Thanks for commenting. I always try to post tips that are useful and love when readers add their own experiences.

Good write up. Thought I’d add a few things I’ve learned over the years of driving beaters, before I got married and let my husband take over the car stuff.

1. The brake fluid is always in the same position right in front of the driver because the master cylinder is connected to a push rod that comes directly from the brake pedal.

2. The engine doesn’t actually need to be cool to check the oil, but it does make it a bit easier. Most dipsticks have a “range” of normal marked on them with the normal for a cool engine being a little lower than that for a hot engine.

If the engine is cool and hasn’t been run for a while, you don’t really need to wipe it off and then redip/recheck, but I always did, just to be sure.

The reason you wipe if off on an engine that has been running is because with a running engine, particularly if the car has been moving, there is the possibility of oil sloshing around in the oil pan and sloshing up higher on the dipstick and giving a falsely high reading. With a cold engine, this isn’t really a concern as any sloshed up oil should have all settled back down by then.

3. When checking the automatic transmission fluid, I used to put the car through all the gears (drive, reverse, etc) with the engine running before checking it. My husband informed me that you should actually read the owners manual however as the proper way to check it sometimes varies from one car to another.

For instance, with some cars you are supposed to check it with the engine running and the car in park. With some others, you are supposed to set the parking brake and check it with the engine running and the car in drive, etc. The owners manual will usually outline the proper procedure for a particular car.

4. Also, my husband tells me that when checking the automatic transmission fluid, the level of fluid is not the only thing that is important to check. The color is also important. It should have a nice clear reddish color, like new automatic transmission fluid does. If it is rusty brown or yellow it should be changed.

Anyway, hope this helps some.

I like your blog a lot as it provides great tips and ideas. Knowledge is power!