My 2004 MC, CVT has less than 2000 miles. Last night, I noticed a strange smell as I started my car. Should I be checking the oil or other fluids? Will I add oil before my oil change?

I am not in any way enlightened when it comes to anything under the bonnet except how clean I keep it.

Thank you!

 

sleslie - You will want to keep an eye on the oil (yellow dipstick) and
the coolant for the most part. After you drive about 10min or so,
stop the car and check the oil once every two weeks or so. As long
as there is oil at least halfway on the rippled part of the dipstick
between the 2 indicator holes, you're fine.

As far as coolant goes, check while the car is cold in the morning.
Don't open the little tank while the car is hot as steam will burst
out and could burn you pretty bad.

There should be enough coolant at least a couple mm above the
"MIN" mark on the side of the tank (bottle). If not, get some
coolant at the dealer, mix 50/50 with distilled water and just
add while the car is cold. My coolant dissappears from time to time.

Washer fluid is another good item to check from time to time.
There's two tanks if you have the HID with headlight washer.

 

Since you like to keep a clean car, any time you open the bonnet in the process of cleaning and detailing the car is a good time to check all the fluids. Most require just a glance, or in the case of the oil and power steering, a reading of a dipstick. Top up items like the washer fluid when you know you've used some. The brake fluid will need occasional topping off as the miles progress, as will the coolant.

 

Thank you!

 

I check engine oil level when the engine is cold and has been off for a while. Best time is before the first start of the day. This way almost all oil that can drain out of the upper part of the engine will have returned to the oil sump.

 

What's considered normal loss? If after 5 months, the coolant in the reservoir goes from mid-mark (halfway between MIN and MAX) to the MIN level, is that normal?

 

I always check all my fluids;
a. Whenever something sounds funny.
b. Whenever something smells funny.
c. Whenever the car stops.
:smile:

 

Really depends how you drive the car. Lots of stop/go traffic in hot weather
and you could loose about that much in 5months. The important part is to
make sure there is no leak in the reserve tank (check drip marks on the
header heatshield just below the tank and spillout residue on the tank itself).

I just keep a bottle of anti-corrsion coolant for aluminum motors and a
bottle of distilled water in my garage and use it time to time....like
6months apart or so.