Back to all

The Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Glendale Heights Guide to Proper Fluids for Your Vehicle

August 30, 2022

The automotive professionals at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Glendale Heights would like to give Glendale Heights drivers an update on some of the things happening in automotive fluids. You know, vehicles are becoming more sophisticated every day.  Fluids such as, oil, coolant and transmission fluid are becoming more specialized at about the same pace.

The Glendale Heights do-it-yourselfer has to be pretty careful so that they do not actually harm their vehicle with the wrong type of fluid. That is why so many Illinois ] owners rely on the advice of their friendly and knowledgeable Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Glendale Heights service advisor to not only get the correct family of fluids, but to suggest the formulation that is best for their vehicle and their driving habits in the Glendale Heights area.

Let's start with engine oil. Glendale Heights drivers who have been paying attention will have noticed a number of new oil weights on the Illinois scene in the last several years. Modern engines are built to much tighter tolerances and have very complicated valve trains. The oil must be thin enough to lubricate complicated parts when the engine is cold. The weight of an oil is expressed in terms like 20-W-50 or 5-W-30. The vehicle manufacturers recommend the weight of oil for each vehicle they make. The recommendation is based on engine design. Your Glendale Heights service center will know what weight your vehicle manufacturer recommends - and it's important to follow those recommendations. Your service advisor at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Glendale Heights can also offer suggestions for special formulations and can tell you all about conventional and synthetic oils.

Antifreeze, or engine coolant, is another area that has become more complicated. For a long time, vehicle manufacturers only recommended a couple of different types of coolant. Now, several different formulations are needed because of the high-tech materials that vehicle manufacturers are using to build the cooling system. Using the wrong type of coolant in your vehicle can actually void your warranty, so it's important to get that right.

Transmission fluid is becoming specialized for Glendale Heights vehicles as well. New transmission designs have particular requirements that require specific formulations. Recently, new, somewhat confusing, standards for brake fluid have also been released.

Not too long ago, there was a good chance that all of the vehicles at your house would use many of the same fluids. However, as automotive technology advances, the array of basic automotive fluids Illinois drivers need will grow. And, some of the formulations will cost a little more for Glendale Heights drivers. Fortunately, Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Glendale Heights will continue to update their training to keep pace with technology so that you'll get the right fluids your vehicle needs. It's all part of the commitment we make to your driving peace of mind.

 Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Glendale Heights
1153 Bloomingdale Rd.
Glendale Heights, Illinois 60139
630-588-8846

More articles from Tuffy Glendale Heights

Not Too Hot and Not Too Cold (Temperature Gauge)

May 5, 2024

You know your body temperature is supposed to be 98.6 degrees F, 37 degrees C. Your vehicle has a normal temperature, too, and if you pay attention to it, that can save you some big headaches down the road. Many vehicles have a temperature gauge on the dash that takes the temperature of the engi... More

Always on Guard (TMPS)

April 28, 2024

One of the most important things you can do to keep your vehicle running safely is to make sure your tires are properly inflated. If one or more is vastly over- or underinflated, that has the potential to cause major handling problems and may result in a dangerous accident. All vehicles in recen... More

Free Money (Almost) (Fuel Saving Tips)

April 21, 2024

You spend a lot of money on a vehicle, probably the most money you'll spend on anything except a house. But the spending doesn't stop after you've bought it. It goes into things like insurance, repairs and fuel. One good piece of news is that you can cut down the amount you spend on fuel if yo... More