Quick Lube and Fluid Check In the Cincinnati Area – Cincinnati, OH

Chores are some of the most tedious and irritating facets of adult life that exist. Sure, they may be necessary, and to a degree can feel rewarding upon completion. However, more often than not they just feel laborious and bothersome. Sometimes even vehicle ownership can feel like a chore, with all of the maintenance and repairs that are required over the course of a vehicle’s life. However, just like regular chores, vehicle maintenance is ultimately important and necessary, and should be treated as such. Vehicles are complex pieces of machinery, with many moving parts that generate a lot of friction and heat. One of the most important kinds of maintenance to regularly perform is checking and changing your fluids. Luckily, it is one of the most simplistic forms of maintenance to perform, although it has to be done regularly enough to the point where it can feel like a chore. One of the best places to bring your vehicle for a quick lube and oil change is your local dealership, as they will not only know exactly how to handle your specific vehicle and what to look for, they will also have the best available fluids and other materials for your specific vehicle.

Why Regular Fluid Checks Are Important

Just like any other form of maintenance, fluid checks are important for the overall health of the vehicle. Due to the nature of vehicle fluids, they are the most common form of maintenance that one will find themselves having to perform on their vehicles. The absolute most common fluid change one will find themselves having to perform is an oil change. Motor oil is a combination of bases, oils, and additives that are specifically designed for use in internal combustion engines. The primary functions of motor oil is to not only lubricate and reduce friction on the moving parts of the engine, but also to dissipate heat as well as remove and prevent sludge build-up. Due to this, motor oil must be changed frequently, as it becomes less-effective over time. The transmission has its own fluid, which is known as transmission fluid. Transmission fluid is a special kind of vehicle fluid composed of various oils and bases that is designed to lubricate the moving parts inside of a transmission. Another form of fluid that is very important for the vehicle is coolant, and is vital to keeping the engine from overheating. Coolant’s primary function is to aid in the dissipation of engine heat. It does this by flowing through the engine and taking heat to the radiator, where it is able to separate the heat and release it in to the surrounding air. Without the proper amount of coolant, a car’s engine could overheat, leading to potentially catastrophic issues that could destroy the engine. Brakes also have their own kind of necessary fluid, which is aptly called brake fluid. Brake fluid is a special sort of hydraulic fluid which is necessary for brakes to function correctly. It transfers force in to pressure, and to increase stopping ability. It is able to accomplish this because liquid is not compressible. Without the proper amount of brake fluid, the brakes would become stiff and ineffective, which could lead to a very negative situation quickly. The final bit of vehicle fluid that should be checked regularly is power-steering fluid, which is pretty ideal if you enjoy steering your vehicle comfortably. Power steering fluid is type of hydraulic fluid consisting of mineral and silicone-based fluids. It lubricates the power steering pump, ensuring that the vehicle is able to turn smoothly. Without the proper amount or type of power steering fluid, the power steering pump could burn out.

How to Check Your Vehicle Fluids and What to Look For

When it comes to maintaining your vehicle’s fluids, checking them regularly is important. This is a fairly easy process, as most modern vehicles are designed with easy to read meters and other devices. For motor oil, the thing to look for is the “dipstick”, which is located on the outside of your engine. More often than not, it will be a long and thin metallic rod, which reaches in to the engine’s oil reservoir. There will be a colored handle (usually yellow) which can be pulled out from the engine. At the tip of the dipstick will be a few notches; this is the acceptable range of oil that the vehicle’s engine allows. The ideal range is right in the middle of the 2 notches, although anywhere in between is generally acceptable. The color of the oil is important, as the darker the oil is, the dirtier it is, and should be cleaned. Generally, the recommended range of oil is between 3,000-5,000 miles, however newer synthetic oils offer much larger ranges, between 10,000-15,000 miles. It is important to remember to run the engine for a little bit, then shut it off before checking the oil, as the engine needs to warm up a bit to get to the proper level of oil. The transmission has its own separate dipstick which can be used to check the level of fluid inside of it, and is usually located to the side of the engine. The brake fluid and the power steering fluid can be checked in a similar manner, as each system also has its own dipstick for testing levels. For most vehicles, these dipsticks can be found attached to the caps of the power steering pump and the brake pump respectively, and have a similar setup of two notches representing the approved range of fluids. A good tip to remember when dealing with any dipstick is to wipe the dipstick off when pulling it out initially, then place it back in before reading the levels. The reasoning behind is that with so many moving parts inside of the engine and other pumps, the fluid inside of the reservoirs can move around and make it seem like there is more fluid than there actually is. For the coolant, it is a bit easier, as there is meter on the side of the radiator reservoir. Simply check the side of the translucent canister for the level of the liquid.

Why McCluskey Chevrolet is the Best Place to Bring Your Chevy for a Fluid Check

When it comes to vehicle fluid, the kind of fluid you are putting in to your vehicle makes a difference. Each make and model is unique, and each kind of vehicle fluid has multiple different types. It can get pretty confusing determining the specific types of fluids your vehicle requires, so a good idea when it comes time to change your fluids is to bring it down to your local dealership. For Chevy owners in the Cincinnati area, there is no better place to bring your Chevy when it comes to fluid changes or any other type of mechanical needs than McCluskey Chevrolet. The service department is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to all sorts of Chevrolets, and they know exactly what your vehicle needs. Not only will they be able to get the job in a timely manner due to their familiarity, but they will also use the absolute best fluids available for a Chevy. Fluid maintenance is a very important part of vehicle ownership. Neglecting it can have some nasty effects on your vehicle, while conversely staying on top of it and changing it regularly can keep your vehicle running great. The best way to ensure your Chevy is as healthy as possible is to bring it to McCluskey Chevrolet, where it will receive the absolute best service available.