Should I have a complete vehicle inspection in anticipation of a road trip? | Car Doctor
Q: I have a 2012 Nissan Pathfinder with 200,000 miles. It has been well maintained and has not required any major repairs other than some work on the rear suspension framework. Should I have a complete vehicle inspection in anticipation of a road trip? Is there anything in particular that I should be concerned about, given the age and mileage of this vehicle?
A: Check all the fluids, get an oil change, and give the drive belts and coolant hoses a good look along with the radiator. Also, the tires should be checked for possible damage from winter potholes. Then take a look at lights and wipers – there's nothing more annoying than a road trip with streaky wiper.
An emergency kit, spare tire, jack lug wrench, wheel lock key (if needed) some basic tools, portable jump-pack, air compressor, flares/reflector, flashlight, gloves and a cellphone charger are all handy to have.
Is my frequent oil change strategy a good idea or overkill?
Q: I have a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab with a 3.0 Duramax Diesel. I have routinely changed the oil every 5,000 miles even though the manual calls for changing the oil at the 7,500 mark or as shown on the oil monitor system. Is the 5,000-mile change overkill?
Also, when I get a new vehicle, I change oil at the 1,000 mile mark, based on recommendations from friends that there is more wear and tear with the new engine during the first 1,000 miles. Is this overkill?
A: At one time, people changed their engine oil in as little as the first 500 miles to remove any assembly material. Today's engines – due to assembly techniques – are much cleaner. In fact, changing the oil early will sometimes not allow the rings to seat properly.
As for periodic oil changes: changing the oil every 7,500 miles will maintain the warranty, but every 5,000 miles certainly can’t hurt.
Gas with high ethanol caused problems with Honda generator
Q: I live in Florida, and I recently needed to use my Honda generator. It would not stay running. I took it to a local shop, and they told me the issue was I was using fuel with a high ethanol content. They drained the fuel and all seems good now. How could that happen? Is the gas station responsible for the problem?
A: It is possible that there was some cross contamination at the station and E85 (85% ethanol) ended up in the wrong tank. But what could also have happened is – depending on the gas station – if the station pumps don’t have a dedicated E85 pump and you were only filling a small gas can, the residual E85 in the hose (could be up to half a gallon) mixed with and contaminated the regular fuel. I usually fill my gas can when I fill my car with gas, but I do it after I refuel my car. This way there is no chance that the gas can will have anything other than regular (low ethanol) fuel.
How do the gas engine and batteries work together in Honda hybrid?
Q: I have a 2022 Honda CR-V Hybrid and am hoping that you can explain two things about it. First, I don't understand how the gasoline engine and the batteries work together. Second, there's a button to put it into EV mode, but then it only goes at most a mile, so what's the benefit of that option?
A: This hybrid system uses the gasoline engine for three distinct purposes: to power the generator to supply electricity for the drive motor; to flow power directly to the front wheels to move the vehicle; and to charge the hybrid battery pack.
The electric motor also provides instant torque at zero RPM and allows for seamless operation of the idle start/stop system. The EV-only mode is designed to operate for short distances for speeds generally no higher than 30 miles per hour.
To me, the EV mode is more of a novelty than a useful function. Under the normal hybrid mode, the gasoline engine and electric motor work together to maximize both engine performance and economy.
What is causing lights to flutter on Chevy truck?
Q: My 10-year-old Chevy truck has an issue with all the lights fluttering. They go slightly from normal to brighter to slightly dimmer. It is noticeable, but just barely. So far, I have cleaned all the battery connections and even the battery cable where it attaches to the body, but nothing changed. What could be wrong?
A: I suspect that the alternator is faulty. You can test this with a digital multimeter. In this case you want to set your meter to read AC volts. Take your measurements at the battery while the engine is warmed up with the headlights and defroster turned on to put a load on the electrical system.
When performing the test, If there is more than 0.1-0.5 volts of AC ripple, then the alternator is most likely faulty and should be replaced.
John Paul is the AAA Northeast Car Doctor. He has more than 40 years of experience in the automobile industry and is an ASE-Certified Master Technician. Write to John Paul, The Car Doctor, at 110 Royal Little Drive, Providence, RI 02904. Or email jpaul@aaanortheast.com and put “Car Doctor” in the subject field. Follow him on Twitter @johnfpaul or on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Should I have a vehicle inspection before a road trip? | Car Doctor
