Why have an ASE Technician work on your vehicle?

Synthetic oil's advantage is that it withstands higher temperatures. Synthetic oil lasts about twice as long as conventional oil, which lets you travel twice as far between oil changes. However, synthetic oils cost about twice as much.

• Synthetics are recommended in extreme hot or cold conditions.

There are a number of fluids that can leak from your vehicle, with many of them leading to a possible breakdown and expensive repair if neglected. Remember, your vehicle is a machine. Becoming familiar with your machine regarding the type of fluids it requires to operate properly will help you know what kind of fluid leak that you might be experiencing and what system that may be affected by the leak.

Some leaks are obvious, where others may play hide and seek with you. Knowing what to look for and where to look can help you avoid a costly repair, as long as you find it in time. Below are some helpful hints as to the type of fluids used in todays vehicles, as well as various colors and other characteristics to help you identify them.

Tip: If you can't find the location of the leak on your vehicle, place fresh newspapers under where you think your leak is overnight and then check them in the morning. Bring your vehicle and the newspaper with the fluid to us for help in locating the leak.

Engine oil is typically dark-brown or black in color. At times, you might see a few drops here and there and this might be all right if you recently have had your oil and oil filter changed or performed this service yourself. This can largely be attributed to the location of the oil filter on the engine and some old oil may have dripped upon some of the vehicle chassis or a small about was spilled onto the engine when dispensing the new oil into the filler area. While a few drops shortly after an oil change might be okay, you want to make sure that puddles of oil do not occur.

Engine antifreeze / coolant can be either green, yellow or red depending on the type used by the vehicle manufacturer. Most vehicles have a radiator located just behind the grill. This fluid has a sweet smell to it. Not enough antifreeze / coolant will cause the engine to overheat. There is usually an overflow or fill tank where you can add antifreeze / coolant to your cooling system. Using just water reduces the heat.

Brake fluid is generally clear and oily to the touch. When you depress the brake pedal, brake lines allow the brake fluid to be pushed through to each of the four wheels containing a stopping device, either a brake caliper or a wheel cylinder. So any number of leaks could appear almost anywhere a weakness may exist in the system. While leakage of the brake system is rare, you would likely feel a soft or spongy brake pedal feel when depressing the brakes, which can lead to brake failure if not correctly immediately.

Transmission fluid is typically red, although the color can be a milky-pink color if it becomes contaminated. Some transmission fluid of certain vehicles may be clear or amber in color. If you have a front-wheel-drive vehicle, then your transmission is next to the side of your engine underneath the hood. If you have a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, then your transmission is located in the center of your vehicle just under the dash under that hump in the center. If the color of your transmission fluid appears to be brown, then this would indicate that the fluid has overheated and should be changed as soon as possible.