Q–Once in a while, you see a warning sign along the road that says “Fresh Oil.” In what way is that threatening? Why are they warning us? K.B., Chicago
A–The “Fresh Oil” sign usually refers to the tack pavers use before laying the asphalt. As with any viscous liquid, it can cause a slippery condition under which you would not want to make any sudden moves such as hard braking or sharp cornering. The more common hazard is that you may get the crud on your paint, but tar remover usually gets it off.
There was a time when used engine oil was sprayed on dirt roads to keep the dust down. Oil is no longer dumped on the ground but often recycled for motor oil or used to fire heaters.
Q–You responded to a question about an intermittent speedometer in a 1994 Plymouth Voyager (Motormouth, Sept. 21). We had the same problem with a 1991 Dodge Caravan. The problem was resolved with changes to wiring. I do not know exactly what they did, but the car came back with several patches (new wires, new grounds?) covered with black electrical tape. We finally had to get rid of our Caravan as the speedometer was the first of many costly problems. I got to know the service writer at the dealership so well he asked me to stand up at his wedding! R.S., Naperville
A–Missing or weak ground circuits can manifest themselves in weird ways, and it sounds like your technician wasn’t taking any chances.
Q–Three summers running, the air conditioning in my ’89 Accord LXi stopped working. The prior two summers, minor leaks were repaired and the system recharged. When it stopped working this year, I was told by a Honda dealer that there were no service bulletins for my car.
After seeing a letter in your column, I had a third mechanic check my condenser and compressor. Just as your column mentioned, my condenser needed replacement. (The condenser looks like a radiator and sits in front of the radiator.) My mechanic has replaced 20 condensers in ’93 Accords this year. F.M. Chicago
A–The condenser’s job is to cool the refrigerant or, to put it more precisely, to remove the heat that the refrigerant picked up from in the car. If the condenser springs a leak, the refrigerant escapes. But if it has a restriction, your air conditioner becomes less efficient. We are glad yours has been fixed.
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Bob Weber is an ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician. Send questions to Motormouth, 17717 Silcott Springs Rd., Purcellville, Va. 20132. Send e-mail with name and hometown to motormth1@aol.com. Answers are supplied only through the newspaper.
