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Can you talk some sense into me? I recently bought a 2023 Acura Integra, basically Acura's version of the Civic Si. I've got 900 miles on it and am thinking of doing the first oil change this weekend. I just can't wrap my mind around using 0W-20 in a turbocharged engine that will see a lot of...

How big an effect do dirty intake valves in a DI engine have on fuel economy? Does anyone have any good sources that quantify the impact? I can only find general and vague information. My 2018 WRX is rated 18/24, 21 combined, and has been seeing a steady decrease in fuel economy over the past...

I'm taking over the maintenance on my wife's 2016 Lexus NX, and I'm seeing two maintenance recommendations that have never before entered my mind. They recommend: Every 5k miles or 6 months to retorque the nuts & bolts on the drive shaft (for AWD) Every 30k miles to "Torque Nuts And Bolts On...

My buddy came over with his Civic wanting to change his brake fluid. I think the fluid was 4-5 years old. We started bleeding the brakes, but ran into the issue that the old fluid coming out was just as clear as the new fluid going in. All advice I can find online says that you'll know the old...

This UOA is for my sister's 2019 Subaru Ascent. This OCI includes approximately 2k of highway miles for a heavily laden summer drive from WA to ID and back, with the remainder probably 30/70 city/highway. We drained it a bit earlier than normal in order to get the lab sample. Overall I think...

2018 WRX, no engine modifications. The car sees about 50/50 city/highway. I'm very gentle on the engine until the coolant is warmed up, and stay out of boost completely until the oil hits 180°F. I apply the revs and boost liberally once fully warmed up. Oil is always changed at 5000 miles, +/-...

Hello everyone, I've got a 2018 WRX that is starting to see puffs of oil smoke on morning startups. It looks like valve stem seals are starting to leak. I've got 30k more miles of extended warranty coverage, but my problem is that it doesn't smoke every day, so I can't reliably reproduce the...

Hello, I have a 2018 Subaru WRX with about 68,000 miles on it that is periodically blowing blue oil smoke upon startup. It's been happening for several thousand miles now, but it only happens once or twice per week. I immediately thought valve seals, but I would think that valve seals would be...

Hi Everyone, I've got a set of Pirelli Sottozero 3 performance winter tires I use on my 2018 WRX. They're about 3 years old now. In the past they were fantastic in snow, but this year they were abysmal. Does time or mild wear affect these tires more so than other winter tires? For background...

I'd love to hear your estimates of the cost of unexpected repairs over a 200,000 mile life of an average daily driver. Not regularly scheduled maintenance, but only unexpected repairs. I know that there will be a lot of variability in answers, and that it's a very subjective question, but I'd...

I've got a set of Hakkapeliitta R2s on my 2015 WRX that I'm considering replacing with Michelin Xi3s. I'm looking for your thoughts on whether or not it would be worth it. The Hakkas are very impressive in the snow, but they feel downright scary in rain above 35°-40°. I've rarely felt less grip...

What would you guess would be the total cost of repair and maintenance over a 200,000 mile vehicle lifespan? I don't think there's a right or wrong, I'd just like to hear different estimates. Choose whatever vehicle you'd like, assume whatever you'd like for the variables. Please just be clear...

How well does a turbo engine stand up to prolonged boost? I've got a Focus ST with the 2.0 Ecoboost. Ford says that its top speed is a drag limited 154 mph. Let's say that I shipped it to Germany and drove at 140-150 mph on the autobahn for an hour. That would have me in top gear, at high revs...

How do automated manual transmissions handle slow speed driving? What is going on inside them when one is crawling along at two or three mph? I would imagine that consumers would expect the new automated manuals to perform exactly like traditional torque converter automatics, and that includes...

I've got a Focus ST with the 2.0 Ecoboost, and at times I'd like to be able to do an extended idle, something like 2-4 hours. I didn't worry about it with my previous N/A engines, but turbos are new to me. Is there any problem with idling a turbo engine for an extended period of time? Thanks!

I was looking at a 2013 Focus a few weeks ago, and I noticed that it had 421 miles on it. That seems like an awful lot of test driving to me. Of course the sales people said that they have many cars with more miles than that, and that it's perfectly normal, and that it's nothing to worry about...

If one takes one's car to a shop to have the plugs changed, and the mechanic finds that they're seized and damages the plugs on removal, who pays for that repair? Is it on the shops dime, or does the customer have to pay? I ask because I've always changed my own plugs. I've never paid anyone to...

How would you decide when to scrap a car with severe oil consumption? I ask because I'm wondering how to decide to pull the plug on a car with an increasingly severe problem. I'd like to keep it as long as I can, but some time down the road I'll need to make a decision. The car in question is a...

What are the mechanical effects of a manual transmission equipped car rolling backwards while a forward gear is engaged and the clutch is fully out? Does being forced to rotate backwards cause engine or transmission damage?

I need help sealing a side mirror to prevent air from whistling inside. Two weeks ago a piece of debris was kicked up by a semi's tire and smashed my driver side mirror off. I ordered an aftermarket mirror from Rockauto (only $35) and installed it. The only problem is the fit isn't quite as...