Back to all

The South Side Garage Guide to Proper Fluids for Your Vehicle

August 23, 2020

The automotive professionals at South Side Garage would like to give OKLAHOMA CITY 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 OKLAHOMA CITY 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 Oklahoma ] owners rely on the advice of their friendly and knowledgeable South Side Garage 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 OKLAHOMA CITY area.

Let's start with engine oil. OKLAHOMA CITY drivers who have been paying attention will have noticed a number of new oil weights on the Oklahoma 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 OKLAHOMA CITY service center will know what weight your vehicle manufacturer recommends - and it's important to follow those recommendations. Your service advisor at South Side Garage 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 OKLAHOMA CITY 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 Oklahoma drivers need will grow. And, some of the formulations will cost a little more for OKLAHOMA CITY drivers. Fortunately, South Side Garage 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.

 South Side Garage
9117 S WALKER AVE
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma 73139
405-308-1514
http://www.thesouthsidegarage.com

More articles from Southside Garage

The Light Nobody Wants to See (Check Engine Light)

June 29, 2025

You've probably had your Check Engine Light go on. Then it goes off and you figure, hey, whatever the problem was, it's gone now and I don't have to worry about it. Well, the problem may have gone away and it may not have. Your vehicle likely has one of these warning lights on the instrument pa... More

Hold the Oil! (Oil Pan Gasket Replacement)

June 23, 2025

You've likely heard how important oil is to your vehicle's engine. Did you know that there's one part that's responsible for holding that oil so you can use it every day? It's called the oil pan, and it sits at the bottom of the engine. The oil pan is a vital, though simple, part of your engine's... More

Muffler: Victim of Winter (Muffler Repair)

June 16, 2025

So you almost got through the winter until, one day, your muffler started sounding like a dragster, loud and obnoxious. It's not surprising. All that road salt and brine can cause rust to punch holes in a muffler, and that should raise a big, red warning flag about the safety of your vehicle. O... More