Contents: Engine oil ↓ Engine coolant ↓ Windshield Washer Fluid ↓ Battery electrolyte ↓ Brake system working fluid ↓
Note: There are also some special maintenance procedures below that require additional fluid level checks. Check underneath your vehicle regularly for signs of developing fluid leaks.
Various fluids act as working fluids in lubrication, cooling, braking, heating and air conditioning, windshield washing, etc. systems. Since all fluids are subject to dilution and wear over time, and also gradually become contaminated during normal system operation, it is necessary to periodically replace them completely. Before adjusting the level or replacing, check the list of recommended fluid grades for use in your vehicle (see Specifications to this Chapter).
Note: When checking fluid levels, the vehicle should be parked on a level, horizontal surface, preferably with a hard surface.
Engine oil
The engine oil level is checked using a dipstick inserted into the guide tube and lowered into the engine to the bottom of the oil pan. The location of the dipstick is shown in the illustrations in Vehicle settings and routine maintenance.
The oil level should be checked before the first trip of the day, or about 15 minutes after the engine has been stopped. If the check is performed immediately after the engine has been turned off, the results will not adequately reflect the situation, since some of the oil will be distributed throughout the internal galleries and components of the engine.
1. Remove the dipstick from the guide tube and wipe the blade dry with a clean rag or paper towel. Insert the dipstick back into the tube until it stops, then remove it again. Inspect the dipstick blade to determine the size of the area wetted with oil. The oil level should be between the upper (F) and lower (L) marks on the dipstick blade. If necessary, add the appropriate amount of oil of the required grade to the engine.
2. To raise the level from the lower mark on the dipstick to the upper mark, slightly less than one liter of oil is required. Lowering the level beyond the lower limit of the permissible range leads to the development of oil starvation of the engine, fraught with serious mechanical damage to the latter. Also try not to overfill the oil above the upper mark, as this can lead to throwing of the spark plugs (gasoline engine) or failure of the power unit seals as a result of excessive pressure increase.
3. To fill the engine with oil, remove the threaded filler cap (refer to the illustrations in Vehicle settings and routine maintenance). To avoid splashing oil when pouring it into the engine, use a funnel or a long-nosed oiler. After pouring oil, screw on and tighten the filler cap securely, then start the engine and carefully inspect the drain plug and the mating surface of the oil filter for signs of leaks. Turn off the engine, wait about 15 minutes for the oil to drain into the pan, then check its level again.
Checking the engine oil level is an important preventative engine maintenance procedure.
A constant decrease in the level indicates oil leaks due to failure of oil seals, damage to sealing gaskets, wear of piston rings or valve guides. If the oil is milky in colour or consistency, or if there are drops of water in it, this indicates possible damage to the cylinder head gasket or the formation of cracks in the body of the head or cylinder block. The check must be carried out without delay. When measuring the oil level, always also check its condition. Use your thumb and forefinger to remove traces of oil from the dipstick blade - if there are small metal particles in it, the oil must be replaced (see section Changing engine oil and oil filter).
Engine coolant
Warning! Do not allow antifreeze to come into contact with exposed areas of the body or painted surfaces of the vehicle. Wash away accidental splashes immediately with plenty of water. Remember that antifreeze is a highly toxic liquid and its ingestion, even in small quantities, can have the most serious consequences, including death. Never leave antifreeze stored in a loosely closed container; immediately collect any coolant spilled on the floor. Remember that the sweet smell of antifreeze can attract the attention of children and animals. Consult with local authorities about methods of disposal of used coolant - in many regions of the world, special collection points for various types of waste have been set up. Never pour old coolant into the sewer or onto the ground!
Note: Non-toxic grades of antifreeze have been developed in recent years, but they must still be disposed of in an orderly manner.
All models of cars described in this Manual are equipped with a compensating cooling system operating under excess pressure. The expansion tank of the cooling system, made of translucent plastic, is located in the front part of the engine compartment (refer to the illustrations in Vehicle settings and routine maintenance) and is connected by an overflow hose to the base of the radiator filler neck. When the engine warms up, the coolant expands, and its excess flows through the valve mounted in the radiator filler cap into the expansion tank. As it cools, the liquid returns through the hose back to the radiator, which allows its level in the system to be constantly maintained at the normal level.
Caution! Never remove the radiator filler neck/expansion tank cap when the engine is hot!
The coolant level in the expansion tank is checked regularly and should be maintained between the FULL and LOW marks on the glass of the translucent plastic reservoir. It should be remembered that the coolant level depends on its temperature, so when cold it should be only slightly above the lower (LOW) mark, and after the engine warms up, it should rise to the FULL mark. If necessary, make the appropriate adjustment by adding the required amount of fresh mixture to the tank through the neck.
Caution! To adjust the fluid level, use only the required mixture of ethylene glycol and distilled water (about 50/50). Remember that frequent use of plain water for this purpose leads to gradual dilution of the antifreeze and loss of frost resistance and anti-corrosion properties by the mixture. You should also not abuse various types of additives.
A constant drop in coolant level usually indicates that there are developing leaks in the system. Check the radiator, connecting hoses and their clamps, filler cap, radiator cap gaskets, drain plugs and water pump housing for signs of leaks. If no signs of leaks can be found, the radiator cap should be pressure tested in a car service workshop.
Caution! Never remove the radiator/expansion tank cap when the engine is hot!
If you need to remove the radiator cap, wait until the engine has cooled down completely, then wrap the neck with a thick layer of rags and slowly unscrew the cap to the first stop. If steam is released, allow the engine to cool down a little more, and only then remove the cap completely.
In addition to the level, always check the condition of the coolant – it should be relatively clear. If the coolant is a reddish-brown rust color, the cooling system should be drained, flushed and filled with a fresh mixture of antifreeze and water. Even if the liquid does not change in appearance, the corrosion inhibitors it contains are subject to wear over time, so the coolant should be replaced regularly in accordance with the vehicle's routine maintenance schedule (see section Schedule of current maintenance).
Try to avoid contact of antifreeze with exposed skin or painted surfaces of body components. Wash off accidental splashes immediately with plenty of water.
Windshield Washer Fluid
The windshield washer fluid is poured into a special plastic reservoir located in the front of the vehicle's engine compartment (see illustrations in Vehicle settings and routine maintenance). Some models are also equipped with rear window and headlight washing systems, which are an integral part of the windshield washing system. In regions with a moderate climate, clean water can be used as a windshield washer fluid, but do not fill the reservoir more than 2/3 full to compensate for the expansion of water when it freezes during frosts. When operating the car in severe climatic conditions, only patented windshield wipers should be added to the reservoir, which provide an appropriate decrease in the freezing point of the liquid. To avoid freezing of the glass when washing in cold weather, preheat it by blowing air passed through the heater heat exchanger.
Attention! The rules for mixing the mixture are usually printed on the container label. Never use the antifreeze used in the cooling system to add to the windshield washer fluid, as the latter is aggressive towards the paintwork of the body panels!
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Battery electrolyte
The vehicles covered in this manual are equipped with a sealed, maintenance-free battery with only ventilation holes in the casing.
The battery case can be made of translucent plastic, in which case the electrolyte level in its jars can be monitored to obtain indirect information about the proper functioning of the charging system and the current state of the battery (refer to the accompanying illustration).
If during the operation of the vehicle the battery was replaced with a conventional one for any reason (serviced), you should check the electrolyte level in its cans at least once a month, for which you need to remove the upper control/filler plugs. You should especially carefully monitor the electrolyte level during the warm season. To adjust the electrolyte level, use only distilled water.
Brake system working fluid
The brake master cylinder (MBC) is mounted on the brake booster servo unit (refer to the illustrations in Vehicle settings and routine maintenance).
The fluid level inside the master cylinder reservoir is clearly visible through the translucent walls of the latter and should be maintained between the MIN and MAX marks, not reaching the top by 8 - 9 mm (refer to the accompanying illustration).
1. If it is necessary to adjust the fluid level, carefully wipe the reservoir cap and the area around it with a clean cloth to prevent dirt from getting into the hydraulic system.
2. When pouring fluid into the reservoir, make sure that it does not splash onto the surrounding painted surfaces of body parts. Add only the fluid of the grade specified by the regulatory requirements (see Specifications), – mixing two liquids of different types is by no means permissible and may lead to failure of the corresponding system! Fill the master cylinder reservoir no more than 3/4 full, when installing the cap the level will rise due to the displacement of the liquid by the float of the measuring sensor.
Warning! Brake fluid is highly chemically aggressive, do not allow it to come into contact with your eyes or paint on body panels! Do not add hydraulic fluid to the system that has been standing for more than one year or that has been stored in a loosely closed container. Remember that brake fluid is very hygroscopic, i.e. it has the ability to absorb moisture from the air, which can dangerously reduce the efficiency of the brake system!
3. During the level adjustment stage, the condition of the fluid and the inner walls of the tank should also be carefully checked. If mud deposits, solid foreign particles or water droplets are detected, the system should be emptied and filled with fresh hydraulic fluid (see Chapters Transmission line and Brake system).
4. Once the tank is filled to the required level, place the lid on it tightly.
5. Remember that the hydraulic fluid level in the master cylinder reservoir gradually drops as the friction linings of the brake shoes are applied, but this decrease is always very slight. If the fluid has to be topped up too often, then there is a leak in the system, the source of which must be identified without delay and the cause eliminated - carefully inspect all brake lines and their nipple connections, including calipers, wheel cylinders and the vacuum booster servo (for more details, see Section Checking the brake system).
6. If, during the check of the fluid level in the master cylinder, it is revealed that its reservoir is almost empty, the system must be completely bled (see chapter Brake system).