3 Things About Your Car That You Probably Didn't Know.

Let's face it. Nobody knows everything about their vehicles. Unless you're a trained mechanical genius that studied every car ever made. With that said, let us focus on everyday drivers. The ones that commute to work, pick up kids from school, and bring their cars to their favorite local shop. Today, I am going to share with you our top 3 facts about your car you didn't know. Let's begin:

Fact #1:

Did you know that there are 7 fluids in your vehicle? Few people realize that there are so many fluids in one vehicle.

1. Oil--Your engine needs oil to keep the moving parts lubricated. 
2. Coolant--Keeps your engine from overheating. 
3. Transmission Fluid--A slippery liquid that keeps the transmission's moving parts lubricated.
4. Power Steering Fluid--Transmits power for power steering and keeps components moving freely.
5. Brake Fluid--Also known as hydraulic fluid, handles moving components of the braking system. Without this, your vehicle would not be able to stop when you hit your brake pedal. 
6. Freon--(Technically a gas) Required to create the cooling effect of the air conditioning unit in your car. This is actually designed in a closed-loop, so it should not need replacing, ever. Although on some occasions, components get damaged, rot, or malfunction, causing the coolant to leak out. 
7. Washer Fluid--is very important to clean your windshield of any dust, debris, salt, mud, and even bird poop.

Fact #2

This one might be shocking, but brake and transmission fluid exchanges are the most overlooked automotive services. You'd think that they would be at the top of the list, but they somehow go unchecked. This could mean terrible things for our vehicles and our wallets. Brake fluid is imperative for stopping your car when you need to. While transmission fluid helps keeps your transmission functioning as it should. No one wants to spend the money to repair something that could have been avoided by routine maintenance. So be sure to bring this up next time you get your vehicle serviced, it never hurts to double-check that your shop is double-checking!

Fact #3:

How much do you know about your Vehicle's Identification Number? Usually referred to as your VIN, your vehicle identification number is actually a code that tells you specific things. Almost like a social security number does for people. The number can tell you the features of the car and even the place of manufacture.
For instance, the first three numbers and letters tell you where your vehicle was made and who made it.
The fourth through eighth characters tell you, your engine type or information on the performance you should be getting out of your car.
Now, the ninth character is the power digit, and its purpose is to be a checkpoint to make sure the VIN is not a fake.
Characters ten through seventeen, tell you the model year and the production plant. They also pose as a unique serial number for the vehicle. You can go online to check and confirm the VIN corresponds to the make and model of your vehicle.

Hopefully, these three facts you may not have known about your car may serve to be useful in the future. The more you know, the less you don't know. When it comes to taking care of such a substantial financial investment, like a car, being in the know is always better.