by Al Smith
Thanks for joining me for another installment of the Auto Specialist. Since the last column, there have been two automotive news items worth noting. The first involves Saab, the Swedish car manufacturer. The past few years have seen the automaker struggling financially, to the point of having difficulty paying their suppliers. They recently sought bankruptcy protection in Sweden. A few days ago, their petition for protection was denied by the court. This could signal the end of Saab.
The second news item concerns Toyota Motor Corp. After reeling from the 2009 recalls and the recent earthquake in Japan, the automaker has decided to prioritize the Prius over other models. Sales for Toyota have been devastated over the last few years. The company has admitted that the move is an attempt to restore their viability.
In today's segment, we'll answer a question from Hank about the compression level in his Acura TL's engine. We'll also help Karen with a question she has about her CX-7's fuel filter. Lastly, we'll try figure out the reason Jeremy's Camry won't start. There's a lot to cover, so let's get started.
Question: I have a 2004 Acura TL with just under 82,000 miles. I took my car into the dealer's service bay a few days ago for routine maintenance. I also had the technicians run a few tests. One of them told me the compression level in cylinders 2 and 4 is excessive. He mentioned that I should have the problem fixed before it damages the engine. Does that sound right to you? How is there too much compression in the engine?
Answer: Thanks for sending in your questions, Hank. The mechanic's recommendation is sound. Here's what is happening: one of the by-products of an engine's combustion cycle is that it leaves carbon deposits behind. The deposits appear on the piston and along the inner wall of the combustion chamber. This occurs as the result of fuel being burned when the air-fuel mixture in the chamber ignites. The deposits cause the compression level to rise.
Excessive compression can lead to a problem called spark knock. The heat inside the combustion chamber rises to the point that the air-fuel mixture ignites erratically. This can eventually damage the piston and valves. I recommend having the issue resolved as soon as possible.
Question: I'm driving a 2008 Mazda CX-7 with 39,000 miles on it. I went into the dealer for an oil change recently, and the man who worked on my car said I should have a new fuel filter installed. I told him to go ahead and do it, but I'm wondering whether it was necessary. How frequently should I have the filter replaced?
Answer: Thank you for your question, Karen. A lot of people recommend replacing the fuel filter every two or three years. Others suggest doing so every time you have the oil changed. Ultimately, you should refer to your owner's manual for the proper service interval.
That said, I prefer to change my fuel filter each time I change the oil. The reason is because the part is relatively inexpensive, and easy to install. It is akin to a low-priced insurance policy on the condition of the engine. If you drive very little, changing it every three years should suffice. But verify that with your owner's manual.
Question: I own a 2002 Toyota Camry. It has over 135,000 miles on the engine. Last week, I got into the car to go to school, and it wouldn't start. I can hear the engine trying to turn over, but nothing else happens. Can you tell me what is causing the problem?
Answer: Thanks for writing in, Jeremy. First, there's no way I'll be able to determine what is preventing your engine from starting without being able to check everything myself. The reason is because there are several components that might be causing the issue. That said, I can tell you that no-start problems are due to issues in the ignition system, fuel system, or with the level of compression in the cylinders.
Make sure your spark plugs are generating a spark; check to see whether fuel is reaching the combustion chambers; and perform a compression test on each cylinder. If you lack experience working on cars, I recommend having a trained mechanic perform these tests for you. He can also narrow down the component causing the lack of spark, fuel, or compression.
That's it for today's installment. Thanks again to Hank, Karen, and Jeremy for giving us a chance to answer their car-related questions. Join us for the next segment when we'll have a new batch of car problems to diagnose. Until then, drive safely.
Find out more from <a href="http://www.conklinfangman.com/">www.ConklinFangman.com</a> about our great <a href="http://www.conklinfangman.com/kansas-city-inventory">used cars Kansas City GMC</a> deals.
---------------------------------------------------
You are receiving this because you signed up for it on 2011-08-23 from IP
To fine-tune your selection of which articles to receive, just login here:
http://www.uniquearticlewizard.com/bloggers/
using your username:
To unsubscribe please use the following link:
http://www.uniquearticlewizard.com/unsubscribe.php?mail=kidloveme.huyen@blogger.com&code=b83952f8ca040e326c958cbc4b8fd96e
---------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------
New Unique Article!
Title: Q and A number 92 With The Auto Specialist
Author: Al Smith
Email: 1000wordwriter@gmail.com
Keywords: Vehicle,Maintenance,Advice,Repair,Auto
Word Count: 771
Category: Hobbies
---------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment