How many different kinds of liquids are there in a car, that can be changed?

[Cristatus]

I have a car that has not been maintained properly. I want to give it a once over, especially since it feels like it's been losing power and it's 12 years old.

What are the liquids that can be changed that can make the car run smoother?

Brake oil
Transmission oil
Engine oil

Am I missing anything?

TIA

(C)

 

[Jimzz]

Brake

Steering

Trans

Engine

Diff

Transfer case

Coolant

Those are the more common ones I can think of. Some will have all some will have only some in that list.

 

[MixMasterTang]

What kind of car? It's also Fluid when talking about Brake and Transmission. Radiator Coolant is one you're missing and possibly transfer case fluid.

http://www.edmunds.com/how-to/how-to-maintain-your-cars-fluid-levels.html

 

[amdhunter]

 

[MixMasterTang]

Possibly grease fittings too: http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/maintenance/4226213

 

[Eureka]

If you haven't done it, check the non-fluid items as well. Spark plugs/ignition coils, battery, drive belts, intake and throttle, and timing belt. If you have a manual check clutch fluid (could or could not be shared with brake reservoir), and turret oil.

Fill up the window wiper fluids if it's out to avoid pumping dry.

Remember to change the driver fluids too.

 

[videogames101]

grease in many many places, (see suspension)

 

[phucheneh]

grease in many many places, (see suspension)

If serviceable. Most cars since the 90's or so lack zerk fittings in things like ball joints and tie rods. The thinking being (I guess) that by the time the [supposed to be] sealed joint starts to get dry, it needs to be replaced anyway. Personally I think it's just YACSM (yet another cost-saving measure). One less step in production (drilling/tapping the hole) and they save the two cents on the fitting. Added bonus: we've eliminated maintenence! Your car is now more reliable! Or something.

There aren't really a lot of instances where a fluid change is going to make any noticeable difference. If the car's running bad, the first place to start would be the fuel filter and the spark plugs + associated ignition stuff (cap/rotor/wires if applicable).

And that little packet of dielectric grease being called 'headlight fluid' is pretty awesome.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Battery fluid

 

[wirednuts]

If serviceable. Most cars since the 90's or so lack zerk fittings in things like ball joints and tie rods. The thinking being (I guess) that by the time the [supposed to be] sealed joint starts to get dry, it needs to be replaced anyway. Personally I think it's just YACSM (yet another cost-saving measure). One less step in production (drilling/tapping the hole) and they save the two cents on the fitting. Added bonus: we've eliminated maintenance! Your car is now more reliable! Or something.

There aren't really a lot of instances where a fluid change is going to make any noticeable difference. If the car's running bad, the first place to start would be the fuel filter and the spark plugs + associated ignition stuff (cap/rotor/wires if applicable).

And that little packet of dielectric grease being called 'headlight fluid' is pretty awesome.

theyre lying, because i have seen hundreds of dry sticky balljoints with no grease fittings. a needle greaser jammed into the boot, fill it up and work the joint a little. bingo, a nice tight and fluid joint again. yeah, theres a hole in the boot but who cares. it doesnt squirt out and you can grease it again every year. im over 100K miles on my tie rods by doing this. theyre still like new (besides the grease hole )

i used to think the greaseless balljoints were just made with cheaper metal and were going to fail quickly anyway, thats why they opted out of the cost of the fittings... but then i realized that would probably be a safety hazard to have poor quality balljoints. i honestly believe theyre just creating a new maintenance checkpoint which ultimately creates more revenue for themselves. tapping a hole and including a 10 cent nipple in a plastic bag cant cost them too much to just not include it.

 

[Kadarin]

Also wiper fluid

 

[herm0016]

def for some cars/trucks.

 

[jagec]

Fuel tank fluid.