Fouled spark plug6/8/2023 ![]() ![]() Now, having the car running is only part of the equation. When a car is stored for longer periods, there are additional measures that need to be taken to ensure the engine will run again when it comes out of hibernation. The lesson to be learned here is even gasoline with a fuel additive will eventually get stale. The problem was a combination of fouled spark plugs and gasoline that had gone stale.įlushing the gas tank and replacing the fuel pump and the spark plugs made this old car run - not quite like new, but at least it ran. The answer shocked me: The owner thought five years or so. I pulled the spark plugs and they were somewhat fouled, which certainly would cause hard starting. Like your car, the battery was OK, there was a spark at the plugs, but the car would not fire up, even with starting spray. Any ideas?Ī: Someone recently asked me to look at a car that also has not run in a while. So far, I have charged the battery, and it has spark and fuel, but it still will not start. Q: I have an old car that has not been running in years, and I want to get it going. These special tools are designed to bite into the lug nut and are grip more tightly the more you turn.Ĭar Doctor: What do you think about a plug-in hybrid as an alternative to electric? Coaxing a long-dormant car out of hibernation You can also buy or borrow a lug nut removal tool from an auto parts store. The best method to force the socket on is to put it on a breaker bar (to protect your fingers) and drive it on with a large hammer. Depending on the condition of the lug nut, a 12-point metric socket might also bite into the damaged lug nut. Was there something else I could have tried before the expense of towing and replacing the stud and lug nut?Ī: The usual trick is to take a slightly smaller metric six-point socket and force it over the rounded-off lug nut. I ended up having the car towed to a repair shop, where they torched off the lug nut. I tried all the usual things to get it off with no luck. Q: I had a flat tire, and one of the lug nuts is severely rounded and I could not get it off. It appears that Subaru changed to 6,000-mile intervals in 2016, hoping to get vehicles in for service more often to prevent damage to vital engine parts.Ĭar Doctor: Why does 2007 Camry need synthetic oil added every 250 miles? Tricks to remove a rounded-off lug nut All vehicles use oil, and it may be that consumers were not checking the fluids as often as they should have. The 7,500-mile schedule may not have worked in the past as well as the manufacturer hoped. If every 7,500 miles worked in the past, then why change it? I sure would appreciate some enlightenment.Ī: I think you may be on to the answer. This reduction also applies to tire rotations (and all other items on the maintenance schedule). A skeptic (such as I) may wonder if there is a logical/valid reason for this decline or whether it is simply a ploy to drum up more business for the dealerships. Historically, the maintenance intervals have only been growing, probably due to better-built engines and improvements in motor oils. The new car requires maintenance at 6,000 miles and the older car at 7,500. I was disappointed to learn that the maintenance schedule was shortened by 1,500 miles from my previous 2013 Subaru Legacy (2.5 engine). Q: I recently purchased an almost-new 2019 Subaru Outback (3.6 engine).
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