Answers to your car questions
QUESTION
I own a seven year-old Honda CRV that has 75,000 kms on the clock. I am thinking of downsizing as 90% of the time, I am alone in this fairly large vehicle. With all the talk about climate change, I am thinking of either Hybrid or Electric. My question is, as I only do a little over 10,000 kilometers a year, would I be making any difference at all to the environment, taking into account the use of disposable batteries and electricity? Thanks Dennis, I have a feeling that more people are wondering about this issue.
Dorothy from Burlington
ANSWER
I maintain that any time one has the chance to help keep a clean environment, they should take the steps to do so. In Canada, we are estimated to only produce two to three percent of the pollution that adds to the world’s contamination but we are taking some of the most drastic steps to stamp out two to three percent while China and Russia are polluting with impunity. I cannot see how our tiny bit of addition to world pollution will make much difference if these countries do not step up to the plate. It would appear that only free nations are trying to tackle this problem and that was evident at the last climate change conference. China and Russia were not there. Some of the most radical environmentalists are pushing to completely get rid of fossil fuels in the next ten years and some even want it to be sooner with little regard to the pollution remnants of the millions of fuel vehicles that will be scrapped. This does not even take into consideration the cost to the average motorist that has to scrap their vehicle. Where in the next few years are we going to get electricity if we put millions of electric vehicles on the road without the power grid to supply them? Look what happened to California when they tried to go all-electric – multiple shut downs and people going without electricity. What do you think would happen if that happened to us in mid-winter? What plans does the government have for getting rid of all the acid filled batteries, tires, asbestos brake shoes, antifreeze and left over oil remnants from these scrapped vehicles? Much of the interiors in today’s vehicles are made of plastic and we know the hazards of discarded plastics. Let us hope that common sense prevails and we do the changeover without destroying the economy. Now back to your question Dorothy! Yes, any steps that you take to help keep the environment clean is, as some say, “doing your part”.
QUESTION
Hello Dennis,
I’m not sure if you answer mail that isn’t directly related to the mechanics of the car but I need advice regarding rust prevention. I am renting space in a home with a brick driveway. Previously, I used oil spray on my old car. I used to have the car oil sprayed in the fall and would leave it on the road for a couple of weeks and everything would be fine until spring. As soon as the weather turned warmer in April, the car would start leaving oil spots on the driveway. After a few years of this, the landlord said no more and I ended up on hands and knees, scrubbing the brick with a special cleaner.
Last Fall, I bought a 2018 Elantra, which had never been undercoated and decided to go through one more winter and hope for the best, thinking that I would be moving this year. The move may be postponed for another year so I want to do something for my car. Do you have any suggestions concerning undercoating other than oil?
Love your columns, which I read every week. Thanking you in advance.
Lynne from Hamilton
ANSWER
There are many undercoating companies that can do the undercoating without the hazards of leftover remnants being left on your driveway. If your car is older and has some pre-existing rust, some experts recommend that you use an oil-base type of undercoating that is believed to penetrate the pre-existing rusted areas to get rid of moisture. Years ago, some people were using motor oil, which is highly corrosive and in the end, did more damage than good and also left half of the oil application on their driveway. The oil-based products used today do not drip after the application nor do any of the other products used by the undercoating companies that are around today. The best advice that I can give you is to shop around and ask questions.