Keeping on top of maintenance is one of the best things you can do to ensure your vehicle stays running at its prime, and a simple yet vital way to do this is by checking the fluids in your car. Doing this is usually straightforward and highly recommended if you are about to embark on a long trek, suspect a leak, or have driven many miles lately. Below are some tips about how to check your fluids in your Honda.
Initial Steps to Take
When checking your fluids, there are a few things to do to make the process more efficient. First, have your owner’s manual ready to help you locate each fluid intake. Next, have supplies on hand, such as gloves, safety glasses, funnel, shop towels, and wheel chocks. Also, understand which type of fluids your vehicle takes. If you are uncertain, refer to your Honda owner’s manual or contact the service team at your local Honda dealership.
Checking Your Fluids
Ready to check your fluids? Below are recommendations to get the best reading. You’ll also want to note the condition, such as the color and consistency of each.
- Motor Oil: Check your oil on level ground after having your vehicle off for more than 30 seconds. Remove the oil dipstick from the engine, wipe off the excess oil, dip it back in, take it out again, and check the level indicator on the bottom of the stick.
- Engine Coolant: ‘Cool‘ is the word for when you check this fluid. Ensure your vehicle has been turned off and sitting for at least three hours, and see where the fluid sits in the coolant reservoir. Also, remove the radiator cap and be sure it’s filled to the top.
- Power Steering Fluid If you can’t see the level in the reservoir, there’s typically a dipstick for that. Remove it, wipe it, and dip it back in to get an accurate reading.
- Brake Fluid: You should be able to check the brake fluid level by looking at the reservoir and ensuring it has the maximum amount of fluid in it.
- Transmission Fluid: If you see a dipstick, check the fluid level while your engine is running and is in park with the emergency brake on and wheel chocks in place. If you don’t see a dipstick, we recommend having it checked by a professional.
- Windshield Washer Fluid: Locate the windshield washer fluid reservoir and just see where the flid level is sitting.
- Clutch Fluid: If you have a manual transmission with a hydraulic clutch, check this fluid by looking at the indicators on the reservoir. If you have an older model, you may have to remove the cap to view the level.
Let Honda Carland Help
If you’d rather leave your fluid checks up to the experts, Honda Carland near Alpharetta will gladly take on the task. No appointment is required with our Honda Express Service® in Roswell, so just drive right over!