Back to all

The Tuffy Fort Mill Guide to Proper Fluids for Your Vehicle

November 19, 2023

The automotive professionals at Tuffy Fort Mill would like to give Fort Mill 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 Fort Mill 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 SC ] owners rely on the advice of their friendly and knowledgeable Tuffy Fort Mill 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 Fort Mill area.

Let's start with engine oil. Fort Mill drivers who have been paying attention will have noticed a number of new oil weights on the SC 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 Fort Mill service center will know what weight your vehicle manufacturer recommends - and it's important to follow those recommendations. Your service advisor at Tuffy Fort Mill 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 Fort Mill 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 SC drivers need will grow. And, some of the formulations will cost a little more for Fort Mill drivers. Fortunately, Tuffy Fort Mill 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 Fort Mill
9909 Charlotte Highway
Fort Mill, SC 29715
803-802-2466
http://www.tuffyftmill.com

More articles from Tuffy Fort Mill

Let Tuffy Fort Mill Help You Keep Your Vehicle Another Couple of Years

November 17, 2024

Fort Mill area residents may remember when the U.S. government's Cash for Clunkers program made a splash on the news scene. People were offered incentives to trade in old vehicles for new, in the interest of better and improved air quality from reduced emissions.But a lot of Fort Mill drivers wan... More

Need a New Battery? Call Tuffy Fort Mill Today

November 10, 2024

Hello Fort Mill drivers! Need a new battery? There is a good chance that you do 70% of batteries need to be replaced within four years. As your battery discharges and then recharges as you drive around Fort Mill, bits of the surface of the battery plates disintegrate. As this process continues ... More

Ready, Set, COLD! (Getting Vehicle Ready for Winter)

November 3, 2024

When the temperatures plunge, your vehicle better be ready because it faces a whole new set of challenges. Rubber stiffens, glass fogs, fluids freeze. Just thinking about it can get your heart beating faster. So here are some tips for getting ready for those inevitable colder temperatures. Mak... More