Transmission Flush

Posts Tagged ‘Brake’

The longevity of a vehicle has a lot to do with how the vehicle is maintained by the owner. There are many basic car care requirements that should be performed on a regular basis. Checking your brake fluid is one of these basic tasks that tend to get overlooked. It’s a good idea to schedule it into your list of maintenance like oil changes and transmission checks. Checking the brake fluid is pretty easy. It just requires a few minutes of your time and a little patience.

Almost all basic car maintenance should be started with a cool engine so let it sit a while after you turn the car off. Safety is important and should always come first no matter what job you are doing. When you start out right, you are ensuring success with little chance of mishap.

In order to check your brake fluid you will need to look under the hood towards the back of the engine. It is usually on the driver’s side so check there first. If you know what you are looking for then finding it should be no problem. It doesn’t hurt to ask for help though so feel free to get a friend or family member to assist you.

You need to locate the master brake cylinder where the brake fluid is held. It is a small piece of metal that is usually rectangular in shape. It is basically a plastic reservoir and there will be a rubber cap on top of it. It should be pretty easy to identify. If you’re not quite sure if you have found it, double check by using photos in the owner’s manual that comes with your vehicle.

On most new vehicles the reservoir is easily see through so that you can see the fluid level without having to open the cap. If it’s not see through then you will have to take the cap off to look inside. The line will indicate if the fluid is too low or not. You can decide if you want to top it up yourself or take it to a professional.

It’s not all that difficult to refill the brake fluid to the full line but some people are not comfortable with that. If you wish, ask your mechanic to show you how to do it so you know for certain that you’re doing it right. Most mechanics will be happy to show you something like this for your own peace of mind. It never hurts to ask if you are unsure about something. It certainly is better to be safe than sorry.

Always read your vehicle’s manual to determine the appropriate type of brake fluid for your car. You must use the one specified or you could put your car in an unnecessarily compromising position. Follow all instructions regarding your car’s well being and maintenance. It is essential to the proper running condition of your car as well as your own personal safety. Where safety is concerned, there is never room for neglect.

Owning a car entails for great responsibility as well as setting aside funds for additional expenses that goes on maintenance and repairs. The car contains at least six types of fluids which need to be periodically replenished or replaced namely engine oil, transmission fluid, anti-freeze/coolant, windshield washer solvent and fuel. The number six on the list is brake fluid which is often the neglected one. You’ve known about topping off brake fluid but changing it may be new to most car owners.

According to Car Care Council, the brake fluid of a typical vehicle is prone to contamination in two years time or less. This is because the fluid absorbs moisture which finds its way through the hydraulic system. During heavy braking conditions such as those encountered when driving in mountainous or hilly roads or when towing a trailer, the moisture in the overheated fluid vaporizes resulting to reduction on the braking efficiency.

Such condition can also happen even under normal driving circumstances especially if the brake fluid is seriously contaminated. There are actually two things that can happen. The first one is for the contaminated fluid to vaporize and second it has the ability to also freeze up either way the result is the same which is reduced braking efficiency.

Brake fluid must maintain a stable viscosity throughout its operating temperature range. If it’s too thick or too thin; it would impaired the braking action of the vehicle. Beyond the vaporization hazard moisture creates an additional problem for owners of vehicles especially those equipped with anti-lock braking systems (ABS) since ABS components often get rusted. A rusted and corroded ABS components is never good news since it’s very expensive to replace.

So how would a car owner know when its time to change their car’s brake fluid? Car Care Council recommends changing brake fluid every two years or for every 24,000 miles traveled. Plus, the Council also suggests a change in brake pads or shoe replacement. The brake system to choose would depend on your car make say if you own a Volkswagen then it is only sensible that you purchase Volkswagen brakes system. And in between as preventive measure, a professional brake technician should check the condition of the fluid with an accurate fluid test safety meter that is inserted into the master cylinder reservoir to record the fluid’s boiling point.

Volkswagen, the Company

Volkswagen is considered to be an icon of the 20th century due to the countless legendary cars it has produced. Volkswagen is a German word for people’s car. It started as a concept formed by Ferdinand Porsche in 1934. He wants to produce quality but affordable transport for the German people. He produced a working prototype in just a year.

Ferdinand Porsche has created a masterpiece in the form of a beetle-shaped sedan that was later on called the Volkswagen. The Beetle because of its unique design and aesthetic appeal has become very popular as a fact it has become the best selling car of all time.

Volkswagen was born in an era that is said to be designed for the privilege few and the vehicle has provided the German people would something to look forward to.

By the year 1942, 70,000 Volkswagens were produced. Three years after in a swift recovery after the war, Volkswagen was able to produce 2,000 vehicles but this time it was not for public sale but especially manufactured for the Allied Forces and the new German Post Office. The next production of Volkswagen was after three years again, 1948, wherein it produced a total of 25,000 vehicles from its production lines in Wolfsburg. It was also during that time when Beetles for export to the US was built. The following year 1949 and additional 25,000 Volkswagens were built including the Karmann convertible which became the best selling convertible in the world.

The year 1955 signaled the growth of Volkswagen into a world corporation when it produced a million Volkswagens. It was also on that year when the automaker started building factories and working communities in United States, Brazil, and Canada. The German automaker has not forgotten to also help its fellow countrymen; it has built working communities in major centers in Western Europe.

Less than two decades later The Beetle which was a people’s car was able to overtake Ford’s famous Model T. For the last fifteen years of the millennium Volkswagen has emerged as a true global force in the auto industry. Its acquisition and redevelopment of popular brands like the Audi, SEAT, Skoda, and Lamborghini has strengthen further its standing as one of the largest automaker in the world.

Now that you’ve known the other car care basics, perhaps it’s time we take a look at the fluid essentials that are literally the life giving blood of your car.

1. Brake Fluid- Is a type of hydraulic fluid that is used in hydraulic brake applications of your car, motorcycles and trucks. This type of fluid is used to transfer force under pressure from its point of origin among hydraulic lines to the braking mechanism close to the wheels.

Most brake fluids today are composed of glycol-ether but several types with mineral oil and silicone composites are also out in the market. This type of fluid should meet stringent requirements set by organizations such as SAE and the US Department of Transportation (DOT) – hence you get ratings on labels such as SAE or DOT 3 and 4 compliance.

As a rule of thumb, brake fluid should always be replenished if the levels in its container decrease with every drive. Fluid level in the master cyclinder will drop as the linings, brake pads and shoes wear and the calipers extend further to compensate. Brake fluid level may also be low because of leaking, which can lead to loss of hydraulic pressure and the most dangerous- brake loss.

It is very important to constantly monitor your brake fluid levels to ensure safe driving and fill according to the set level. Flush and change your brake fluid every 1-2 years to further ensure reliability and take note to never mix brake fluids with different DOT ratings as this can result to poor fluid performance.

2. Power Steering – Is another type of hydraulic fluid that transmits the power steering system of cars, trucks and other modes of transportation.
This is the fluid that guards your power-steering pump and rack from wear and tear. It requires constant monitoring and refilling from time to time according to the required level in its cylinder.

A way to notice that your steering system is about to have a problem or that your power steering fluid is running low is when you turn the steering wheel and you hear whining noises. Have your car checked when this occurs to prevent serious damages to your power- steering system.

Note: There are products out in the market today that contain the combined properties of Power Steering and Automatic Transmission Fluids (ATF). Use any of these products to save and be protected more.

3. Battery Fluid- Is the electrolyte fluid found inside the cells of your battery. If you are using the regular type of battery and not the maintenance free one, then you are required to refill your battery cells from time to time with electrolyte fluid.

Standard battery for cars is 12V and usually has 6 individual cells inside it. To refill, simply remove the vent caps that can either be found on top or on the sides of the battery. Check and fill the electrolyte fluid inside.

Note: There are some brands of maintenance free batteries out in the market today that can run on dual power- meaning they also have vent caps for electrolyte fluids in case their power supply run out. Although this type of battery may not come cheap, it would be best for you to use it.

4. Radiator Coolant- Is a mixture of anti-freeze fluid and water designed to protect the radiator and cooling system all year round. Using one will protect your engine from overheating. Most coolant products out in the market today come with various additives that can further help you against rust and other forms of corrosion, lubricate or increase the cooling efficiency of your cooling system.

Simply pour out the contents of your coolant to the radiator reservoir. Add water to the set level and you’re done.

For maintenance, it is very important for you to drain and flush your coolant once a year (or depending on the product recommendations) and replace it with a new one.

Note: Never mix different types of coolant together as this can lead to damage or a reduction of your car’s cooling system. Before changing to another brand, be sure to drain and flush your cooling system of the old one.
See to it that the reservoirs of these fluids are in constant levels and refill when they’re not enough. Properly maintaining them will help ensure your safety and prolong the life of your car.

Buckle up and drive safely.

Jovir Amatong
<a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview(‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’);” href=”http://www.autoterminal.com”>jamatong@autoterminal.com</a>