Dare 2 Dream Racing

Ask the Car Guy…

Dave Stall is a 30-year car industry professional. He's an experienced service and parts director, supporting all import and domestic automobile manufacturers. Dave also taught an automotive consumer class at San Diego City College for 13 years. His goal was to educate the public in dealing with the "ins and outs" of the automotive industry. Currently, he writes for the North County Times, the East Californian and also does a consumer and road test show on KUSI-TV. And if that's not enough, he hosts a car club show on wsradio.ws on the Internet! Dave presents the material in a straightforward approach, while sharing their listener's enthusiasm for cars and driving.

DAVE STALL

Dave is available to answer your questions regarding automotive maintenance, warranty's, mechanical questions and safety updates. Just email your questions to the Carguy@D2Dracing.com. If your comments are used, we will send you race team key chains, T-shirts or other memorabilia.

Where is Dave?
Click here to see Dave's next live radio remote, event or TV feature.

Car Guy Questions!
04/14/04 - BUMPER-TO-BUMPER

Dave: (Do fuel additives really work?) I installed STP fuel cleaner and didn't notice any different in power or fuel mileage, did I get ripped off? Are their any other ideas you would have to help fight this gas problem we are having? I also understand the problem is worse in California then anywhere else, is this true? Bill, Lakeside.

Bill: Fuel additives really do work, there like vitamins they take time to get into your system. What can you do if you drive alone and can't use other forms of transportation? The first thing I would do is get a professional fuel injection service done to my vehicle, second is get a four-wheel alignment (Out of aligned wheels causes drag and that equals poor fuel mileage), I would have the car professionally detailed, a clean vehicle goes through the air better than a dirty one, increase the tire pressure five pounds under the maximum recommendations found on the tire sidewall, for example if the max. tire pressure is 45 pounds then inflate your tires to 40 pounds when cold, change your driving habits, drive as if you have an egg under your gas pedal, stay in one lane, avoid sudden accelerations and keep the vehicle as light as possible, remove all unnecessary junk from the back seat and trunk! If you commute a long way then you might want to look into an alternative form of transportation, Hybrid, electric or diesel, and just use it for commuting only.

Dave: I just had my windshield replaced and the installer put duct tape all around my windshield and he said not to remove it for at least a week. Why is that? I have had windshields replaced before, but no tape. Is it a new technique that makes the windshield set better? Just curious, so far no leaks. Thanks for your column in this paper and your radio show on 760-kfmb. Dan, Alpine.

Dan: Thanks for the kind words. The reason for the tape is most likely that the windshield clips are broken or gone from previous installations. The only way to install your windshield now with missing or broken clips is to glue it in place, this is not a problem as long as the windshield doesn't leak.

Dave: With all the gas prices soaring through the ceiling is Mexico experiencing the same price hike as we are in the states? Has their gas improved any over the years? How can we fight the price hike? Mary Lou, El Cajon.

Mary Lou: I haven't gone into Mexico to test or inspect their fuel but I'm sure it is the same fuel as before, maybe even a little worse. The reason I say it is probably worse is because our own gas companies have taken away some of the detergents that are normally found in fuel because of the quality of today's fuel injectors, they don't clog up like they did when first introduced. How do we fight the gas companies? Stop driving alone, commute with a friend, take rapid transit, buy a motorcycle or scooter, and walk when you can and scream at your elected officials.