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The Tuffy Joliet Guide to Proper Fluids for Your Vehicle

May 22, 2014



The automotive professionals at Tuffy Joliet would like to give Joliet motorists 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 Joliet do-it-yourselfer has to be pretty careful so that they do not actually harm their SUV with the wrong type of fluid. That is why so many Illinois car owners rely on the advice of their friendly Tuffy Joliet tech to not only get the correct family of fluids, but to suggest the formulation that is best for their car and their driving habits in the Joliet area.

Let's start with engine oil. Crest Hill motorists who have been paying attention, will have noticed a number of new oil weights on the Illinois 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 Joliet service center will know what weight your vehicle manufacturer recommends - and it's important to follow those recommendations. Your tech at Tuffy Joliet 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, car makers only recommended a couple of different types of coolant. Now, several different formulations are needed because of the high-tech materials that automakers are using to build the cooling system. Using the wrong type of coolant in your SUV or other vehicle can actually void your warranty, so it's important to get that right.

Transmission fluid is becoming specialized for Joliet 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 Joliet house would use many of the same fluids. However, as automotive technology advances, the array of basic automotive fluids Illinois drivers need will grow. And, some of the formulations will cost a little more for Joliet motorists. Fortunately, Tuffy Joliet 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.

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