Now that you have owned the car that you have been eyeing for so long, how are you going to maintain it. Here are some tips:
Besides checking the engine oil, transmission and power steering fluids in your car, you also need to include the coolant, brake fluid, battery water and window washer water.
Coolant
Never open your radiator cap when the engine is hot or when the engine is still running. Wait until the radiator has completely cooled before removing the cap. You can check the level by either opening up the radiator cap or checking the level in the overflow reservoir.
The reservoir is a plastic container at the side of the radiator, with a hose connecting the two. It reserves as a receptacle for excess radiator coolant to flow into when it expands when hot. If the fluid level comes near the top of the radiator or in between the maximum and minimum line in the reservoir, its fine. If the level is low, you will need to top up with a 50/50 mixture of water and coolant.
Brake fluid
On newers cars, you can usually check the brake fluid level without removing the cap on the mastercylinder by looking through the translucent plastic reservoir. Like the transmission, the braking system is a sealed network. It is normal for the brake fluid level to gradually decrease as the brakes wear. It is not necessary for the level to hover around the maximum mark.
But if it is gets repeatedly low on fluid, you might have a leaky braking system at hand. To add brake fluid, wipe the cylinder free of dust and debris, as you do not want any of that to find its way into the brake fluid. Avoid getting water in the braking system at all costs.
Battery water
Some cars have what is called a maintenance free battery which is sealed and doesn't need refilling. If your car is using the traditional battery with six cells, it will need occasional refilling. Fill the battery cells with distilled water, which is without the contaminants and trace elements that can cause a corrosive buildup around the battery terminals.
Windscreen washer fluid
You never know when you will need to activate your windscreen wipers on a dry day to clear the windshield of dust and dirt, so don't forget to fill up the reservoir. Its usually located in the engine compartment underneath the windshield and looks similar to the coolant overflow reservoir. However, they will be labelled appropriately to distinguish one from the other.
