Why are 2.0-litre engines becoming so popular?
Q&A
Question: I was curious why there seems to be such a huge number of 2.0-litre engines on the market now. What is there about this size that makes it so popular?
F.H. Answer: What we’re seeing, thanks to the benefits of direct fuel injection, variable valve operation and turbocharging are four-cylinder engines with plenty of power for the average car. Light weight and easy packaging are bonuses as well. Why two litres of displacement? A while back, European scientist/engineers determined that 500-cc (0.5-litre) cylinders were the ideal size for internal combustion engines. Keeping an engine’s internal surface to volume ratio as low as possible is also desired as less combustion heat is transferred to the cylinder head, and hydrocarbon emissions are minimized. This means many engines now have a bit longer stroke and smaller bores than before.
Looking around at various engines, particularly BMW, Mercedes, and VW shows the 0.5-litre concept; 1.5-litre three-cylinder, 2.0-litre four-cylinder, 3.0-litre six-cylinder, 4.0-litre eightcylinder and 6.0-litre twelvecylinder engines.
It wasn’t that long ago that wringing 100 horsepower per litre of engine displacement was an impressive feat. Now, many manufacturers are hitting 150 horsepower and above. Mercedes’ CLA45 AMG is pumping 355 horsepower from a 2.0-litre engine.
Q: I’ve got this one tire that loses about three pounds of air each month. It drives me nuts to have to keep checking and refilling it. At the last oil change I had them check it for leaks and they couldn’t find one. I’ve probably got another year, maybe two, left on it. Sealer? Live with it?
V.B. A: Most tires lose about a pound a month, with a lot of variables. Possible leakage points are the tire valve-stem connection at the wheel, the core (valve) inside, the tire-wheel bead seal, and a puncture, likely in the tread area. I’m wondering if your service place used a tire-leak testing tub or simply sprayed water on it. Your leak is small but should show up with a diligent inspection. An application of tire sealer would likely do the trick, except that it might make trouble with your TPMS sensor inside and it makes such a mess you’d need to bring a box of doughnuts and a big smile to the next person who’ll need to service or replace the tire.
How about mixing up a dash of dishwashing liquid and water in a spray bottle and double checking at least the accessible parts of the tire yourself? Don’t forget also to remove the valve stem cap and gently snug the valve core, using the appropriate tool. You might try using a brush to work the soapy solution a little more into the tire bead and tread areas. With patience and repositioning the tire on the ground, there’s a good chance the leak will show up.
If it turns out the leak is at the bead, there’s a chance the tire was nicked slightly during installation, the wheel bead wasn’t adequately cleaned, or the wheel’s surface plating is flaking or eroding. A bead sealer product can be applied to the surfaces to help with minor flaws.
Q: While we were coming back from vacation, the splash shield on our 2013 Mazda3 came loose. We pulled over and had it taken off by a local auto shop. I asked them at the time if it was OK to drive without it on, and they indicated that as long as I was on a road it was OK. When we got home, I took it over to my local mechanic that I have used for many years for all my auto repair needs. He took a look and said that I really didn’t need to replace it because a majority of the cars on the road now don’t have one. Should I get it replaced?
S.Y. A: If this were a simple trim piece, I would let it go, but the splash shield on the front underside of the car has several purposes, including protecting the engine from bumps and road debris, so I would replace it. If you are handy, and can safely get under the car, you can install a replacement for under $50. To have a pro do it, expect to pay more for the part plus labour, which should be about one hour.
Q: I own a 2009 Pontiac G6 with the 3.9-litre engine. It now has 150,000 kilometres on it, nearly all on the highway. I had no intention of keeping this car so long as I used conventional motor oil. I would like to know your thoughts on switching over to synthetic at this time. I am thinking that I would like to keep the car another 150,000 km. What do you think?
M.M. A: Synthetic motor oil is superior to conventional dinosaur juice. And, it is never too late to make the switch. You might want to consider a synthetic blend that contains both types, as well as an oil designed for use in highermileage engines. I believe any car can go over 300,000 km if maintained properly.
Q: I bought a 2016 Lincoln MKC in November 2015. Recently, hot air was blowing on the driver’s side when the air conditioner was on. When I called the dealer to get it fixed under the warranty, I was told I had to wait two weeks. The Lincoln brochure says: “Should your Lincoln require warranty service, you can count on us to be there for you with a courtesy vehicle.” I inquired about the courtesy car but was turned down by the dealer. I got the car fixed by someone else. Are there luxury carmakers that would have provided the courtesy car until they could fix the problem?
P.M. A: If car dealers had to supply courtesy vehicles while waiting for an opening in the service schedule or waiting for parts to arrive, they would go broke supplying loaners. While the car is in the shop, many dealers will provide a courtesy car for a couple of days. Brad Bergholdt is an automotive technology instructor at Evergreen Valley College in San Jose, California. Readers may send him email at bradbergholdt@gmail.com; he cannot make personal replies.