Service Fluid Changes

There are several fluids that you need to be aware of in your car or light truck, and we give a brief over-view of all (below). But for now, let’s focus on your cars coolant system:

Heating & Cooling System Services

Failure of the heating and cooling system is the #1 cause of roadside breakdown, which is why heating and cooling system service is such an important part of maintaining your vehicle, especially here in Northern Illinois.

Your vehicle’s engine generates a lot of heat. That heat can be beneficial because it warms up the engine to operating temperature and warms the oil so that it can circulate easily to lubricate vital engine parts. At the same time, if the heating system is not kept under control the engine can overheat and be severely damaged. If you notice that your vehicle is beginning to overheat, it’s very important to have the heating and cooling systems checked as soon as possible to help avoid some of the worst engine damage and repairs.

We recommend having your heating and cooling system inspected regularly to help identify any possible problems before a component fails. Parts such as the radiator, hoses, cooling fans, water pumps and thermostat can wear out or begin to develop leaks. Bring your car or truck into Doc Motor Works, or schedule an appointment online, to have one of our expert technicians inspect your entire heating and cooling system to make sure there are no problems.

If your engine overheats, pull over immediately and have your vehicle towed. Catastrophic damage will occur if you continue to drive with an over heating engine.

Car Fluid Maintenance

Your vehicle has a lot of different fluids running through it to keep it working. Many car fluids need to be replaced regularly, to avoid consequences. Here, we give a brief overview of many different car fluids.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Also known as ATF, this car fluid keeps the automatic transmission in your car working properly by lubricating and cooling it. Many people don’t realize it, but remembering to replace this fluid as needed can help you avoid costly transmission problems down the road. Transmission fluid is usually red or green. However, darkened or black transmission fluid indicates it should be replaced. Similar in the way dirty oil can ruin your engine, dirty transmission fluid can ruin your transmission. Doc Motor Works offers a transmission flush as one of our many engine and transmission services.

Brake Fluid

Brake fluid is a hydraulic fluid that gives your brakes the pressure and power they need to stop your vehicle. As such, it is a very important car fluid. As brake fluid ages, it collects moisture and needs to be replaced when its moisture content gets too high. However, this happens very slowly, so brake fluid only needs to be replaced about once every one or two years. If brake fluid ever gets low, this almost always indicates a problem with the vehicle. If you bring your vehicle to Doc Motor Works Auto Repair at 18600 S. State Route 59 in Shorewood, Illinois, we can diagnose and fix the problem to get your brakes working again.

Coolant (Anti-freeze)

The parts under the hood of your vehicle can get extremely hot well over 300 degrees in some cases. If the heat isn’t controlled, it can cause serious damage. That is where this car fluid comes in. Although auto engines are considered water-cooledengines, plain water is insufficient and can damage a vehicle over time. Automotive coolant is water with several additives to keep it from harming the vehicle. For example, unlike plain water, coolant uses additives to have a very low freezing point and very high boiling point, which keeps ice and steam from damaging the system. Coolant also has corrosion inhibitors and lubricant for the coolant pump added in as well. Ask us at Doc Motor Works if it’s time for your cooling system fluids to be flushed and replaced.

Motor Oil

This is the car fluid you hear the most about. Motor oil is like the life-blood of your engine it lubricates, protects, and even cools the engine. As such, following a healthy oil changing schedule is an important part of car maintenance. As oil is used by the vehicle, it begins to break down and collect soot and other particles from engine combustion. These particles rub over the engine parts and cause wear and tear. An oil filter prevents most of this damage. However, as the filter fills with dirt and sludge from the oil, it becomes less effective. This is why you should change your oil and oil filter after 3,000 or so miles. You can learn more about oil and oil changes by visiting the oil changing section on this website.

Power Steering Fluid

Like brake fluid, power steering fluid is part of a hydraulics system. It gives you power to turn the wheel of the vehicle easily. As seals and other internal parts begin to wear out, Power Steering fluid can get contaminated with dust, moisture and metal particles. This can cause a costly repair of the power steering pump if the fluid is not flushed or replaced. If you feel changes in the way your vehicle turns, or if you hear any new strange noises when turning, bring it in to Doc Motor Works to see if it needs any of our steering and suspension services.

WHY SHOULD YOU FLUSH AND REFILL YOUR VEHICLE’S ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM?

Neglecting your vehicle’s cooling system can and will lead to a progressive failure of engine components such as water pumps, internal engine gaskets, freeze plugs and aluminum parts deterioration. Also heater core and radiator leaks can occur. These failures can be costly to repair and can result in being stranded!!!

You see, after about 2 years the lubricants and additives in the antifreeze start to loose their effectiveness due to constant changes in engine temperature and electrical forces. A chemical reaction between engine coolant flowing over different metals within the engine cooling system and antifreeze will begin to react with the electricity from the numerous electrical components. This reciting will force a change in the pH balance of the coolant and turns it into an acidic state which in turn corrodes the engine metals and cooling system components which causes premature parts failures, gasket leaks and costly repairs.

By having DOC MOTOR WORKS perform a COOLING SYSTEM FLUSH AND REFILL on your vehicle you can SAVE MONEY, the engine will RUN COOLER, and you’ll have a MORE DEPENDABLE, SAFER vehicle.