How often do you check your cars fluids?

Midnight_EG

After seeing the recent thread about low oil...how often does everyone check their fluids, such as oil and coolant?

Atlantic Dawn

Once a month or whenever I am topping up the windscreen fluid. If I am going on a drive of over 100 miles I will always check them beforehand.

Mycroft H

Once a fortnight. No option for me

Mr. Manager

Same as above, when topping up wiper fluid... or when the light comes on

Drummerboy08

I'll normally check oil once a week, and I'm checking coolant every day at the minute...:o

Owen

Fortnightly. And it's a pain. Out with the tools, out with the false floor, lift up the boot floor, undo the clips, take out the metal engine cover, and then get the dipstick. And then everything back in again.

Midnight_EG

I'm the only one that does it a few times a week so far

Mr Benevolent

Once a week. 2 out of 5 important fluids are usually leaking.

pippip

Generally whenever I think of it but car usually warns me when one is low and I check the others while in there.

Drummerboy08

Midnight_EG wrote: »

I'm the only one that does it a few times a week so far

There's no real need to check it a few times a week dude unless there's something seriously wrong with your car!!

Midnight_EG

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

There's no real need to check it a few times a week dude unless there's something seriously wrong with your car!!

It's a Honda, it likes oil

TestTransmission

Midnight_EG wrote: »

I'm the only one that does it a few times a week so far

You have to with the amount of oil you're burning I'd say :pac:

Drummerboy08

Midnight_EG wrote: »

It's a Honda, it likes oil

Ah seriously though, it shouldn't be using that much oil!!

Now that I think of it, my machine has used very little oil since it's last service.

And it's only used around 18 litres of coolant.

Midnight_EG

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Ah seriously though, it shouldn't be using that much oil!!

Now that I think of it, my machine has used very little oil since it's last service.

And it's only used around 18 litres of coolant.

She doesn't burn much...although she's getting a bit smokey now so the oil will be changed tomorrow

Wexfordian

Fluids?

Hiace.

Owen wrote: »

Fortnightly. And it's a pain. Out with the tools, out with the false floor, lift up the boot floor, undo the clips, take out the metal engine cover, and then get the dipstick. And then everything back in again.

What are ye driving, a boat ?

TestTransmission

Wexfordian wrote: »

Fluids?

Yeah

flyingsnail

Once a week I usually give the car a quick once over fluids and tyre pressure.

Wexfordian

TestTransmission wrote: »

Yeah

I'm joking (somewhat) but certainly not often enough.

TheUsual

Oil - twice a week. That oil pressure warning light does not mean top-up your oil, it means you have NO oil. And have had low oil for a while.

Brake fluid - every week.

Coolant - every week.

Brake pads, not as often as I should but I have new ones to fit in front of me now.

Drummerboy08

TheUsual wrote: »

Brake pads, not as often as I should but I have new ones to fit in front of me now.

Pads are something that you'll just as easily feel when driving the car. But it certainly does no harm to throw an eye over em!

moonlighting

do an engine check one a month. change the oil every 3 months give or take.

RandomAccess

Current car doesn't consume any oil so usually only check every two months or so. I used to check more often with my last car.

I should probably check the other levels as well..

RandomAccess

moonlighting wrote: »

do an engine check one a month. change the oil every 3 months give or take.

How come so often? (the oil changes I mean) What kind of car is it.

TheUsual

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Pads are something that you'll just as easily feel when driving the car. But it certainly does no harm to throw an eye over em!

I am way too easy on my brakes, never use them hard.
So I have to force myself to check the pads for wear.

CiniO

Midnight_EG wrote: »

I'm the only one that does it a few times a week so far

Not any more.

SV

Once every 2 or 3 days./

MugMugs

Every month. Tyres every two weeks.

laughter189

Most of you guys on here are obviously car enthusiasts and look after your engines very well.

I would say most car-owners probably check fluids no more that half a dozen times between services .

I know many that only top up the fluid in the wiper bottle when it is actually empty .

I did'nt know that cars use coolant , and my car keeps the same level of coolant between services , so no need to top-up.

Oil is the one though ...deefinately should be checked regularly , ( weekly )

One guy here said he leaves the car run idle for 10 minutes before driving off , ........well as far as I know ,it is recommended that you turn off the ignition if you don't expect to move , for over a minute .

Midnight_EG

laughter189 wrote: »

Most of you guys on here are obviously car enthusiasts and look after your engines very well.

I would say most car-owners probably check fluids no more that half a dozen times between services .

I know many that only top up the fluid in the wiper bottle when it is actually empty .

I did'nt know that cars use coolant , and my car keeps the same level of coolant between services , so no need to top-up.

Oil is the one though ...deefinately should be checked regularly , ( weekly )

One guy here said he leaves the car run idle for 10 minutes before driving off , ........well as far as I know ,it is recommended that you turn off the ignition if you don't expect to move , for over a minute .

Cars shouldn't use coolant at all. If you are, you've got a leak somewhere.

I leave my car idling for 10 minutes because the oil I use is thicker than recommended, so needs more heating up

laughter189

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

I'll normally check oil once a week, and I'm checking coolant every day at the minute...:o

why check coolant every day .........cars are not meant to use coolant

EPM

About twice a week usually.

who the fug

laughter189 wrote: »

Most of you guys on here are obviously car enthusiasts and look after your engines very well.

.

Or just older and had the battery, oil and water levels must be checked weekly banged into us.


thankfully all the grease nipples had gone by then

R.O.R

I've a Petrol Accord - the only fluid I need to check regulaly is Fuel.

MetzgerMeister

After owning an RX8, it's ingrained in my head to check the oil after every 2nd fill of petrol!

Since my current car is my first F/I motor, I check it just as often. I know I'm kind of saying the same thing but if it was N/A, I wouldn't check it as often.

Coolant, brake fluid etc. is checked every 6th/7th time I check the oil.

It's also great to have a clear enough reading of the dipstick now rather than having to wipe off white gunk before getting a reading

Vicxas

Once a month, should probably do it more regularly tho caus ive got an oil burning VVTi engine...

SV

LIGHTNING wrote: »

And arent you supposed to drive away straight away and not sit and let your engine warm up as the gearbox and the rest of the mechanicals will be cold?

Every single book and article I've ever read on that suggests it's best to drive at low revs rather than let it sit idle!
yet people still let it warm up sitting there..

Vicxas

Whats the proper way to check and add,

I was told to let the car sit for a while and let the engine cool down and then check oil.

Adding i just assume you add it and then let it get around the engine?

Am i wrong caus im a car-tard somtimes.

no1beemerfan

Vicxas wrote: »

Whats the proper way to check and add,

I was told to let the car sit for a while and let the engine cool down and then check oil.

Adding i just assume you add it and then let it get around the engine?

Am i wrong caus im a car-tard somtimes.

Check when the car has not been driven for a while (15 mins at least) and on LEVEL ground! If it needs topping up just put in a bit at a time and wait a minute or two and check the dipstick again.


Myself I check everything every saturday, including tyre pressure. Oh and I always wait 30 seconds to a minute before I drive off....gives the oil a chance to get around the engine....then I stay at 2 to 2.5k rpm until warm.

Midnight_EG

Midnight_EG wrote: »

..........
I leave my car idling for 10 minutes because the oil I use is thicker than recommended, so needs more heating up

Letting it idle with the wrong spec oil in there won't do any good, better to drive off and keep the revs low. Or even put in the recommended oil :eek:

Once every few weeks for oil, more often for coolant as its leaking.

oil and coolant are the only fluids I check, dont think I have ever checked brake fluid or any others in years of driving bar a quick glance when servicing the car if even that

barura

My oil is a little too enthusiastic about leaving the car when it's parked after a drive over 20 miles. So I keep a check on that about every second day. Coolent as well cause of how the thermostat on this car has failed.

fletch

Yes I always drive off straight away. If you don't, you are just prolonging the period the engine is cold as it takes longer for the car to heat up while idling compared to driving.

hidinginthebush

How often should you change oil? I've never changed the oil in my banger. That said it seems to lose a bit throughout the year*, so I just keep topping her up.

*I'm sure that indicates a leak somewhere, but it's a 98 fiesta, and while I have a strong sentimental attachemnt to the car, I just can't afford / don't see the point in getting it patched up fully.

GalwayKiefer

I let the engine in a 4x4 I had a few years ago fall to pieces by not keeping an eye on things so now I make sure to check things at least once a month. Same with the g/f's car.

fletch

fletch wrote: »

Yes I always drive off straight away. If you don't, you are just prolonging the period the engine is cold as it takes longer for the car to heat up while idling compared to driving.

If its a cold morning with frost on the windows I go out and start the car 10mins before I go, sitting into a freezing car, no thanks. It stops the windows from refreezing too after throwing warm water on to defrost them.

_Conrad_

Well i had to answer once a week but more like once every 1 to 2 days, my everyday car is old and leaks both at the moment.

Midnight_EG

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Thats seems excessive to me almost OCD behaviour And arent you supposed to drive away straight away and not sit and let your engine warm up as the gearbox and the rest of the mechanicals will be cold?

I still don't bring my car over 3500 until the gearbox is smooth and warm

RoverJames wrote: »

Letting it idle with the wrong spec oil in there won't do any good, better to drive off and keep the revs low. Or even put in the recommended oil :eek:

There's reasons behind me using different oil

Midnight_EG

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Thats fair enough and being a Honda it doesnt produce any Torque until about 7k revs :pac:

I also don't screw my car day in day out

Gary ITR

Midnight_EG wrote: »

There's reasons behind me using different oil

Because it's burning the right spec? You'd be better off letting the car burn as much of the right spec oil as it wants than using the wrong oil. Wrong oil, especially in VTEC engines can cause a host of other issues


I have a new 'checking hole' in my block, I can see right into the sump so I just need to throw an eye over it every now and then. Car hasn't moved anywhere in weeks though lol

Wexfordian

So on foot of this thread, I checked my oil today. Then added 2 litres.

Thanks for the reminder!