It’s significant to make sure frequently what’s going on under the car’s bonnet. Inspecting the engine oil level, water in the radiator, and other fluids at-least once a month is a good practice. As they say, prevention is better than cure, doing these small number of checks can save you from additional expenses and maintenance costs. Here are a handful of things to make sure when you open the bonnet of your car:
Check Engine Oil Level:
The first thing you will want to ensure is the engine oil level of the car. It’s typically best to check this first thing in the morning, or 3-4 hours after parking the car, giving sufficient time for the engine oil to settle down. Confirm the car is parked on a flat surface and not on an predispose. Pull out the oil dipstick, wipe it clean with a piece of cloth or towel. Place the oil dipstick back, wait for a couple of seconds and pull it off. Verify if the level of oil is on minimum or maximum.
Most Oil dipsticks have two tiny holes which are provided as oil level indicators. The hole towards the tip of the dipstick point out minimum oil level whereas the second indicates maximum oil level. Preferably, the level of oil should be on the maximum. If the engine oil is short, you can always add some by opening the cap of the oil reservoir and pouring some oil into the engine. Make sure not to put too much of engine oil. If you are not certain on how much to add up, it’s almost certainly best to take your car to the nearest service station.
Check Radiator Water level:
The next thing you will desire to check is the level of water in the radiator. Before checking, make sure the engine is cool. Do not unbolt the cap on the radiator when the engine is hot, as you will be at risk of burning yourself with a hot break open of steam from the radiator. There is a plastic container near the radiator, which is the water reservoir. When inspecting the water in the radiator it is always better to check the reservoir first. For fear that the reservoir has water in it while the radiator doesn’t, point to that there might be some blockage in among the pipe, connecting the reservoir to the radiator. If this is the case, get it checked by a mechanic. The reservoir has maximum and minimum levels indicated. Always add clean drinkable water to the radiator. It’s recommended to use 60% coolant and 40% water Always check for leaks in the radiator and the reservoir container.
Check Windshield Washer Fluid:
Checking the windshield washer fluid is quite easy. There are minimum and maximum levels indicated in the reservoir. Always use clean water or washer fluids. Never use radiator coolants or other detergents to top up the windshield washer reservoir as this could damage the washers.
Check Clutch/Brake Fluid:
It is vital to check the clutch or brake fluid at least once a month. As the brakes and clutch are used, its fluid gets reduced. The brake fluid container in general has minimum and maximum levels, which specify the level of the fluid. When examining the brake fluid, make definite to keep the fluid away from the paint of the car. Clutch and brake fluids are corrosive and can harm the paint as well as the skin. For all time check for leaks and if the fluid decrease frequently, its best to get it checked by a mechanic.
Power Steering Fluid:
All cars nowadays come with electronic steering wheels and consequently have no steering fluid. Other than for older cars, the fluid container is situated in the engine. Most power steering fluid container caps have a small stick attached to them, which point out the perfect level of power steering oil. Be convinced to check for leaks if the power steering fluid goes down too often. In addition, if the power steering fluid is too black, you require to flush out the fluid and put some new one. Power steering fluids are reddish or pinkish in color.
Battery Water Level:
Inspect the level of water in the battery, at least once in 3 weeks. For all time add distilled water to a car’s battery. Lower and Upper levels are designated on the side of a car battery. The image below symbolizes the ideal level of water you require to put in a car battery.
