My SUV is losing motor oil in between changes

Cars and trucks

John Paul, AAA Northeast’s Auto Health practitioner, solutions a issue from a reader who discovered his SUV is getting rid of oil in among oil variations.

Q. I have a 2014 Honda CR-V LX with 173,000 miles. I have constantly made use of full synthetic oil for the vehicle and have it improved every single 5,000 miles or so. For the last two changes I observed it is getting rid of about a quart of oil between modifications. I notice no leaking on the driveway. Is this usual? Ought to I be switching to a non-synthetic superior-mileage oil? Must I do everything else? 

A. Burning a quart of oil every single 2,500 miles is much more than satisfactory. You may possibly want to look at a large-mileage artificial oil that could assistance restore the valve seals and other gaskets that are inclined to dry out a little bit with time. If this was my car, I would keep performing regardless of what you are performing. It sounds like you acquire fantastic care of your car or truck.

Q. In your column there was discussion of a 2009 Volkswagen CC Activity with a persistent examine motor gentle. The proprietor said he was a senior going through an abnormal restore monthly bill in purchase to move condition inspection. In your reply, I was surprised you didn’t mention the Massachusetts Financial Hardship Failure Repair service Extension program. It is exclusively developed for this problem, supplying the car operator an further year to get the repairs completed. I employed the software this year and can confirm that it works as marketed.

A. Thanks for the reminder. There are both equally hardship exemptions and waivers offered less than selected conditions. These exemptions usually involve the automobile to be evaluated by a state qualified fix store. This is the scenario in quite a few states that have automobile emissions inspection courses. Protection difficulties on the other hand need to have to be addressed immediately.

Q. How numerous miles do you advocate for a timing belt change on a 2002 Honda Accord?

A. Honda implies replacing the timing belt at 105,000 miles. There is no time stated, but if this was my 20-yr-aged Honda and the timing belt was not changed, I would swap it. The rubber timing belts dry out, crack, and can fail. If the belt fails, it can lead to catastrophic engine destruction.

Q. My 2010 Mazda Miata is a manual shift auto. Though I’m driving, my parking brake mild periodically comes on even though the brake is disengaged. For a whilst I could go the parking brake take care of and the mild would go out. More just lately that’s not functioning. As a substitute, the mild goes on and off sporadically. I’m asking yourself if you have found this problem before and if you have any feeling for what the mend may well be.

A. The pink brake light will illuminate for two factors: a brake fluid difficulty or the parking brake engaged. From your description it looks as if the parking brake warning change is defective. I would take a look at both of those the parking brake switch but also the brake fluid degree sensor. If it is the parking brake change, it will take a very little more than 30 minutes to substitute it and the cost of the component is underneath $20.

Q. My 2009 Honda Accord is stalling when beginning. Is this a spark plug challenge? What else must I look at?

A. Spark plugs can lead to stalling when first commencing and which is surely value hunting into. I would also examine and clean up the engine throttle human body. If the throttle body is dirty, it will trigger stalling when 1st starting off.

Q. My 2014 BMW X5 with 95,000 miles retains possessing difficulty beginning. The to start with time it occurred, I could not get it started off and experienced to have it towed residence. My mechanic checked it over a few occasions currently but can’t figure out how to correct the challenge. Any suggestions? 

A. There are dozens of technical company bulletins for this model. Almost everything from lifeless batteries to lousy running and starting problems. The alternatives variety from concerns with the immobilizer vital to electronics troubles. Sad to say, your mechanic needs to go as a result of them and test to see what applies, centered on what they can read on their scan device. Regrettably, there is no uncomplicated response for this a single.

Q. Is it worthwhile to reapply undercarriage security? Some people today advise doing it after 5 several years, other individuals say each year. What do you think? I in no way rustproofed a automobile, but I genuinely like my new Ford Maverick truck and want to retain it as very long as doable.

A. I was hardly ever a big believer in undercoating till I discovered about Waxoyl. Waxoyl is a single software merchandise that I have witnessed applied on new vehicles, building tools, and high-end restorations. 

John Paul is AAA Northeast’s Motor vehicle Health practitioner. He has above 40 yrs of expertise in the automotive enterprise and is an ASE-qualified grasp technician. E-mail your car or truck question to [email protected]. Listen to the Automobile Health care provider podcast at johnfpaul.podbean.com.