Q: I drive a 1998 Toyota that has 62,000 miles on it. I put barely 2,000 miles on it a year. The most I might drive in a day is 5 miles, and sometimes I go days without driving at all. Also, I never do expressway driving. The recommendation for an oil change is 3,000-5,000 miles. Because it usually takes me years to put that much mileage on my car, how often do you recommend I get the oil changed?
Short trips are hard on car
Oil still needs to be changed despite low mileage.
By Bob Weber
November 8, 2024 at 9:59AM
A: Short trips, where the engine doesn’t reach operating temperature, are hard on the oil. Engines are happier with expressway driving. What does your owner’s manual say? Most likely it will tell you to change the oil annually.
Liftgate not the cause
Q: I use the power liftgate on my 2017 Lincoln MKX quite often, most of the time when the engine is not running. Recently after loading up the back, I tried to start the car, and the battery was completely dead. What was weird was not getting any kind of prior hints that the battery was starting to fail. The technician just blamed the summer heat. I’ve since started closing my liftgate by hand instead of hitting the button when the car is off, thinking that might take stress off the battery. Am I helping the cause? Or am I doing damage by overriding the liftgate motor?
A: You may be helping the cause for stronger muscles, but you’re doing nothing to help or harm the liftgate or its motor. Maybe your Lincoln’s battery isn’t being charged because you’re not driving it enough.
Bet’s off
Q: I recently purchased a 2024 Nissan Frontier crew cab SUV. My wife insists that I am ruining the transmission when I come to a stop light and put it in neutral. I say it puts less strain on the brakes. I’d appreciate your input. We have a bet on this, and the loser buys dinner.
A: If the vehicle isn’t moving, there is no wear to the brakes. And neither shifting into neutral nor leaving the transmission in gear has any detrimental effect. Find something else to bet on.
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.
