Q: I read your reply to the reader regarding his Kia Optima, and I was shocked that the loss of a quart of oil every 1,000 miles is OK. Is this what is considered the acceptable industry standard? I have a 2015 Honda Accord with 126,000 miles. I check my oil every time I fill up. Rarely do I need to add any oil. Is this exceptional?
A: Although being down a quart of oil at 1,000 miles is an acceptable industry standard, it doesn’t happen commonly. What you, and most motorists, enjoy is the norm.
Try again
Q: I purchased a 2022 Ford Escape SEL with a 1.5-liter engine with 10,000 miles on it (it was a leased vehicle). At lower speeds, mostly under 25 mph, it jerks quite a bit. I took it to the dealership, and they said everything checked out. Any answer to why it does this?
A: It sounds like they may have given you the “sunshine treatment,” which in car repair jargon means they didn’t do anything.
Do you feel lucky?
Q: I have a 2003 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet with 72,000 miles. I hear the intermediate shaft bearing can go out and ruin the engine. It can cost as much as $5,000 to replace. Should I bite the bullet and fix it now, or wait till the clutch needs replacing and save money by doing them both at the same time?
A: Not replacing the bearing is a big gamble. Bearing replacement is expensive, so many owners wait for some other repair to take advantage of overlapping labor costs. Bottom line? It’s a crap shoot, and the dice are in your hand.
Noise issue
Q: I have a 2025 CX-50 that I enjoy, however every once in a while, after going over potholes or train tracks, I get a brief wind chime-like tone in the car. My wife and I have heard this many times, however we couldn’t get the dealer to reproduce it. Any ideas?
A: Mazda issued a technical service bulletin to fix rattles in the sunroof, but I am not aware of any others. The carmaker recommends removing the trim pieces and checking if all the bolts and plastic clips are properly installed.
