Q: I have a 2014 Honda Civic with 32,000 miles. During a routine maintenance, the dealer told me they spotted a leak in the rear breather cover, and that it would be $650 to repair. The oil level was not low, and I had not noticed any leaks on my garage floor or in my driveway, so I wanted a second opinion. A different dealer noticed that leak and another one and quoted just over $1,100 to repair both. I can accept that there's a leak, but with no evidence that I'm losing oil, does it need to be repaired?

A: The plate, on the back of the engine might leak, or rather, ooze oil. It is not uncommon. To fix it, the cover must be removed and resealed. Sounds easy, but it's very labor-intensive. If you see no oil on your garage floor, the leak is minor and can wait for now. But if the oil level drops or there are drops on the floor, consider the fix.

Oops

Q: Two weeks ago, you said that it costs $20 to $40 per week to charge an electric vehicle at home. Don't you mean per month?

A: You are correct. Thanks for the catch.

Get the right gas

Q: My wife and I own a 2020 Genesis G80 with a 3.3-liter turbo engine. I want to buy the highest octane fuel, and she wants to buy low-octane fuel. The cost is not an issue because we don't drive the car that much, but what are the advantages and disadvantages of buying the high-octane fuel?

A: Unless your car specifies high-octane fuel, the biggest benefit to buying premium gasoline is to the oil company. Both grades have about the same energy content, but high-octane gas is for high-compression engines.

Power outage

Q: My friend has a 2004 Lexus 300 with 37,000 miles on it in pristine condition. She is a mature woman who obviously does not drive much. I bought her a trickle charger because her battery drains if she does not drive weekly. I also bought her a new battery a few months ago, but the problem still happens if the charger is not hooked up. The dealer just said to use the car more. Are there any other solutions except for me going over, hooking up her charger and removing it a day later, because she is not comfortable doing so?

A: First, get rid of the trickle charger and get a smart battery maintainer. A smart charger will neither overcharge nor damage the battery. You can leave it attached until the next time the car is needed. And then install an electrical connector in the wires between the charger and battery. Thread the connector through the grille, and your friend can unplug it just like removing the charger from her smartphone.

Bob Weber is a writer, mechanic and ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician. His writing has appeared in automotive trade publications, Consumer Guide and Consumers Digest. Send automotive questions along with name and town to motormouth.tribune@gmail.com.