The Commerce Auto Repair Guide to Proper Fluids for Your Vehicle
November 5, 2018
The automotive professionals at Commerce Auto Repair would like to give Commerce drivers an update on some of the things happening in automotive fluids. You know, vehicles are becoming more sophisticated every day. Fluids such as, oil, coolant and transmission fluid are becoming more specialized at about the same pace.
The Commerce do-it-yourselfer has to be pretty careful so that they do not actually harm their vehicle with the wrong type of fluid. That is why so many Michigan ] owners rely on the advice of their friendly and knowledgeable Commerce Auto Repair service advisor to not only get the correct family of fluids, but to suggest the formulation that is best for their vehicle and their driving habits in the Commerce area.
Let's start with engine oil. Commerce drivers who have been paying attention will have noticed a number of new oil weights on the Michigan 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 vehicle manufacturers recommend the weight of oil for each vehicle they make. The recommendation is based on engine design. Your Commerce service center will know what weight your vehicle manufacturer recommends - and it's important to follow those recommendations. Your service advisor at Commerce Auto Repair 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, vehicle manufacturers only recommended a couple of different types of coolant. Now, several different formulations are needed because of the high-tech materials that vehicle manufacturers are using to build the cooling system. Using the wrong type of coolant in your vehicle can actually void your warranty, so it's important to get that right.
Transmission fluid is becoming specialized for Commerce 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 house would use many of the same fluids. However, as automotive technology advances, the array of basic automotive fluids Michigan drivers need will grow. And, some of the formulations will cost a little more for Commerce drivers. Fortunately, Commerce Auto Repair will continue to update their training to keep pace with technology so that you'll get the right fluids your vehicle needs. It's all part of the commitment we make to your driving peace of mind.
Commerce Auto Repair
9575 Commerce Rd.
Commerce, Michigan 48382
248.363.3749
Need Service?
More articles from Commerce Auto Repair

The Untold Truth About Blinker Fluid: Why Your Car Desperately Needs It
May 10, 2026
If youve been ignoring your dashboard, your mechanic, and that one guy at the gas station who muttered bro your blinkers sound dry, then buckle up because today we dive into the critical world of blinker fluid maintenance. What Is Blinker Fluid? Blinker fluid is a high-viscosity, luminescent com... More

T for Transmission, T for Trouble (Automatic Transmission Trouble Signs)
April 15, 2026
One of the hardest working components of your vehicle is its transmission, shifting gears up and down when you need it to. The transmission is vital to your vehicle driving properly, and if you start to see signs of problems in it, its best to have them fixed earlier rather than later. (Since ne... More

Smooth Operator (Shock Absorbers)
April 14, 2026
When you are comfortably headed down the road, you may not realize how many of the imperfections in the driving surface are being smoothed out, so you hardly feel most of them. You can thank your shock absorbers for a lot of that comfort, and its important to make sure you keep your shocks in go... More
