A Glance Under The Bonnet

Driving a car is one thing but understanding how it works is a whole other ball game! After all, you don’t have to be a mechanic to pass a driving test. With this said, it can be incredibly beneficial to have a rough idea how the pieces under the bonnet fit together, especially if you happen to break down. Since the engine can be complicated and intricate, the team here at V12 Sports and Classics have decided to go over how it works and the different fluids you should check regularly…

How The Engine Works

A healthy engine is as vital to your car as a healthy brain is to our body. After all, just like chemical imbalances in the brain can cause us to act out of character, a faulty engine or low fluid levels in the engine can lead to a breakdown. Inside the engine the fuel is turned into power and energy through a process called ‘internal combustion’. Luckily most modern cars are now equipped with a warning light on the dashboard when there is a problem within the engine.

Engine Coolant

Creating all that power in order to get your car to move means that your engine is letting off heat as a by-product and it is important to ensure that you don’t allow the engine to overheat or the mechanics can start to melt or even set on fire. Luckily engine coolant, usually a brightly coloured liquid found in a transparent reservoir, helps control the temperature of the engine. If the levels are low, you should fill up the reservoir with 50% coolant and 50% water, making sure to never fill above the max line.

Brake Fluid

Although brake fluid doesn’t need to be topped up as often as people think, it is wise to know where you can find the correct canister under the bonnet and know how to replace it. Usually you can find the brake fluid reservoir on the driver’s side of the vehicle. It is important to replace it quickly as if the cap is left off for more than 15 minutes the fluid will have been exposed to moist air for too long and will be ruined.

Engine Oil

You can find the engine oil dipstick under the bonnet by looking for the yellow cap with a circle handle. Keeping an eye on your engine oil levels is important as you require the oil in order to ensure that the engine is well lubricated and cool enough to absorb the heat that is produced. Luckily it is easy to check your engine oil. Simply find yourself a tissue or cloth, wipe the dipstick clean, replace it back into the reservoir and remove it one last time to ensure that the levels are at least between min and max.

Here at V12 Sports and Classics we are proud to say that our range of used cars are given a comprehensive 128 multi-point check prior to advertisement so that you can drive away knowing that your engine is in tip top condition! Following this, you can use our handy glance under the bonnet guide to ensure all of your fluids are at the correct level should you ever worry. With this said, remember that you should always visit a mechanic if you feel like there could be a serious problem with your engine. Get in contact with a member of the V12 team to find out more information today!