How are winter and summer gas for cars different?
Q. I own a 2014 Chevy Cruze LS, it has a manual transmission and so far I have 16,000 miles on it. Should the brakes “lock up’’ even when I have antilock brakes? Since I have owned the car the brakes did indeed ‘lock up’ when I had to stop quickly on a dry road.
A. Antilock brakes using a combination of sensors and computers will limit the amount of brake lockup but may not eliminate it completely. During a panic stop you may hear some tire chirping but the car shouldn’t skid. Remember the purpose of ABS brakes is to allow you to apply the brakes while still having control of the car so you can both steer and stop.
Q. I wonder if you would be willing to give me your opinion on what to do about my 2008 Saab 9-2 T wagon. I love, love, love this car. I bought it from a dealer with 1,200 miles on it and it now has 47,000 miles on it and It has been serviced regularly. I winter in Florida so it sits in my garage in Massachusetts for four months in the winter. I can’t decide whether to drive it to Florida for the four months I am there and leave it outside in my lanai for eight months or trade it in for a new car? My other concern is finding a mechanic and parts in the area. What should I do?
A. I think your car is much better off in a garage for four months in the winter than in the Florida heat for eight months. Lack of use of a car can actually cause its own share of problems. Of course the best choice is to have someone drive/exercise the car for 30 minutes once every three weeks or so. Regarding finding a mechanic and parts for your Saab 9-2, your Saab is really just a well disguised Subaru WRX. Anyone familiar with servicing a Subaru will be able to service your Saab.
Q. I have heard of winter and summer gas for cars and how they are chemically different. I was wondering if items like, lawn mowers, snow blowers, generators, chain saws and leaf blowers do any better with summer gas. Should we buy summer gas now, for our yard machines to be prepared for winter?
A. Just like cars your power equipment will perform better with seasonal gasoline. Winter gasoline is formulated to start in colder temperatures. Using gasoline left over from summer is almost guaranteed to give you a starting problem with any of your winter machines. When using power equipment it is always best to use fresh fuel for best performance.
Q. This may seem like a silly question but the recommended tire pressure for my car’s tires is 32 PSI in all tires. According to the dash display the tires are about 5 PSI overinflated. Where I am confused is that when I get the oil change the tires end up at 37 PSI not the 32 PSI the owner’s manual calls for. What do you recommend?
A. It has been my experience that the tire pressure sensors (TPMS) are quite accurate, but that is not to say there may not be a problem. My recommendation it to check the tire pressure with a gauge when the tires are cool and adjust the pressure to 32 PSI. Once you have the tires properly inflated then check the dash display. If you see a discrepancy in the readings double check the actual reading with another tire gauge, if both gauges agree then there must be a problem with the TPMS.
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