The "Ask a Mechanic" Thread (merged)

[talk show host]

QUESTION:

I have a 2007 Subaru Forrester XT Sport. It has a turbocharger and "requires" premium gas (93). What would happen if i put regular in (87)? My manual says very bad things. However, i read online in a forum that since the late 1980s, there has been a law requiring automakers to make all their cars run on regular gas. Allegedly, if i put 87 in, not only will i be saving money on gas, but i will get better gas mileage due to the turbocharger being shut off (when the sensors detect 87 instead of 93). is this claim true or bogus. it would be GREAT to save some money on gas, even if it comes at the expense of performance.

[Get Pissed]

And if you need to know what kind of car i have, why didnt you ask that before you answered? Rookie.

I'm sorry, but as stricly an observer of this thread ( I dont have a car), that was an awesome come back. I'm not choosing sides or anything, but that remark gave me a solid laugh. hilarious!

[DCsportsfan53]

I skipped my cars 60,000 mile scheduled service. Im now pushing 75,000. Do i need to eventually get it done?

What all is involved in a 60k service for your vehicle? I'm guessing it's something like air filter, fuel filter and spark plugs. If so, I would get it done. Clogged air filters and old, worn spark plugs can contribute to carbon buildup in the engine and lead to misfires. Also, these are easy things to do. I'm betting you could do them yourself.

QUESTION:

I have a 2007 Subaru Forrester XT Sport. It has a turbocharger and "requires" premium gas (93). What would happen if i put regular in (87)? My manual says very bad things. However, i read online in a forum that since the late 1980s, there has been a law requiring automakers to make all their cars run on regular gas. Allegedly, if i put 87 in, not only will i be saving money on gas, but i will get better gas mileage due to the turbocharger being shut off (when the sensors detect 87 instead of 93). is this claim true or bogus. it would be GREAT to save some money on gas, even if it comes at the expense of performance.

Bad idea on a turbocharged engine. The extra pressure on the engine created by the turbocharger creates the need for the higher octane gas. Not using the proper fuel could cause detonation and misfires which could lead to engine failure in the right conditions. I would definitely stick with 93 if I was you.

[dchogs]

Bad idea on a turbocharged engine. The extra pressure on the engine created by the turbocharger creates the need for the higher octane gas. Not using the proper fuel could cause detonation and misfires which could lead to engine failure in the right conditions. I would definitely stick with 93 if I was you.

my take on these issues is strictly financial... 93 is about 30 cents more expensive than 87. in a 20 gallon tank, that's an extra $6 for the high octane. if you run through 2 tanks per week (a lot in my world... i only fill up twice a month), it's only an extra $625 for that gas. a lot of money, but not that much compared to just about any mech work done on your engine.

[cracka]

I just paid 650.00 to have a new alternator and battery installed. How big of a sucker am I?

98 ford exploder..

[PleaseBlitz]

What all is involved in a 60k service for your vehicle? I'm guessing it's something like air filter, fuel filter and spark plugs. If so, I would get it done. Clogged air filters and old, worn spark plugs can contribute to carbon buildup in the engine and lead to misfires. Also, these are easy things to do. I'm betting you could do them yourself.

All that stuff has been done recently by the good folks at Jiffy Lube (well, at least they TOLD me they did it ). The owners manual has like a page full of ****, but most of it seems very minor.

I have never had any problems with the car, ever.

The reason i dont want to do it is because im going to go in and they are going to tell me i need another $3000 worth of bull**** done, and this summer is going to be expensive enough.

[stoney26]

i have a 2005 Cadillac CTS-V. It says to use 93 octane in the book. Its not turbo charged or anything but it has a 5.7L Corvette LT1 engine in it. Could I use a lower octane without messing it up. Also I bought it used with 45k on it. Are there any special services I should get done on it. I just bought it a month ago an Im not sure what has been done recently. Thanks in advance.

[Bliz]

started a thread on this not too long ago, haven't done anything to address the problem yet. Wondering if I'll get the same answer from you...



I've got a 99 accord ex, about 160k miles. Auto transmission

Lately, sometimes if I have to hit the gas to reverse up an incline, I'm going a couple feet and then it's like I'm between reverse and neutral. Engine revs hard but I don't go very far (but don't roll forward either). If I put it into drive and then back into reverse, it will either work fine, or do the same thing again (back a couple feet, then nothing). No problems idling in reverse out of a space or in drive. It has happened once or twice on very slight inclines, but for the most part it's only happening on bigger inclines with no troubles on flat surface. Transmission fluid level is fine.

Thoughts?

[sideshow24]

Ignition in my car will not turn back all the way. At first I could play with it and get it to turn completely off and get the key out like normal. Now it will not return to the off position. I had to leave it like that when I got home last night and shocker, my battery is cooked now.

I'll charge it back up and try again. Any chance there's something that an impatient, not very mechanically minded person might be able to do without paying a ton?

[HogNose]

SS-


I change my oil every 5,000-6,000 miles because I have heard it is actually better for the engine and my owners manual actually says 5,000. The 3,000 miles from what I have heard is too soon and is just an industry standard set to get people to bring their cars into the shop sooner. What is your take on it?




BTW, can you tell me why Jiffy Lube is still in business? The last time I was in a Jiffy Lube was 3 years ago and I never went back after Honda said they hadn't changed my oil filter. Do you and others in your line of work look down on them as many of us do? I have read a lot of bad press about that company and I wonder how they can stay in business. God damn bunch of crooks. They seem to employee people that only have burger flipping skills.

[Bliz]

BTW, can you tell me why Jiffy Lube is still in business? The last time I was in a Jiffy Lube was 3 years ago and I never went back after Honda said they hadn't changed my oil filter. Do you and others in your line of work look down on them as many of us do? I have read a lot of bad press about that company and I wonder how they can stay in business. God damn bunch of crooks. They seem to employee people that only have burger flipping skills.

You mean JL might have been LYING to me when they said I needed $100+ in various fluid replacements and flushes every time I went in there?!?

I'm with you man. Haven't been there in 5+ years. If there was anythink like that I actually needed, I would have figured they were just bs-ing me as usual and declined.

[DGreenistheBest]

QUESTION:

94 Subaru Impreza, manual transmission. When I turn the fan on, it makes sort of a chugging wheezing sound like someone having trouble breathing. Not very loud, but noticeable and you can feel the engine struggle just a bit every time it "exhales." This is only when its idling. Once placed in gear and moving, it subsides until it goes away completely at highway speeds. If I idle long enough, it sometimes stalls. Does it with AC, heat, or just the fan. No symptoms of engine trouble at all when the fan is off. No check lights on. Started doing it right after my last oil change.

[herb mul-key]

how can you keep a car in good repair driving on super dusty to muddy dirt roads all the time?

The undercarraige looks pretty caked and there is insidious moon dust everywhere.....

[SpringfieldSkins]

OK, I'll pick right back up where I left off after logging off last night.

The cable spring broke to open my hood in my Jeep and I'm wondering how much it would cost to fix it. The mechanic at the local shop told me it could be up to 200 bucks?? Are you kidding me? Is this true? Would it be cheaper just taking it to the dealership since I wouldn't have to worry about the mechanic at the local shop trying to find the part?

I'm assuming you mean the hood release cable, the cable you pull on to release the hood. That cable goes from the interior of the car to the hood latch and also includes the release handle. It's a common problem with Jeeps and in my area, $200 isn't too far off from what I would expect.

The labor is probably somewhere between 1 hour and 1.5 hours and the part is only like $20 or so. A huge pain in the ass if you have never replaced one before. If you you haven't, it would probably take you ever bit of 1 or 1 and 1/2 hours to replace it. If you know a trick or two, you can have it done in about 10 or 20 minutes. That's how mechanics make their money in this business.

As far as taking it to the dealer vs. the "local guy" doing it. It probably doesn't matter too much, the "local guy" will have to call the dealer to order the parts anyhow (I don't know of a company that makes aftermarket hood release cables). The only difference being, the part is either there on the shelf at the dealer, or a delivery away at the "local guy". "Local guys" are less expensive 99% of the time because of their labor rate, which is less. I work at a "local guy" shop, or as I'd like to call it a "privately owned shop" so my opinion here may be a bit skewed.

[SpringfieldSkins]

I skipped my cars 60,000 mile scheduled service. Im now pushing 75,000. Do i need to eventually get it done?

It depends on what kind of car you have. Every mileage based service (think 30K, 45K, 60K, 75K, 90K, etc. service) is different depending on make and model. Even different years between a model of car makes a difference. So, I don't have a real solid answer here for you because I don't know what kind of car you drive.

Some 60K services are just a matter of changing the oil, air filter and cabin filter. Some 60K services, such as one for a mid 90's honda, contains a timing belt replacement (very important). Best bet would be to consult your owners manual and see if there is anything you may have missed.