7 Fluids to Keep Your Vehicle Healthy on the Road

Engine oil is the lifeblood of your vehicle. Without it, your car will start to make all sorts of cranky noises—which can translate to big-time bills. It’s wise to keep an eye on your engine-oil level, which can be checked via the dipstick under the hood. To get an accurate reading, let your engine warm up first. Keep a spare quart of your vehicle’s oil in the trunk to be prepared.

Windshield fluid is essential to keep your vision unimpaired on the road. Whether you’re cleaning off dried grasshopper, ice, or just mud, make sure your washer-fluid reservoir is topped off. This stuff from Prestone features a de-icer, which comes in handy when you’re too impatient to use a scraper. Along with that, the fluid is also powerful against tough bugs and dirt, so you’ll even be able to see in the worst conditions. 

Coolant is especially important, as it keeps your engine running at a happy temperature. Without this heat-dissipating fluid, you’ll get an angry red light on your dash telling you that your engine has a fever. This stuff is already diluted with water, so there’s no need to mix liquids. Keep an eye on the fluid level in your coolant reservoir and top it off as needed.

Without brake fluid, you’re in for a surprise when you hit that pedal. It’s very important to keep an eye on the fluid level in your master cylinder, as a low fluid level can make the brake pedal feel alarmingly different. There are a few types of brake fluid, so make sure to verify which one your vehicle needs.

Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) is reserved for use in diesel vehicles and works to reduce emissions (sorry, coal rollers). It sprays into the exhaust stream and breaks up harmful NOX emissions into nitrogen and water—two things much better for the green stuff in the world. Most trucks go into a limp mode when they run out of DEF, so make sure you’ve got some on hand. 

Power-steering fluid works in hydraulic systems to ensure that your shoulders don’t cramp up when you turn into the McDonald’s drive-through. If this stuff starts to get low, you’ll know. Keep a close eye on the reservoir under the hood and top it off as needed. This fluid from Lubegard is a fully synthetic formula and should work with most power-steering systems. 

Transmission fluid helps keep the complicated network of gears and components moving slowly and quietly. However, most manufacturers are persnickety about which transmission fluid is required, so do your research before topping off or replacing. Some vehicles have a transmission dipstick you can use—look for a cherry-red or amber color when checking ATF.