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Recommended Fluids & Lubricants.

 

 

 

 

ALWAYS

Follow The Manufacturers Instructions & Favor Their Recommendations.

 

I am NOT sponsored or paid to make these recommendations. I am only influenced by my own experience with--after research & multiple instances of use of--these products.

 

Auto Fluids and Lubricants That I Can Recommend!

 

There are two main reasons that will direct you to seek purchasing fluids for your automobile, and they are:

  1. Scheduled maintenance (as discussed on the main Reviews Page).

  2. Leaks (click on image below).

 

Every car manufactured includes a user/owner manual that describes all the scheduled maintained tasks that they must be aware of, and administer based on said schedule. The frequency is often described by one, or both, of the following parameters:

  • Mileage driven

  • Time that has passed since the manufacturing of the car (year), or the last maintenance cycle.

What to do if I notice a leak, or smell same?!

If you spot liquid dripping from under the car, or soiling components of the vehicle, you are going to be initially alarmed, but there’s no reason to panic. Here are a few steps to keep in mind:

  1. Make sure the leaking fluid is actually coming from your vehicle. If you see a puddle beneath the car in a parking lot or on the street, it could have been from a car before you. 
  2. Look under the vehicle to see where the leak is dripping from. If you see fluid on the underside of the vehicle, you may be able to better identify what it is.
  3. Determine what type of fluid is leaking. You may want to put a piece of cardboard under the leak, so you can get a better view of the color and odor of the fluid. 

I do advise against using a "stop leak" additives unless it’s absolutely necessary (an emergency). At best, these solutions provide a temporary fix, but even worse, they can cause serious damage to the engine/components and drivetrain. We have some videos that can help.

Fluids I recommend...

Fluid Type/Purpose

   Brand   Why?
         
Motor Oil & Oil Filter   Mobile 1 (Full Synthetic)   Best performance, and engine protection, in all weather. (Wal-Mart)
Transmission Fluid   Valvoline   Excellent performance, and affordable price. (Wal-Mart)
Brake Fluid   Preston (DOT 5.1)   Nothing but the BEST that I can afford for the brakes on my cars.

While you can certainly use the DOT4, I favor the DOT5.1 from the same manufacturer. All brands will work well. (Wal-Mart)
Steering Fluid   Preston (AS261/262)   Excellent performance, and affordable price. (Wal-Mart)
Coolant/Anti-freeze Fluid   Prestone/ZEREX/Valvoline (50/50)   Excellent performance, and reasonable price. Some vehicles demand specific types/brands of coolant--oblige accordingly!
Air-conditioner Refrigerant   Interdynamics EZ Chill Refrigerant and A/C Pro Ultra Synthetic A/C Recharge R-134a Kit   This should NOT be a regular maintenance matter. The air-conditioning system in vehicles is a closed system, i.e. nothing is supposed to get in or out during the life of your ride. But, with time and heat, seals can age and begin to let the refrigerant (often called "Freon," a specific brand name) out of the system.

If that happens, the cooling will slowly degrade until the level of the refrigerant in the system gets so low that the compressor -- the part that really makes the system work -- just won't turn on anymore (due to safety switches that detect the low pressure, and engage to protect the integrity of the unit).

Older vehicles used R-12 (Freon) refrigerant, and most newer cars use some flavor of R-134, which is not Ozone depleting. To purchase R-12, you must be licensed; if you are topping off the R-134 on an older vehicle (if a newer vehicle, you need to have it inspected and repaired under the warranty), I find this product to be excellent, not just for the refrigerant, but also for the addition of the integrated pressure gauge, simplifying the process! As I often say: 'keep it simple, smart--KISS!
Fuel   Murphy/Wal-Mart   Gasoline has a shelf-life of about 3 to 6-months before its qualities start to degreed, if ethanol-gasoline, even shorter, ranging from 2-3 months. The very high turnover at said refueling stations lends to fresher gasoline. The prices tend to be superior to other locations, especially if you have a Wal-Mart membership (saves the customer 10₵/gallon).
Windshield Wiper Fluid

(and wipers)

   Rain•X

2-in-1 or All Season (pink)

  In the North Texas climate, I find that the 2-in-1 and the All Season types work well. Most of the very cheap brands have a very strong caustic alcohol odor that comes into the cabin, which smells as if you can ignite it with a flame, and do not clean well! Like with the brakes, being able to see clearly through the windshield under all weather conditions is worth paying the extra cost for an excellent product!

From my experience, I choose to mate the fluid with one of three wipers (I shop of best price for performance, and I purchase the best that I'm willing to afford): Best price--Bosch Clear Advantage, best for the money--RainX Latitude 2-in-1, and for best performance in all weather, including severe, the Michelin Endurance Silicone Beam.
Fuel System Cleaners  

Berryman B12 Chemtool and Seafoam

  

Being that I've chosen to purchase all my vehicles 2nd hand, to date, I have always used one of two products that have made notable improvements to said vehicles' performance (as part of a the first reconditioning processes project, and then for the regular maintenance cycles), and those are Berryman's B12 Chemtool, and Seafoam. Each has its uses, although, I recently discontinued the regular use of Seafoam due to the notable increase in its cost (double at some retailers), which outweighs the need (in my case).

 

👉 If I dared to miss listing any other needed fluids, please do not hesitate to bring that to my attention, and share any constructive feedback you may have with our community and visitors!