Proper Fluids for Your Vehicle
October 10, 2020
The automotive professionals at All Night Auto Repair would like to give Livonia auto owners an update on some of the things happening in automotive fluids. You know, cars are becoming more sophisticated everyday - and fluids such as, oil, coolant and transmission fluid are becoming more specialized at about the same pace.
The Detroit 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 Michigan car owners rely on the advice of their friendly All Night Auto Repair service advisor to not only get the correct family of fluids, but to suggest the formulation that is best for their car and their driving habits.
Let's start with engine oil. Redford auto owners who have been paying attention, will have noticed a number of new oil weights on the Michigan 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 auto manufacturers recommend the weight of oil for each vehicle they make. The recommendation is based on engine design. Your Livonia service center will know what weight your manufacturer recommends - and it's important to follow those recommendations. Your service advisor at All Night Auto Repair 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, auto makers only recommended a couple of different types of coolant. Now, several different formulations are needed because of the high-tech materials that auto manufacturers are using to build the cooling system. Using the wrong type of coolant can actually void your warranty, so you want to get that right.
Transmission fluid is becoming specialized 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 Livonia house would use many of the same fluids. However, as automotive technology advances, the array of basic automotive fluids you need will grow. And, some of the formulations will cost a little more. Fortunately, All Night Auto Repair will continue to update their training to keep pace with technology so that you'll get the right fluids your car needs. It's all part of the commitment we make to your driving peace of mind.
Need Service?
More articles from Elite Tire & Auto Care

Vive la Differential at Elite Tire And Auto Care in Livonia
May 3, 2026
There are a lot of drivers in Livonia who are due for a differential service, but had never heard of a differential before. With front-wheel drive being so common in Michigan these days, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Livonia folks don't even have... More

Smooth Operator (Shock Absorbers)
April 26, 2026
When you are comfortably headed down the road, you may not realize how many of the imperfections in the driving surface are being smoothed out, so you hardly feel most of them. You can thank your shock absorbers for a lot of that comfort, and its important to make sure you keep your shocks in go... More

Are Modern Vehicles Maintenance Free?
April 19, 2026
In our auto video today we'll be talking with Alan Peterson about myths surrounding automotive maintenance. You can lump these myths into the statement that "modern vehicles are so reliable, they are virtually maintenance free."Any good myth has some elements of truth. No offense to Livonia Big... More
