Do I really need an oil change?
Q: I have a 2007 Honda Civic EX with 22,365 miles on it. The owner’s manual says to change the oil when the dashboard indicator displays 15% oil life, and the indicator has never gone below 80%. Yet every year the dealer tells me that the oil needs to be changed on an annual basis, period. And every year the dealer finds hundreds of dollars of fixes that need to be done. Does that seem reasonable? And even given the age of the car, should I really be taking it in every year for a checkup if I’m not having any problems? — P.R., Chicago A:
I preach the gospel of following the oil life monitor — most of the time. If your owner’s manual calls for an annual oil change, do it. Short trips allow contaminants to build up, which causes the oil to degrade — even without driving.
Q: I loved riding in my mom’s yellow VW Beetle. I especially liked the side vent window. My Subaru Forester has that section of window for more unobstructed viewing and it would be great if they were to make it a vent. Why don’t carmakers consider bringing back that feature? — P.A., Elmwood Park, Illinois A:
The vent helped remove interior fog from the windows. Air conditioning in all cars now does the job. It probably saves carmakers a couple bucks, too.
Q: I’ve been following what you said in recent columns about making sure your tires are inflated to what the auto manufacturer says on the door sticker. But what if I do keep them inflated to the max PSI listed on the tire? I drive a 2011 Toyota Sienna. I would think that more air could only help the mileage. Am I risking a blowout? — M.V., Chicago A:
Radial tires’ inflation — either underinflated or overinflated — can’t be determined simply by looking at them. The diameter remains more or less the same. You wouldn’t get better fuel economy or risk a blowout, but you would surely get a rougher ride.
Q: For many years, white wall tires were the most popular and most expensive tires you could buy and I can’t believe they have fallen out of favor in today’s world. Can you even purchase them anymore? Do you know why they never came back to popularity in today’s world?
— J.F., The Villages, Florida A: I don’t know why white walls went out of favor. Your local retail tire store may not carry them, but you can still find some online. But there is another option. When I was in high school, I used to install Port-a-walls on tires for a used car dealer. They are fake white walls that cover the tire’s original sidewall to dress them up.
Bob Weber is a writer and mechanic who became an Ase-certified Master Automobile Technician in 1976. He maintains this status by seeking certification every five years. Weber’s work appears in professional trade magazines and other consumer publications. Send questions along with name and town to motor mouth.tribune@gmail.com.