Rydell Service > About Fluid Exchange and Maintenance (2024)

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Vehicles Rely on Various Fluids to Operate Efficiently and Smoothly

Vehicles rely on various fluids to operate efficiently and smoothly. The primary types of fluids in a typical vehicle include engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid. Fluid flushes are crucial for maintaining the optimal performance and longevity of a vehicle's various systems. Regular flushing and replacement of fluids, such as engine oil, transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid, help remove contaminants, debris, and old, degraded fluid that can accumulate over time. This process prevents the buildup of sludge and deposits, ensuring that the components operate smoothly and efficiently.

Four-Wheel Drive System Flush

Most four-wheel drive vehicles have two differentials and a transfer case. These transfer the power from your engine to your wheels so that your vehicle will move.

Over time, the fluids in this system will become burnt, and the fluid will break down and pick up unwanted particles and debris. Changing this oil is just as important as changing your engine's oil and for the same reason. Metal-to-metal contact wears down surfaces and creates heat from friction, which inevitably weakens the gears and leads to failure. This is all normal, but you will need to have your four-wheel drive system flushed and cleaned from time to time. Industry standards recommend the fluid in these gear cases be changed every 30,000 miles, but please check your owner’s manual for your make and model and their recommendation.

Differentials have a fill plug and a drain plug; we pull the drain plug and remove the fluid. We also drain the transfer case fluid at the wheel. If there is no plug, we will pull the whole cover to remove and drain the fluids. After the fluids have been drained and the plugs and covers inspected for debris, we will replace and seal them properly. We will then add the new fluid to the transfer cases and differentials. This flush on a typical four-wheel drive system can take up to about two to three hours once it gets back to a technician.

Brake Fluid Flush

Brake fluid is a hydroscopic fluid that absorbs water and moisture from the air around it. Brake fluid runs to many parts in your brake system to help keep parts operating.

Brake fluid can get hot, and this will cause it to create particles and buildup that may hinder the fluid from working properly. We recommend the brake fluid be flushed every three years or 45,000 miles. We utilize a BG Ultra Dry Brake Fluid Flush, Dot 4 which is at the top of the spectrum for brake fluids. We use a flushing machine to remove and replace your brake fluid. This flush includes the brake’s master cylinder, hoses, and connections to your brake calibrators. A brake fluid flush typically can take up to two hours depending upon the make and model of the vehicle.

Coolant Flush

The cooling system is responsible for keeping your engine and system cool but is also responsible for transferring heat to the interior of your vehicle.

Coolant can get old and dirty just like engine oil, just not as often. However, coolant can’t simply be dropped and refilled like engine oil. Even if you drain it, a portion of the old coolant remains; therefore, it is necessary to flush the system to be sure all the nasty deposits are removed. New coolant also prevents expensive corrosion. By doing this service you will have the peace of mind of knowing that your car will remain cool in the summer and eliminate freezing in the winter.

Industry standards recommend this to be done every five years or 150,000 miles. GM recommends a flush every 60,000 to 100,000 miles with a Dexcool fluid system. The Green System Vehicles recommend flushing your cooling system every 45,000 miles. We advise you to check your owner’s manual for the recommendations for your vehicle’s make and model.

We utilize BG Cooling System Cleaner to break up the corrosion and deposits. Then after the flush we will add a BG Super Cool Conditioner to the new coolant to help maintain a clean and fluid coolant. We utilize a flush machine to help with this process. The cooling system flush can take up to two to three hours depending upon make and model and inspection of all hoses and connections.

Fuel Injectors Cleaning

Because of the contaminants in today’s fuel, the fuel injectors and intake valves build up deposits that if not removed will reduce the performance of your engine.

As the injectors become more and more clogged, your fuel economy goes down. This carbon buildup can hinder engine performance. Direct injection type systems spray the fuel into the cylinders, but it does not reach the back of the valves efficiently, causing carbon buildup. Industry standards dictate that your fuel rail and injectors should be pressure cleaned every 30,000 miles. It is also advised that a bottle of GM fuel system treatment plus be added to your gas tank every oil change.

We approach this flush and cleaning with three steps: utilizing BG Air Intake System Cleaner, we spray into the engine through the intake, we add BG Fuel System Cleaner to your fuel, and clean your throttle body with a spray cleaner at the same time. Once again, we utilize a flush machine to aid in this process. This fuel induction flush takes approximately one to two hours to complete on most makes and models.

Power Steering Fluid Flush

Your power steering system is a busy component in your vehicle; it is always in use when the vehicle is started. Over time, the power steering fluid will absorb moisture which inhibits the effectiveness of your power steering fluid.

Moisture can also cause corrosion, which can cause damage. Exchanging the fluid will protect your vehicle against this expensive damage.

Industry standards dictate that power steering fluid should be exchanged as necessary every 50,000 to 100,000 miles to keep your vehicles power steering in the optimal condition and prohibit any issues from starting. We recommend checking your vehicle’s owner’s manual for the proper timing for your vehicle’s make and model.

We utilize a BG Quick Clean fluid to run through the power steering fluid. This breaks down all the improper particles in the fluid so it can be flushed out by our machine. During the power steering flush, we drain, flush, and clean the system, making sure we rotate the steering and move the wheels to get all the buildup removed from the system. Then we will refill the system with the appropriate fluid as recommended. This process can take up to an hour depending on the make and model.

Transmission Flush

The transmission in your vehicle has lots of moving parts and transmission fluid is what lubricates them. These parts rotate at very high speeds and conduct a lot of heat. Heat and dirt break down transmission fluid.

Industry standards dictate that transmission fluid should be flushed and exchanged every 40,000 to 50,000 miles. We recommend checking your vehicle’s owner’s manual for the best recommendations for your vehicle.

We utilize a product called BG flush systems to flush and clean your transmission. We then add an additional conditioner from BG that helps condition the fluid to stay cleaner and more fluid. This flush, clean, and condition is all done with the help of our transmission flush machine that is hooked up to the transmission cooling lines. This process takes approximately two to four hours to complete, depending upon your vehicle’s make and model and if your vehicle has a filter or no filter.

Let Rydell Help Diagnose Your Vehicle

Adhering to the recommended fluid flush intervals outlined in the vehicle's maintenance schedule is essential to preserve the health of these systems and avoid costly repairs in the long run.

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