by Chris Moore

Created on: November 07, 2008   Last Updated: November 16, 2008

Personally changing a vehicle's fluids, be it the motor oil, transmission fluid or brake fluid, is not an easy task. You should only do it if you don't like traveling to the repair shop and want a more "personal" connection with your car. You won't save a lot of money changing fluids yourself. If it costs about $20 to $25 changing the oil at the Wal-Mart garage, getting your own oil and parts to do it won't be more than $10 less.

The motor oil is the most well known fluid. Countless experts sat oil is "the lifeblood of the car," as it keeps all parts moving. Oil must be changed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles; given today's constant stop-and-go traffic, 3,000 is pretty much necessary.

Other fluids, like the transmission fluid, brake fluid, washer fluid and engine coolant, are usually changed less frequently. Transmission fluid should be replaced every 15 to 30,000 miles. Brake fluid and engine coolant are best changed every year or two. You'll know when you need more washer fluid when it runs out.

You need to find two places on the car where the old fluid is drained out of and the new stuff is poured into. There are drain plugs within the car's chassis you must remove to drain: The crankcase for the oil, the brake master cylinder and the radiator for the coolant. There are tubes underneath the hood that each fluid is poured into. The tubes under the hood should be labeled on their caps. Talk with your mechanic if you need help finding the drain plug for the correct fluid.

You must know the exact type of fluids your vehicle needs (10W-30 oil, DOT 3 brake fluid, etc). The wrong type can damage the vehicle. Check your owner's manual or consult a mechanic for what types to use.

You also need to know how much fluid to get. A standard compact-to-fullsize car requires about four quarts of each. Larger vehicles should require more. Again, your manual/mechanic should help with this.

There are other tools and parts you'll need for the job, including a wrench, a drain pan and a funnel. A jack stand is also needed, but that should come with the vehicle. An auto parts store like O'Reilly or AutoZone should have everything you need along with any other advice or help from experts who work there.

Raise the vehicle on the jack stand and remove the drain plug with the wrench. A standard crescent wrench may work, but you might need a tubing wrench (which has a fixed clamp with rounded teeth on the inside) or a hex wrench (which fits into a hole in the plug rather than clamp around it). Let all the fluid pour out into the drain pan. Once it's all out, put the plug back in and lower the vehicle. Open the correct tube under the hood and pour the replacement fluid into it, using the funnel.

Properly disposing of the old fluids is very important, as they are toxic to the environment. Take them to the auto parts store where they'll be safely disposed or possibly recycled.

Test your car once the new fluid is in. If you made any mistakes changing the fluids, you could cause more damage than aid to the car.

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