Q: One more item to add to your list of things to do to prepare a car for use in a cold state like South Dakota. Make sure the windshield washer fluid isn't plain water or diluted washer fluid. Had that happen to me once. Bought a used car from a dealer that had water in the fluid tank, which froze once the weather got cold. It was a real nuisance until it warmed up enough and I could drain and refill the tank. Even then, I had to squirt the washers several times to get the water out of the hoses that connected the tank to the washers.
J.Y., Minneapolis
A: Good advice. Did you know that despite being blue, windshield washer fluids are different for cold and warm climates? Many fluids for warm climates are formulated to be safe to freezing: 32 degrees Fahrenheit. In cold climates it is formulated to -20 degrees. Any Vegas fluid in the jug may freeze in Sturgis.
Q: You have stated that you do not need high octane fuel unless you have a car with a high compression engine. How do you know if it is a high compression engine? I have a 2016 VW Tiguan and the manufacturer recommends high octane fuel. Can I use regular gas instead? If I do, will it decrease the performance of the vehicle? Based on current gas prices, I would love to be able to use regular.
S.L., St. Paul, Minnesota
A: I believe your engine’s compression ratio is 10:1, which is on the high end of typical ratios. Many engines also have pressure boosters (turbochargers or superchargers) that require high octane fuel. Using a lower octane fuel will significantly reduce power and performance, but many motorists will trade down to save money.
Q: I recently took my 2011 GMC Acadia in to have a headlight replaced. I remember when I was a kid when a headlight blew out you raised the hood, pulled the old bulb out, got a new bulb and popped it in. Cost about a buck for the bulb. I was a bit astonished to learn that they had to take off the bumper to replace a bulb now. Cost was just a couple of bucks shy of $600. Is this really the norm now?
E.W., La Grange Highlands, Illinois
A: I am afraid it is becoming the norm. I had to replace the washer fluid level sensor in my Ram pickup. I removed the grille to remove the washer bottle so I could get to the sensor on the back of the jug. It took a lot of time to replace a $5 sensor.
____
