Q & A #38 With The Auto Specialist
Q & A #38 With The Auto Specialist
Welcome back to the Auto Specialist. I’d like to start with a couple of quick reminders. First, if you’re unfamiliar with this column, I invite you to look through the archives. There’s a lot of automotive knowledge that has built up over the the past 37 installments. I use this column to respond to readers’ questions about problems they’re experiencing with their vehicles. Sometimes, the problems are easy to diagnose. Other times, they’re mysterious. There’s always an opportunity to learn something new.
Second, the goal is not to train you to become your own mechanic. By reading each installment of the Auto Specialist, you’ll eventually learn to perform small auto repair jobs yourself. But, that’s not the real goal. Instead, this column is simply for education. When the time comes to purchase new replacement parts, you’ll know exactly how they work.
Today, I’m going to address a question from Andrea about engine horsepower. We’re also going to help Steve remove his spark plugs. Let’s jump in.
Question: I used to drive a 1998 Ford Taurus with a 6-cylinder engine. A month ago, I got into an accident and the insurance company totaled it. So, I’m shopping for another car and have my eyes set on a 2008 Honda Civic. It only has 4 cylinders, but the salesman at the dealership said it will put out as much power as the older 6-cylinder engines. Is that true? I’ve been looking for horsepower numbers online to compare, but I can’t find them.
Answer: Thanks for sending your question in, Andrea. There’s a good chance the 4-cylinder Civic engine will perform at least as well as your old Taurus. The reason is due to the design. Newer engines perform more efficiently because they’re designed with more advanced technology. Not only is it likely to deliver just as much power (if not more), but it will do so with better fuel economy.
Question: I drive a 1999 Nissan Maxima with 127,000 miles on the engine. Back when it had 60,000 miles, I swapped out the spark plugs (the car was misfiring). The thing is, I had a hard time getting the old plugs out. It might have been because of carbon deposits that had accumulated over the years. Here’s my problem. My car is riding a little rough and I have a feeling it’s the plugs again. If they’re hard to take out, what would you recommend? Is there anything I can do to avoid damaging the threads?
Answer: Thanks for writing, Steve. The problem you described is common. Whether or not the culprit is carbon build-up is a mystery since I’m not there to personally check under the hood. When you replace your spark plugs, try unscrewing each of them one-fourth of a turn and then spray oil down into the threads. That should loosen the plugs up. If the threads are already damaged, you should be able to buy a repair kit at your local auto supply store.
That is for today’s installment. Thanks again to Andrea and Steve for writing in with their questions. Judging from the list of questions that are coming up in the near future, we’ll be taking a look at exhaust manifolds, head gaskets, oil pumps, and plenty more. Until next time, drive safely.
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Tags: Auto Specialist, Car Q & A, engines
October 24th, 2009 at 10:27 am
If your car needs to undergo some major auto repair in general, it is always best to weigh the feasibility of replacing parts or buying a new car.