AOL Autos Repair Blog

Dear Tom,
I own a 2006 Malibu LS. I recently had the front and rear rotors and pads replaced, as well as the rear calipers. About 750 miles later the brakes started squealing (very pronounced). The rotors cost $46-52 each; the pads cost $50 each; and the calipers were $79 each. I brought the car back to shop once, and they 'cleaned the brakes up.' Brakes were quiet for only two days, and started squealing again. Any solutions?
- Lincoln, NE

Answer:
Brake squeal is the result of a high-pitched vibration of the brake pads. Either the pad anti-rattle clips are worn, or were not re-installed, or the pad insulator shims were not re-installed at the time of the brake job. Get it back into the shop and have these checked. Once you stop the vibration, you stop the squeal!!
Tom

Tom,
I have a 2005 Hyundai and the book says to use 87octane middle-grade gas. What would happen if I use regular grade?
-Santa Monica, CA

Answer:
Over time a condition called "pre-ignition" or "engine knock" will occur. With this condition, when the fuel enters the engine it pre-ignites, which causes constant hammering of the tops of the pistons, cylinder head face, and valves. Eventually, major engine damage becomes evident and major repair becomes necessary. Your choice? Cheap gas or engine replacement. Don't be 'penny wise and pound foolish.'

Dear Tom,
Could you please explain the difference between synthetic oil and regular oil for a car? Is it safe to use synthetic oil? I drive a 2006 Mazda 6. Thank you.
-Monticello, VA

Answer:
Synthetic oil (though not impervious to) is highly resistant to viscosity breakdown from chemical contamination, heat, and friction inside the internal combustion engine. Viscosity breakdown is the loss of ability of the oil to lubricate an engine. This toughness is due to the chemical fortification of the base stock oil at formulation. Non-synthetic oil tends to break down more easily because it lacks this chemical fortification.

Tom Torbjornsen, AOL Autos

For years I have been asking people on my radio show the following question: "At what price per gallon of gasoline would you change the type of vehicle you drive?" And for years people have told me that, instead of trading in their SUVs and pickups, they would alter their lifestyle and budgets to accommodate driving their vehicles of choice. Well, this year there was a major shift in that response when gas hit $4.00 per gallon.

As a contributor for AOL Autos, I asked that they conduct a poll of AOL readers. Here is the poll as it appeared on AOL Autos the week of July 14th, 2008.

Over eighty thousand people responded in just two days. Although 81% of respondents said that high gas prices have changed how or what they drive, only 36% are actively seeking to buy a more fuel-efficient car. That means more people are changing how they drive rather than what they drive. This is probably due to the volatile economic climate. Consumers are holding on tightly to their dollars in anticipating that the worst is yet to come.