1. Oil filter

Most car owners have heard of an oil change, but have you heard of the oil filter? The oil filter cleans the motor oil as it circulates through the engine. As oil flows through your car’s system, it fills with contaminates and debris the filter must clean out. If the filter becomes too dirty, it can no longer do its job effectively. At Christian Brothers Automotive Clermont, we replace the oil filter with every oil change.

2. Distributor

You’ll find the distributor, including the caps and rotors, in the car’s ignition system. This system gives power to your engine. The distributor passes voltage from the ignition coils to the engine’s cylinders. The passing of this energy ignites the fuel-air mixture, which powers the car.

3. Brake fluid

Did you know your brake system is mostly fluid? Brake fluid acts as a firm cushion between your foot and the wheel brakes. Because liquid under pressure cannot compress, the brake fluid is what actually squeezes the brake pads and stops the car. Without brake fluid, your foot would take on the force of every stop. This would be more than a little uncomfortable when trying to stop at 70 miles per hour.

4. Radiator

If you’ve ever had your car overheat, you understand how hot the engine can become. When the car overheats, a part of the cooling system is not functioning properly. As the engine creates energy, the cooling system passes lubricating fluid into the radiator, which distributes the heat evenly throughout the engine. Without the radiator, your engine would become so hot it would actually destroy itself.

5. Tune-up

A vehicle tune-up is simply a maintenance check to ensure all parts of the car operate as expected. Over time, the parts wear down and fluid fills with contaminates or degrades. With a regularly scheduled tune-up, the engine stays in peak condition and you can prevent the majority of serious repairs or damages.

Walk into your next auto repair appointment with confidence

Remember the meaning of these 5 auto repair terms, and you’ll be able to more easily communicate with your repair technician. If you have any questions or would like to know more auto repair terms, call Christian Brothers Automotive in Clermont today.