Photo: Which car fluids can be mixed (Getty Images) Author: Konstantin Shirokun
Car working fluids sometimes leak, evaporate or simply disappear into thin air. What should be added to the necks of tanks and other containers when it is not known for certain what brand of liquid was in them initially?
Read about whether it is possible to mix working fluids of different brands in the RBC-Ukraine article.
Sooner or later, the driver will find out that under his hood there are not only metal, rubber and plastic parts, but also several liquids. And a little later – and that their level needs to be restored. And here the main question arises: what exactly to add?
What working fluids should be added?
First of all, the driver should know that topping up this or that liquid is not quite normal (the exception is the washer fluid). After all, all working fluids, the list of which is below, have a service life. And the service regulations stipulate that after a certain period or number of kilometers of mileage, the mechanic at the service station should simply replace the old liquid with fresh one. In reality, scheduled replacement does not happen often, more often problems arise in the systems, due to which the liquid level drops – and it needs to be topped up to at least get to the place of repair.
In addition to fuel and oils, there are several other liquids in a car that are used as a working fluid or coolant.
- Brake fluid . Used in the hydraulic drive of brakes and clutches (when the car has a manual transmission);
- Coolant (antifreeze) . Circulates in the cooling system, taking heat from the engine and transferring it to the radiators;
- ATF hydraulic fluid . Transmits force in the power steering system and automatic transmissions (but we are not talking about gearboxes today, because in them ATF primarily plays the role of a lubricant);
- Washing liquid in the windshield washer reservoir . In winter – non-freezing, in summer – any, even regular tap water;
- Coolant in the air conditioner (freon) . The owner may understand that there is less liquid in the air conditioner, but it can only be replenished in a car repair shop. Therefore, we will not talk about freon here, although there are several types of it.
Below we will find out which liquids can be replenished without reservations, and which ones require a little thought.
Coolant
An unknown type of antifreeze in the expansion tank is the most difficult case. Firstly, color cannot be a measure of the type of antifreeze, since it is just a dye. Secondly, the system must contain the liquid recommended by the car manufacturer. Thirdly, when it is really necessary, any antifreeze can be added to the tank – however, it is not advisable to drive for a long time on such a mix, because the additive packages of different groups conflict with each other. And fourthly, when you need to add no more than half a liter, it is quite possible to take plain water. Then, of course, the liquid will have to be replaced completely or partially using a concentrate.
Brake fluid
All more or less modern cars use brake and clutch fluids that meet DOT requirements: DOT-3, DOT-4, DOT-5, DOT-5.1. The higher the index, the more modern the “brake fluid”. Fluid with a “pure” five is separate, and the rest of the “DOTs” can be mixed with each other, because they all have a glycol base. True, the key indicators – boiling point and viscosity in the cold – will change in one direction or another, but this will not be of particular importance for getting out of the situation. Of course, upon returning home, the system will need to be filled with the recommended type. DOT-5 fluid without a one is unique, has a silicone base, so it cannot be mixed with any other. Externally, it is easy to distinguish from other “DOTs” – it is red, and not yellow-brown, like all the others.
Power steering fluid (PSF)
The hydraulic power steering in most cars uses the same ATF fluid that works in automatic transmissions. It needs to be topped up, at least to get to the nearest car service. And what you are going to fill, write down, so that later you can compare it with the manufacturer's recommendations.
Washer fluid
The most democratic of all tanks is the one with washer fluid. All washer fluids can be mixed together, even if they are based on different alcohols – ethyl, isopropyl, methyl. Only in cold weather it is important to ensure that the “strength” of the resulting mix is sufficient to withstand frost.
In brief
If the car is not very new and is not serviced by an official dealer, the owner should write down the brands of liquids that are poured into its systems. After all, most of them, according to the regulations, serve for a long time, so it is not surprising that the owner can forget the brand and type used. Particularly caring drivers keep a diary for such notes or, following the example of some service station employees, attach tags or stickers to tanks or pipes.
In preparing this article, materials from Autobild and Autocentre were used.
Let us recall that RBC-Ukraine recently reported why pedestrians are not always right.