Back to all

The Charlie's Fast Lube Poplar Bluff Guide to Proper Fluids for Your Vehicle

May 10, 2020

The automotive professionals at Charlie's Fast Lube Poplar Bluff would like to give Poplar Bluff 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 Poplar Bluff 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 Missouri ] owners rely on the advice of their friendly and knowledgeable Charlie's Fast Lube Poplar Bluff 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 Poplar Bluff area.

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

 Charlie's Fast Lube Poplar Bluff
2020 N. Westwood Blvd
Poplar Bluff, Missouri 63901
573-686-5585
http://www.charliesfastlubepoplarbluff.com

Need Service?

Request a Quote

More articles from Charlie's Fast Lube Poplar Bluff

The Need for Speed (Wheel Speed Sensor Maintenance)

December 1, 2024

Today's vehicles have some pretty amazing technology in them, including a computerized braking system we all pretty much take for granted these days. Antilock brake systems (ABS) have been around for years but they help drivers stop in much shorter distances reliably than ever before. When you ... More

A Bright Spark (Ignition Coil Replacement)

November 24, 2024

Ever wonder how your vehicles engine is able to take the 12-volts from its battery and ramp that up to as high as the tens of thousands of volts it takes to fire its spark plugs? The secret is something called an ignition coil. Most newer vehicles have an ignition coil at each cylinder, but olde... More

Why did my vehicle fail its emissions test?

November 17, 2024

We all want to breathe clean air and keep our planet green. One of the ways to do that is by requiring all vehicles with internal combustion engines to pass an emissions test. Thats because these vehicles can be big polluters. Everyone wants their car to pass the test so they can continue the... More