I just bought a 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander with 41,000 miles on it. It's been inspected and has brand new brake pads, resurfaced rotors, rear engine seal, and tires on it. I'm trying to familiarize myself with the fluids and regular maintenance. If I need to add any brake, power steering, or coolant to it, what should I do? I'm not asking about the procedure, but rather should I drain them completely and replace the fluid so that I know I'm not mixing fluids, or is it okay to add the proper fluid on top? I just don't know what has been used in it.

 

top off's with the proper fluids is always fine. Likely, if it only has 41k miles on it, most fluids are original.

I'd be more interested in why it has already had a rear engine seal changed already. If it were you, I'd get a used oil analysis done on a change of oil that you put in.

 

I had a pre-purchase inspection done on it before I bought it. The mechanic said that there was a seep in the seal. The dealership replaced the seal and put on new brake pads and resurfaced rotors. It's a common problem, apparently, but it shouldn't have happened so soon. The inspection mechanic didn't act like it would be anything to worry about. Idk. What will the oil analysis tell me?