Back to all

Tuffy Lorain Guide to Using the Correct Fluids in Your Vehicle

January 29, 2023

Today's Tuffy Lorain post focuses on using coolant. drive If you pour in the wrong kind, it won't protect the cooling system and may even void the warranty. Check your vehicle owner's manual. Of course, your Tuffy Lorain service advisor will know the proper coolant for your vehicle.

Brake fluid is confusing for some Lorain drivers. Back when we opened Tuffy Lorain, most vehicles used Dot 3 brake fluid. Now we have Dot 4 and Dot 5. Some Lorain residents mistakenly think the higher numbers are an upgrade. You know, if 3 is good then 4 must be better. That's not how it works. They are different formulations to meet the demands of differences in brake systems. Only one of them is designed for your vehicle.

Ditto for transmission fluid. For decades there were two basic types of tranny fluid used at Tuffy Lorain: friction modified or not. With the tremendous engineering advances in vehicle automatic transmissions, there have been several new types of fluids developed to protect and lubricate them.

Nowhere are the advances in automotive fluids more evident to Tuffy Lorain professionals than in motor oil. Many new weights and formulations have been created to meet the demands of today's high-tech vehicle engine design. Modern engines have more parts and much tighter tolerances.

That's where the new grades of engine oil come in. They have to be formulated to lubricate, protect and clean all of those vehicle engine parts, big and little. The oil has to be thin enough to get into little passages, yet resistant to vaporization.

At Tuffy Lorain in Lorain, we believe that in some ways modern automotive fluids are just as impressive as the new engines. Because weights of oil and types of coolant and transmission fluid are so carefully matched to the vehicle, make sure you always use the proper fluid if you are topping off at home.

Tuffy Lorain
1400 Broadway
Lorain, Ohio 44052
440-245-2823
https://www.tuffylorain.com


More articles from Tuffy Lorain

Good Service at Tuffy Lorain Equals Good Fuel Economy in Lorain

February 1, 2026

Whether we're trying to save money, save gas or save the environment, most of us Lorain drivers have an interest in decreasing fuel consumption. We've all heard about ways to save money on gas in Ohio, but does it really add up to much? How much can we boost our fuel economy through preventive ma... More

A Most Important Part (Serpentine Belt Replacement)

January 25, 2026

Your vehicles engine is an engineering work of wonder with many complex parts working in harmony to get you down the road. One of those simple but important components is called a serpentine belt. It is driven by a pulley on the engine and transfers that power to many of your engines most importa... More

Full Stop (Brake Master Cylinder Replacement)

January 18, 2026

When you step on your brake pedal, you want to feel confident that your vehicles going to stop. If your brakes arent working right, its a risk to your safety and the safety of others on the road. After all, youre driving a machine that weighs thousands of pounds, and you have to be able to stop... More