Tech Source
Checking Fluid Levels
A car's engine is a unique mix of steel, fire, and various fluids. Without these fluids, your engine will not run so it is important to make sure they are always filled to the necessary levels. It's a good idea to check your fluid levels every few months and before any long road trips. Luckily, every fluid should be clearly labelled in your vehicle and should have it's own indicator. It's important to note that overfilling your fluids is just as bad as under filling. Every reservoir should be labelled with acceptable levels and you should stay within this range. Finally, any auto parts store will be able to help you find the fluids you need to refill.
Materials Required: Paper towels, funnel
Engine Oil: The most important fluid to check is your engine oil. This is clearly marked with a dipstick, usually yellow or red, in the front of the engine block. NOTE: If the dipstick has a curve towards the bottom, this is the wrong dipstick. Replace it and move to the other one. After running your car for a few minutes, grab a paper towel and pull the dipstick all the way out. Clean off the end of the stick and reinsert it back into its reservoir. Pull the dipstick out again and examine the markings at the end. Fill with fluid as needed.
Transmission Fluid: This is the fluid that keeps everything in your engine moving smoothly. As such, if it gets too low, your car will start making lots of expensive sounds and ruin your day. Luckily, it's the same process to check as your engine oil. This time, go to the other dipstick, sometimes colored white, and grab your paper towels. NOTE: If this dipstick does NOT have a curve in it towards the bottom, this is the wrong dipstick. Replace it and move to the other one. Pull the dipstick all the way out, clean it with a paper towel, and put it back into the reservoir. Then pull it out again and read the markings at the bottom. Fill with fluid as needed.
Engine Coolant: This fluid is responsible for ensuring your engine does not overheat. If your car ever starts smoking, this is the first thing to check. NOTE: Do NOT check this if the engine is hot. Make sure the car has been off for at least an hour before checking this fluid. This fluid is the easiest one to check since it does not require any tools. Simply find the large plastic reservoir, usually in one of the corners, and read the markings on the front. It should give you a range (possibly marked by MIN-MAX or two lines) where you can clearly see if the fluid is in an acceptable range. Fill with fluid as needed.
Power Steering Fluid: This is the fluid that actually turns your car. It's the reason a driver's wheel is so small. If your car becomes difficult to turn or unresponsive, this is the first place to look. Like the coolant, there should be a clearly labelled reservoir towards the back of your engine. It will most likely be a small black container labelled with Power Steering Fluid. Unscrew the top of the container and look at the dipstick attached to it. It should clearly label if your fluid is in an acceptable range. Fill with fluid as needed.
Brake Fluid: This is the fluid that, as the name implies, lubricates your brakes. If your brakes seem sluggish or unresponsive, this is may be the reason why. The reservoir for this is usually towards the back of the engine and on the driver's side. It will look like a smaller engine coolant reservoir and you check it the same way. Simply rock it back and forth to see if the fluid is within the specified acceptable range. Fill with fluid as needed.
Washer Fluid: This is the easiest fluid to check but also run out of. It is not necessary for your car to run but it makes cleaning your windshield a lot easier. To check this fluid, look for a clear or white container on the side of your car with a windshield wiper label on it. It should have liquid inside it. If you do not see any liquid, slowly fill the reservoir with washer fluid until you see a small amount at the bottom.