Q. I am looking for a used car and even with electric vehicles falling out of favor, I am thinking of a used EV. Is that a good idea?
A. Electric vehicles are not for everyone. Charging a EV without home charging can be a challenge for some. As an example where I live the nearest fast charging stations are 25 miles away. If you can charge at home or work, living with an EV is quite effortless. Used electric vehicles can offer lower maintenance costs, lower fuel/energy costs, and in some cases even a better driving experience. The good news is that every day there are more and more used EVs of different makes and models coming to market. Like any used can have it inspected by a qualified repair shop before you purchase it. Also find out about the remaining warranty. One of my readers purchased a used Tesla with 70,000 miles on it. They drove the car for about a year, and the battery would not take a charge. The battery needed replacement. This would have been an expensive repair but was performed under warranty.
Q. In a recent column one reader was asking about getting a smaller car. We did something similar; we replaced two SUVs with a Toyota Corolla. It is a great car, handles well and gets good mileage and so far, has been completely trouble free. But here are the problems, the car is too low and perhaps a combination of our ages, my wife tends to hit her head getting in and out of the car. Also at night other cars’ headlights are quite blinding to the point I often have to shield myself by putting my hand up to block the lights on my side mirror because they are too bright. The Toyota Corolla is a great car, but we might get a Honda CRV, a Subaru Crosstrek, or similar in the near future.
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A. I have found that a small SUV can be a very good alternative to a small or mid-sized sedan. A small SUV can offer ease of entry and exit, good fuel economy and also with the additional cargo space can be quite handy. As for your current car and the issue with headlight glare try this. At AAA we teach a safer side mirror adjustment. Start with leaning your head to the driver’s window to set the left mirror to just glimpse the rear corner of your car, then lean over the center console to set the right mirror to just see the rear corner of your car. This method not only eliminates blind spots but cuts down on headlight glare from following or passing vehicles.
Q. I have contacted you in the past and you have been most helpful. You said you answer every email, so here is another question. Could you recommend a small battery charger for my 2023 Hyundai hybrid. I am not a car expert but enjoy reading your articles every week. By the way is there ever a point that one person asks too many questions?
A. Hybrid cars and even most electric cars have a 12-volt battery. Yes, you can maintain these batteries with a battery charger/maintainer. The two chargers (actually battery maintainers) that I have been happy with are the Deltran Battery Tender and the CTek Smart Chargers. Studies have shown that proper battery maintenance can extend battery life significantly. Can you ask too many questions, no. I have some readers email me every week.
Q. In the past you gave recommendations to a reader on what to do when preparing a vehicle for use that has been sitting for a while. During Superstorm Sandy I purchased a small gasoline generator (for the refrigerator) when our electric service was down. Just after I got home with my purchase the power was turned back on. Needless to say I never used the generator. It has been sitting in my shed since 2012. I feel I should do some maintenance on the generator. Since it is a gasoline engine your past column regarding maintenance on an automobile engine would be applicable.
A. Should you just leave it and consider the generator “new old stock” probably not. At 14 years old rust could be setting in. Here is what I would do; change the oil, install a new spark plug (cheap and easy) Inspect fuel lines for cracking and look for rust in the fuel tank. Add fresh ethanol-free gasoline (Tru-fuel if recreation fuel is not available). Start the generator and let it run with no load for 10-15 minutes. Then apply a light electrical load (nothing more that a light or electric fan). Check for fuel leaks, surging and oil leaks as well as stated voltage output. If you are happy with the way it runs, change the oil again after the first hour. This will remove any possible contamination. Even using ethanol free fuel add a fuel stabilizer to keep the fuel from going stale. Just like any small engine, run it periodically under load for about 20 minutes. Then hope you never need it.
Q. I watch a guy on YouTube, and he always adds Marvel Mystery Oil. When he adds the oil, he always says, it’s a mystery and no one knows what is in it. What is in it?
A. Marvel Mystery Oil has been around forever (90 years). I have used it to free up stuck valve lifters, lubricate air tools and even as a fuel additive in old vehicles. So what is in it? According to the company’s website and available safety information, it is mostly mineral oil, mineral spirits, anti-wear additives, chemicals to soften carbon and other heat-resistant chemicals. So still a mystery. For more information and the history of Marvel Mystery oil go www.marvelmysteryoil.com
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