How Often Should I Change Automotive Fluids?
Q. How often should automotive fluids be changed, if at all? I don’t mean oil; I’m talking about power steering, brake, and coolant fluids. My regular mechanic says it’s only necessary when you have work done on the brakes, steering, etc. But the guys at big chain stores and even the dealerships say they should be changed semi-regularly. So, who to believe? Also, why do General Motors vehicles require only Dex-Cool coolant? What’s the difference from Prestone or any other brand? I’d really appreciate your opinion on this subject.
A. The best advice is to follow the recommendation from your vehicle owner’s manual. In many cases, fluids such as transmission, differential, and power steering are designed to be left in the vehicle for well over 100,000 miles. That being said, I advise changing any fluid if it is dirty or contaminated, regardless of the mileage. Dex-Cool uses organic acid technology, which makes it unique. At one time, you needed to use only General Motors brand coolant, but now many manufacturers have Dex-Cool compatible products, including Prestone.
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