- Oil – Oil lubricates the engine and absorbs heat. Make sure to change it every 3,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first.
- Radiator Fluid – Radiator fluid prevents engines from overheating. Make sure to change it every 30,000 miles or 5 years.
- Transmission Fluid – If you’re experiencing trouble shifting gears, erratic shifting, or transmission surges, check the transmission fluid. It should be change every 30,000 to 60,000 miles.
- Power Steering Fluid – Is there whining or squealing when you turn the wheel? Then you might need to top off your power steering fluid. A drop in this fluid could also mean you have a leak in the power steering rack. Check it every couple years.
- Brake Fluid – Pressurized brake fluid helps your brakes work – if it’s low or has turned a dark color, then your brake fluid needs to be changed.
- Air Conditioner Coolant (also known as Refrigerant or Freon) – If you’ve ever survived a Georgia summer, you know this one is no joke! Keep it cool in your car by checking this fluid level twice a year – once before it heats up for summer, and once before the temperatures drop.
- Wiper Fluid – How often you need to check this depends on how much driving you do and how dirty your vehicle gets, but a good rule of thumb is to check it at every service interval (usually every 6 months or 3,000 miles).
At U-Wrench-It, we’re happy to help thrifty DIY-ers find the right used auto parts for any project! Shop for car parts online, view our price list, or visit us during our regular business hours for in-person service.
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