CAR´S

FLUIDS.

15/12/2020

Pau Gabàs Lavilla

Subject: Atomotive Sector

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1. TYPES AND USES OF FLUIDS.
Fluids are essential so that irreversible damage does not occur to parts of our vehicle. Know
everything about these lubricants. When we think of used fluids for the car, oil will surely be
the first thing that comes to mind. Fluids are more than necessary to prevent from melting
engine parts, to other functions no less important for driving safety such as maintaining
correct visibility at all times from the driving cab.
What types of fluids are in a standard vehicle? Let’s take a look:

1.1. ENGINE OIL.

It is called motor oil to all oil used to lubricate internal
combustion engines. Its main purpose is to lubricate the moving
parts, considerably reducing the friction between the metals,
thus lengthening the life of the same. In addition to lubricating,
oil also cleanses, inhibits corrosion, and lowers engine
temperature by transmitting heat away from moving parts to
dissipate it.

1.2. BRAKE FLUID.

Brake fluid is a fluid whose main function is to allow the force
exerted from the brake pedal to be transmitted to the wheel
cylinders, allowing effective braking.
Another important thing to bear in mind is that not all brake
fluids are the same, therefore in each vehicle we must use the
one recommended by the manufacturer.

1.3. ENGINE COOLANT.

Engine coolant is an ethylene glycol-based chemical compound
that has the ability to regulate temperature. It offers a wide
thermal range that goes from minus 30ºC to approximately
140ºC, so that its presence in the internal circuit of the motor
ensures that it works at a stable and optimal temperature for its
operation (around 90ºC)..

1.4. WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID.

Windshield washer fluid is a fluid for motor vehicles that is
used in cleaning the windshield with the windshield wiper
while the vehicle is being driven.

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1.5. POWER STEERING FLUID (PSF) AND
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISION (ATF).
Power steering fluid is a kind of hydraulic fluid transferring
power in modern vehicles with power steering. As a vital part
of your steering system, power steering fluid allows drivers to
turn the steering wheel easily. Automatic transmission fluid
(ATF) is a kind of transmission fluid used in vehicles with self-
shifting or automatic transmissions.

1.6. DIFFERENTIAL OIL.

Most of the oils used to lubricate the differentials are high
viscosity mineral oils, which also incorporate extreme
pressure additives, which act on the metal surfaces of the
teeth, forming a protective coating on them that prevents
subsequent scratching of the rest. of the material that
makes up the gear.

1.7. HYDRAULIC CLUTCH FLUID.

Clutch fluid is really just brake fluid that is kept in the clutch
master cylinder. When you depress the clutch pedal, this fluid
flows from the clutch master cylinder into the slave cylinder. The
pressure of the fluid is then used to engage the clutch, which
allows you to change gear

1.8. MOTOR FUEL.

A motor fuel is a fuel that is used to provide
power to motor vehicles. Currently, the
majority of motor vehicles worldwide are
powered by gasoline or diesel. Other energy
sources include ethanol, biodiesel, propane,
compressed natural gas (CNG), electric
batteries charged from an external source, and
hydrogen.

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2. FLUID CHARACTERISTICS
Now, we will specify the characteristics of the different types of fluids in the car.

2.1. ENGINE OIL.

Motor oil is an essential element for the proper functioning of any motor vehicle with a combustion
engine. Its function is to protect the engine by generating a film between the moving parts that
reduces friction, helps control temperature and reduces wear on the parts.

How is viscosity rated?

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) developed a scale for both engine (motor oil grades) and
transmission oils. How is viscosity rated? The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) developed a scale
for both engine (motor oil grades) and transmission oils.

Viscosity is notated with the common "XW-XX." The number

preceding the "W" rates the oil's flow at 0 degrees Fahrenheit
(-17.8 degrees Celsius). The "W" stands for winter, not weight
as many people think. The lower the number here, the less it
thickens in the cold. So 5W-30 viscosity engine oil thickens
less in the cold than a 10W-30, but more than a 0W-30.

Lubricant additives are organic or inorganic compounds dissolved or suspended as solids in oil. They
typically range between 0.1 to 30 percent of the oil volume, depending on the machine.

Over the years, motor oil has evolved as the automotive industry improved the composition of its
lubricants with different chemical formulas. As a result of this evolution, there are currently three
types of motor oil:

-Mineral oils: it is the most primitive type of oil. It is obtained directly from the distillation of
petroleum.

-Synthetic oils: they are synthesized by mixing different products such as ethylene and other
petroleum derivatives.

-Semi-synthetic oils: they are the result of combining the two previous options.

2.2. BRAKE FLUID.

Brake fluids must be compatible with brake system materials. Seals swelling tests are carried out at
70°C and 120°C on standardized SBR and EPDM rubber specimens and on specific elastomers used by
OEMs. During these tests changes in the volume, diameter and hardness of the specimens are
measured.

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Anticorrosion protection

Additives (corrosion inhibitors) are added to the base fluid to protect metal used inside components
such as calipers, master cylinders… against corrosion.

Oxidative resistance and Thermal stability

Braking is the conversion of kinetic energy into heat by friction. The quantities of heat that result are
considerable and depend on the weight and speed of the vehicle.

Nevertheless, under extreme conditions of operation, brake fluids reach temperatures of more than
150°C. Their cracking phenomenon is a direct measure of their thermal stability. This is determined by
the quality of glycol ethers components and the quantity and nature of antioxidants.

Antioxidants improve the thermal stability and also hold up the aging of the fluid by oxidation into
acidic components.

2.3. ENGINE COOLANT.

that in the motor world they are not so much. Antifreeze is one of the properties of the coolant used
in vehicles, but not the only one. This liquid also serves to cool the engine, allowing it to work at the
ideal temperature without overheating. The composition of the cooling liquid is, in a very high
proportion, water; This means that if an additive is not added to prevent the liquid from freezing, it
could become solid during the coldest months of the year. In addition, water is corrosive, so the
coolant has to protect the engine from this factor with other types of components.

The two main glycols that are used as engine coolants are: ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. Both
can be used in automotive or heavy-duty engine coolants or glycol-based heat transfer fluids, although
it is generally accepted that ethylene glycol based fluids when used as directed offer the greatest cost-
effective performance advantage. Propylene glycol based engine coolants or low temperature heat
transfer fluids tend to be used in locations where a low toxicity product is required and due to the
toxicity of ethylene glycol it cannot be used.

Such a combination results in a product that provides the following benefits:

-Effective heat transfer

-Prevention of cooling system corrosion

-Effective boiling point

-Freeze point depression where or if required

-Chemical stability

-Safe for use as directed

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An easy way to think of engine coolant is consider what it’s made of specifically three main items
namely glycol, de-ionized water and corrosion inhibitors as shown below:

Ethylene Glycol or Propylene glycol + Deionized Water + Corrosion Inhibitors = Engine Coolant

2.4. WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID.

Here are the main performance characteristics of high-quality windshield washer fluid:

The surface-active substances. Shake the container with fluid. The stable foam on the surface of the
fluid means that there are active-surface substances. If the foam does not appear, it is better to select
a different brand to purchase;

-Transparence. If the windshield washer fluid is of high quality, there will be no sediments on the
bottom of the container.

-Packaging. It is recommended to buy washer fluid only in transparent containers with high-quality
labels and caps.

The label. The label should include such points as:

the composition of the washer liquid;

freezing temperature;

the manufacturer’ s address; and the number of the sanitary report.

2.5. POWER STEERING FLUID.

Let's consider what is the difference between oils for power steering and for an automatic
transmission, and what kind of oil is poured into the power steering. The table below shows the
hydraulic fluids for power steering brand (PSF) and automatic transmission type (ATF):

Power steering oils (PSF): Oils for automatic

transmission (ATF):

Hydraulic fluid functions
- the liquid acts as a working
fluid that transfers pressure
from the pump to the piston
-lubricating function
- anti-corrosion function
- the same functions as for
power steering fluids
- the function of increasing
friction at rest of the clutches
(depends on the material of
the clutches)

- heat transfer to cool the -function to reduce clutch

system wear

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2.6. DIFFERENTIAL OIL.

We must make it clear that differential oils are similar to transmission oils (explained in the
transmission fluid section) and may have the same viscosity as transmission oils, but have different
additives or different amounts of these additives. 75W-90 for transmissions is not the same as 75W-90
for differentials.

That is, it is a liquid that has similar properties but with different additives so it can be defined as such.

2.7. HYDRAULIC CLUTCH FLUID.

The clutch fluid in most vehicles in the European Union uses the same chemical components as the
brake fluid, however we are going to detail some specifications that both share.

DOT standard.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) classifies brake fluid into four main categories:

-DOT 3 Their primary differences are their wet & dry boiling points and their composition:

-DOT 4 Wet Boiling

Dry Boiling
Point Point
-DOT 5

-DOT 5.1 DOT 3 205°C/401°F 140°C/284°F

DOT 4 230°C/446°F 155°C/311°F

DOT 5 260°C/500°F 180°C/356°F

DOT 5.1 260°C/500°F 180°C/356°F

2.8. MOTOR FUEL.

Gasoline is a petroleum-derived , a mixture of liquid aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons,

ranging between C4 and C12 carbon atoms with the boiling range of 30–225°C.

Diesel fuel in general is any liquid fuel used in diesel engines, The most common type of diesel fuel is a
specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, but alternatives that are not derived from petroleum,
such as biodiesel, biomass to liquid (BTL) or gas to liquid (GTL) diesel, are increasingly being developed
and adopted.

In the electric vehicle, the fuel is electricity.

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3. FLUID’S CONTROL
3.1. CHECK FLUIDS IN THE VEHICLE.
When we talk about the revision of the fluids in the vehicle, we refer to the periodicity with
which the fluids have to be changed because they lose some of their properties. In the table
below we can see (depending on time or mileage) the frequency with which the fluids are
changed.

FLUID KM TIME

ENGINE OIL. 15000KM 1 YEAR

BRAKE FLUID. 30000KM 2 YEAR’S

ENGINE COOLANT. 50000KM 4 YEARS

POWER STEERING 90000KM 6 YEAR`S

FLUID
AUTOMATIC 50000KM 4 YEAR`S
TRANSMISION
DIFFERENTIAL OIL. 30000KM 2 YEAR`S

HYDRAULIC CLUTCH 30000KM 2 YEAR`S

FLUID

Service (motor vehicle)

The maintenance of a vehicle becomes the main task of a user. It depends on that the useful
life is lengthened and you do not have problems in the routes you do daily. Likewise, it will
protect your investment over time, since when you want to sell the car, you will receive a good
price. The oil change, filters, batteries, spark plugs, brakes, among others, are necessary to
take care of the engine and its parts. The service life of an
engine is up to 300,000 km, but if it is not well maintained it
will not exceed 200,000 km. That is why the selection of the
workshops where the maintenance will be carried out every
5,000 kilometers is key.

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4. RECYLCLING OF FLUIDS.
Some automobile fluids like transmission fluids, power steering fluid, gear oil, motor oil, and
antifreeze can be processed and recycled into new fluids. Fuels and other flammable liquids
are considered dangerous and therefore must be stored and disposed of correctly, but many
of them can be recycled or reused as alternative fuels.

I changed my own fluids. Can I throw them in the trash?

No. Some government jurisdictions classify used motor oil and other auto fluids as hazardous
waste and require proper disposal by law.

Every gallon of used motor oil that is improperly discarded can contaminate 1 million gallons of
drinking water, according to the EPA. Motor oil also never wears out, but rather gets dirty, so it
can be recycled and resold.

Where can used auto fluids be taken for recycling?

Many auto parts stores accept use motor oil and other auto fluids for recycling or disposal, but some
have stricter requirements than others regarding transportation of the fluids.

Some collection points accept used oil in original motor oil bottles or even household containers with
secure lids, while others require the use of sealed specialty containers, also available at most auto
parts stores.

Still wondering how to dispose chemical products? Follow these simple guidelines:

-Keep each fluid separate and in a dedicated, sealed container until it can be either recycled or
disposed of.

-Consult local, state and federal regulations regarding disposal of fluid.

-Contact your local waste management company for drop-off and recycling locations.

-Never dispose of any automotive fluids by dumping them on the ground, into a storm drain or into a
septic system.

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4.BIBLIOGRAPHY
EPA Normative. (United States Environmental Protection Agency). Underground Injection
Control (UIC) 2017. https://www.epa.gov/uic/motor-vehicle-waste-disposal-wells

Service vehicle. (Wikipedia) Wikimedia Foundation, 2018

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_(motor_vehicle)

Diesel fuel (Wikipedia) Wikimedia Foundation, 2018

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_fuel

BRAKE / CLUTCH FLUID DOT 4. (Valvoline) Valvoline group. 2017 HOME / PRODUCTS / VALVOLINE™
PERFORMANCE CHEMICALS
https://www.valvoline.com/en-mea/our-products/performance-chemicals/brake-clutch-fluid-dot-4

Sustitución aceite diferencial. Auto zulia 2018.

https://www.autozulia.com/sustitucio-n-del-aceite-y-del-diferencial/

Working fluid. Gtshina. 2019,

https://gtshina.ru/en/avtotovary/kakuyu-zhidkost-zalivayut-v-gidrousilitel-rulya-cveta/

Performance Characteristics of the High-Quality. Global core 2018

https://blending.globecore.com/performance-characteristics-of-the-high-quality-windshield-washer-
fluid

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