The Car Doc on synthetic oil, technical service bulletins, and more
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Q. You recently stated in your column that it is “always a good idea to switch to synthetic oil’’ you indicated the many advantages to switching to synthetic oil. Does this advice still apply to older cars, ones that built prior to the advent (I’m assuming) of synthetic oil? I have a 1974 Porsche 914, very low (27,500) miles and have always used regular oil, and would switch to synthetic for the advantages you mentioned. But I’m not sure if there are additional implications such as special oil filters that I need to be concerned about.
A. There are many benefits to synthetic oil including improved heat transfer. Oil contributes a great deal to engine cooling and is especially important with an air-cooled engine like the one in your Porsche 914. Regarding older cars and modern oil the biggest issue becomes “flat tappet’’ engines typically found in hot roads and muscle cars. These engines require oil with zinc-dialkyldithiophosphate or ZDDP. This additive enhances lubrication but is quite toxic so oil manufactures have been reducing the amount of ZDDP. If you own a muscle-car, look for oil specially designed for these engines that have sufficient ZDDP and using the correct weight oil is critical. As a side note, years’ back I owned a 1966 Corvair and used synthetic oil (certainly not a Porsche) but a flat air cooled six-cylinder engine and never had any problems.
Q. I have a 2002 Subaru Outback with only 19,000 miles on it. Lately there is a ticking noise coming from the engine area (like a clock). I have kept up with the maintenance schedule on a regular basis. Any advice, suggestions or comments you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
A. Ticking noises are usually associated with “top-end’’ valve-train noises. The problem could be a poorly adjust valve, sticking valve lifter or worn rocker arm. A technician will use a type of stethoscope to narrow down the location of the noise. Once determined then they will need to, at a minimum remove the valve cover to see what is going on. Depending on what is found the issue could be a minor problem or more complex but you need to trust your repair shop.
Q. I have owned a 2012 Nissan Frontier 4×4 for a couple of years now and it has always idled rough. It is most apparent when the engine is warm, and makes little whether it is in drive or neutral I can see the steering wheel and passenger seat vibrating. Can this be fixed? Other people have had this issue and Nissan doesn’t seem to want to do anything about it. Does the idle have to be bumped up or could it be the MAF sensor? Or is it something else?
A. The issue may be inherent in the design of the engine and may not be able to be fixed although there is at least one possible solution to look at. Nissan did issue a technical service bulletin that describes a very similar symptom and a fix. The technical service bulletin number is NTB13-021A and it involves reprogramming the vehicle’s computer.
Q. My husband and I enjoy reading your column and we are turning to you again, regarding a new vehicle purchase which we are considering. We have a 2005 Honda CRV with just about 200,000 mile son it. We truly love this car, always very reliable and it has served my two boys very well. We realize that it is time to let her go before any major mechanical thing happens to her. We are considering a small to medium size pick-up truck. We don’t believe in buying new but rather cars that are one to two years old. Can you suggest a good and reliable pick-up that is also good on gas? We always seem to need a pick-up for one thing or another and our Honda has always helped out in most cases. Please advise us, we are looking to trade the Honda within the next few months.
A. Small to mid-sized pick-up trucks are few and far between these days At one time Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Toyota, Nissan and even Jeep made small to midsized trucks. Today you are left with far fewer choices. At the top of my list is the Toyota Tacoma, it offers several cab configurations, four or six cylinder engines and impressive build quality and reliability. The other choice would be a Nissan Frontier. One vehicle that may work for you is the Honda Ridgeline, more of a SUV with an open cargo area but reliable and dependable. Although you mentioned you typically buy used vehicles, if basic function is all you are looking for Toyota has a version of the Tacoma Access Cab that is priced quite reasonably. It is a basic truck although still equipped with a decent selection of creature comforts.
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