Tag: maintenance

Today, Dave is storing his daughter's Nissan Altima and wants to know how often he needs to drive it to keep it running. Tom and Ray explain why the occasional short drive is the best way to maintain the battery and exhaust systems. 

Dann gets his oil and filter changed regularly, but he wants to know if he should get the car lubed too. Are all those squeaks and squawks coming from the undercarriage just his imagination? Tom and Ray explain why most cars don't need lube jobs anymore, and have some alternative uses for their now-idle grease gun. (Toilet seat on April Fool's Day, anyone?)

Joe's daughter wants to learn some car repairs and she wants her dear old dad to teach her. The problem? Joe's worried that if she gets injured, he'll feel guilty for the rest of his life. Tom and Ray offer some basic safety tips but will it be enough to set Joe's mind at ease?

Bill's Subaru needs a new timing belt, and the dealer is asking twice what his local mechanic wants for the job. Tom and Ray say there may be more to this story than meets the eye. 

Rick, a self-identified geezer, has reached the age where he just wants to pay someone else to check his car's pressure and fluids for him. But he's had no luck finding a gas station that offers this service. Tom and Ray think these services are less important than they used to be. Find out why and whether they have any advice for Rick, all right here. 

Steve is sure he smells a rat after his mechanic recommended that he flush out his brake lines and replace the brake fluid. Can Tom and Ray talk him down from his ledge of paranoia?

Dorothy wants Tom and Ray to settle a marital dispute. She thinks tires should be balanced and rotated; he thinks rotating is enough. Who's right?

Ken wants to know how he can tell when he needs to get new shocks. It turns out there are many variables to consider. Read Tom and Ray's highly unscientific calculations right here, plus a test that you can try at home. 

Richard is considering switching to synthetic oil but the sales clerk warned him that once he goes synthetic, he'll damage his engine if he tries to go back to regular or even blended oil. Tom and Ray think this is a bunch of baloney. Read their highly plausible explaination right here.