug-in hybrid cars. You will be shocked once you find out about the other benefits that you can get with a hybrid car. If you have a hybrid car, the service cost will tend to be lower because it is mainly electric. Another great thing about plug-in hybrid cars is that it will be able to power your home in case of power outage. It can act as an electricity generator.

Recently, tax incentives have been imposed by the government to hybrid car buyers. This means that as a buyer of a plug-in hybrid car, you will be able to enjoy tax breaks. You will also help improve the condition of the environment because it runs on the cleanest energy source available, which is electricity. This means that the car will produce no toxic emissions when it is running on electricity. Also, when it runs on gasoline, the emissions are also very low because of the small size of the gasoline engine.

These are some of the benefits that you can get with plug-in hybrid cars. So, if you think that you are spending too much on gasoline for your gas-guzzling conventional vehicle, you can start saving money by getting a plug-in hybrid car.

Engine failure in cars can happen for a variety of different reasons. The most common reason why an engine would fail is due to lack of routine care. There are components that not only wear down and have to be replaced on a regular basis, fluid levels that have to be checked routinely. Vehicles that aren’t maintained properly can cause an engine to fail for a number of reasons.

One reason you should do a routine check is there are many filtering mechanisms on a vehicles engine. These regulate the purity of things like gasoline, air into the carburetor and engine oil. Without changing these regularly they will clog up, making your engine work harder than it has to maintain the same performance. You also have to regularly clean the radiator for both the engine and the transmission.

You have to check fluid levels often. There are many different engine components that require lubrication, coolants and fluids all to maintain a cars performance. More recently made vehicles also have added features like air conditioning units, electronic components, and other things that require even a greater more complex regime. Just checking and maintaining a car’s fluid levels either. Build up occurs over time, in the motor, gas tank, radiator, and any other place where deposits will collect. If these systems are not flushed out at least once a year, deposit will build up, making the engine run hotter, and wear out faster.

If a vehicle isn’t maintained properly, here just a few of the possible scenarios that can cause engine failure. Too high of a temperature in the motor causes the metal to expand, creating less and less ability for internal components to move. What happens simply is that if your engine gets hot enough for something to stick, like a piston, or a valve, your engine doesn’t just stop; the force will cause it to keep going. Something has to give, the side of the motor block, the head, and a number of different ways, depending on where the failure was.

Another way an engine can fail through heat is that when the metal expands, the integrity of the metal itself can be compromised, causing the head to crack or warp. The instant result of this is a sudden loss of engine pressure. Without engine pressure you could have your foot on the gas pedal and only go five miles and hour. You may get lucky on occasion, and only blow a head gasket, or an engine plug. Gaskets and plugs are designed to blow if there is too much heat and pressure, but that doesn’t mean that you have done irreparable damage Aluminum heads are especially prone to cracking and warping because they expand a lot faster than as iron cast one.

What can you do to prevent this from happening? While not all engine failure is caused by neglect, you have got to do regular checks, monthly routines, and periodic flushes. This means things like changing spark plugs, wires, and other electrical components on a regular basis. Change and replace filters and motor oil at least according to the minimum requirements by the manufacturer, or more often depending on usage. Flush out fuel systems, brake lines, coolant systems at least once a year. Check your vehicles motor often, maybe at the same time fluid levels are monitored, to see if there are any leaks in hoses, loose belts, or anything else that is out of place. Also make sure that these belts and hoses are still in good working condition, and replace if necessary. Always change out worn belts and hoses all at the same time. If one belt looks worn and needs to be replaced, chances are the other belts may be as well – don’t let looks deceive you.

There are many people out there that are unable to do this all themselves. Whether being hurt in an accident, or an older person, or even if someone that isn’t mechanically inclined, it still needs to get done. There are several different vehicle services available and many you could find locally. Some offer specialized services, like engine coolant, oil and lubrication specialists. These businesses will check and replace fluids, change filters, as well as many others. Usually they aren’t a repair shop so they don’t replace hoses belts and the like, but they do check these sometimes as well, and can tell you if something does need replacement.

There are other car specialists that do engine, coolant and heating system flushes, as well as transmissions. Generally, vehicle repair shops are equipped to handle engine and performance issues. They can replace spark plugs, belts, as well as a number of other things.