September 27, 2007
Q. I purchased a new Mercury Marquis and would like to switch to full synthetic motor oil. I've heard you mention the benefits of synthetic motor oil on your radio program over the years. Do you recommend a particular brand, and how many miles I should I drive before switching? Presently, the car has 800 miles.
A. Synthetic oil has become mandatory in many of today’s engines. This is due to its longer life and superior lubricating ability. Mercury recommends the first oil change at 5,000 miles and recommends the use of synthetic blend motor oil. Switching to full synthetic oil at the first oil change is perfectly acceptable. In my own cars, I use Royal Purple synthetic oil and have had very good results. Still, any full synthetic oil that meets the Ford oil specification should be fine.
Q. I drive a 2002 Forester in very good condition. Currently the vehicle has 46,000 miles. There is a ticking noise when I start up the car, which seems to go for a while (maybe 10 or 15 minutes). It goes away as the car warms up, but it is annoying. Is this a trait of Subaru? Also, when I first put pressure on the gas pedal, there is a slight hesitation. Recently I was using the air conditioning and I noticed a weird noise I’d never heard before. It sounded like the noise when you blow air over an empty soda bottle. Are any of these issues related and should I be concerned?
A. Due to its horizontal design, the Subaru engine will make a slight noise when first started, but generally the noise quiets down in the first few minutes once the engine warms up. The best thing to do would be leave the car overnight at a good repair shop so they can hear and diagnose the noise. The slight hesitation could be a result of lack of maintenance. Subaru recommends spark-plug replacement at 60,000 miles or 30 months, whichever comes first. A good technician will also inspect the throttle body for carbon build up, which can also cause some cold engine hesitation. As for the air conditioning noise, if it is only present when the controls are on the re-circulate setting, have the technician look for a problem with the recirculation door.
Q. My 2002 Jeep Sahara, with a manual transmission, has 125,000 miles on it. I do most of my driving from Maine to Massachusetts for work. I don’t know if highway miles versus city miles matter, but most of the mileage is from traveling the interstate. The car is running fine, but what should I be looking out for at this point in the car’s life?
A. Years ago, a car with 125,000 miles on it would be completely worn out. Today, with better lubricants and higher quality manufacturing, we see cars routinely going more than 200,000 miles. The most important thing you can do at this point is routine maintenance. The best garages will give the vehicle a “once-over” at each service. This way you will be able to repair problems before they can cause a breakdown.
Q. I purchased a used 2006 Sebring Convertible this summer. There are water marks on all the windows and the black trim that do not come off. I have tried a few different things, including white vinegar, and nothing takes them off. The car was originally in Hawaii for two years prior to me purchasing it. Can anyone help me get these water marks off?
A. Generally these water spots are caused by a combination of industrial pollution (acid rain) and sunlight. Depending on the extent of the damage, the spots may come off using a chemical cleaner specifically designed to clean and remove these stains. If the glass is actually etched, then polishing may help. In both cases, you may want to find a high quality auto detailing shop and get their opinion.
