Answers to your car questions

Q

I always enjoy your column and usually learn something, but a previous week’s column left me with a question regarding oil changes. My last car was a 2016 Acura TLX and it had a feature that indicated the percentage of oil-life left before a change was necessary. My annual driving is limited to less than 10,000 kilometres and even though the sensor said that I had 40% oil-life left, I always had the oil changed anyways. How do these sensors work? Do they actually check the cleanness of the oil? If they are accurate, why don’t more manufacturers use them, as it would seem to save a lot of unnecessary oil changes? This would also be good for the environment as well as everyone’s wallet. The manufacturer of my current car requires an oil change every 6 months max. I suspect I will be getting my oil changed long before I need it.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. BRUCE FROM DUNDAS A

I am not a mathematician, but the oil life indicator is based on some type of algorithm, which takes into factors such as time, mileage, driving habits, how many starts and stops along with other things like engine operating temperature and engine performance. It is designed to let a driver know when it is time for an oil change by monitoring the condition of the oil. The owner’s manual does not always agree with the OLM (oil-life monitor) because some car manufacturers state that oil should be okay for up to ten thousand kilometres under normal driving conditions. The problem is to define what normal driving conditions mean versus severe driving conditions. Some define severe driving conditions as frequent stop and go driving such as city travel, short trips, dusty gravel roads and the difference between very warm and/or cold weather driving. The OLM is designed to take all of these considerations into account when it monitors the oil in the crankcase. There are doubts however, whether that the OLM system can correctly determine if the oil is contaminated with dirt, water or unburned fuel caused by engine blow by to name a few contaminates that can destroy an engine by shortening the life of the oil. The OLM cannot correctly distinguish between synthetic oil and fossil fuel oil. Synthetic oil has a greater ability to lubricate the engine’s moving parts under much more severe driving conditions than that of regular oil. Each individual has to, on their own, determine if they want to believe the OLM or stick to the standard practice of changing oil at around five thousand kilometres (for regular oil) or at eight to ten thousand (for synthetic oil). This decision should be based on your own driving habits. The OLM can be a good indictor of when the oil should be changed but when the OLM reads 30% oil-life left, I would change the oil. You will find that the OLM will read about 30% oil-life left when the vehicle has travelled about five to eight thousand kilometres but while your car is under warranty, I would still be guided by the recommendations of your dealer.

Q

While I was in my service garage to get the oil changed on my car, the TV was featuring Doug Ford. I asked the garage to change the station but they refused to do it so I told them that I would not leave my car in a garage that would listen to the rhetoric of this moron. I think that service garages should accommodate their customers who are keeping them in business. You appear to have the garages ears so what do you think?

A

I think that you should not take life so seriously and that you were not being respectful of others in the showroom, who were watching the television. This column is meant to help people with their automotive needs. It is not to be used as a soapbox to spread your own personal aversion to others of your political opinion. You are not the only person to email me with their discontent about our elected leaders, which I, nor any of my readers, want to hear at this time. Our leaders, be they Liberal or Conservative, are trying to do their best to help everyone get over this pandemic. The locked-in hatred and vitriol that is expressed daily in our newsrooms and newspapers, is not what the country needs at this time. There is plenty of space in the readers’ opinion section of your local newspaper where your political opinion can be freely expressed. If that is not good enough for you, then I suggest that you sit down and write yourself a letter, address it to yourself and then mail it. When it arrives and you open it, put yourself on the opposing side of your political opinions and you will then understand why people, with politically different opinions, are not interested in your personal prejudice. That is what the ballot box is for, every four years. So please, automotive related questions only!

Q

I’m sending this email on behalf of my dad. I enjoy reading your column in The Record every week. I have a 1974 Cadillac with a 472ci engine with 41,000 original miles on it. It is stored away but this year with COVID-19 affecting all of us, we do not know if a non-essential travel ban will be enforced. Should the engine be turned over once in a while to relieve stress on the valve springs?

THANK YOU, LAVERNE FROM ST CLEMENTS A

If the vehicle is going to sit for a few months, it will not affect the car’s valve springs. In the past, I have spoken extensively about what to do with vehicles that are going to be sitting for months on end. Further to that, a good suggestion came from Lee McArther, who is the Used Truck Sales Manager from Carrier Centers in Woodstock, Ontario. He suggested (and it depends on where the car is being stored) that it is a good idea to periodically check under the hood for rodent nests and also to plug the tail pipe to stop any entry. Leave yourself a note on the steering wheel that you have plugged the exhaust and remove it before you try to start the car. If the car is stored inside, some have suggested that you leave the hood up and disconnect the hood light if your vehicle has one. Any vehicle, which is parked outside over the winter, should have the battery removed to stop it from freezing before it gets depleted of power.

CORRECTION A

bout two weeks ago, a reader asked me about what could happen to gas in the gas tank, if the car is sitting for an extended period of time. In order to stop the gas from coagulating, I suggested that one should “shake” the back of the vehicle, when I should have said “rock” the rear of the vehicle, in order to move the gas around. My sister-in-law in Mount Forest pointed out my error by asking me: “How is one to shake the rear of the vehicle?” I told her that it would be very difficult unless one tried to dance on the trunk lid, which I do not recommend.

To my readers:

Please indicate the town, city or village that you live in. Be advised that not all emails can be answered. Send your questions (including address) by email to: dennis.osullivan@cogeco.ca