Auto Bits

Our mailbox is overflowing, so let's zero in on some reader response.

1948 Pontiac Torpedo original owners

Greg, I read the letter from Bill regarding his ‘65 Nova in which he asked you, “Would you say 47 years is a long time that he’s owned it?” My dad just celebrated his 85th birthday on April 12, and I drove him and my mom to a local restaurant in the first car he owned, a 1948 Pontiac Torpedo.

So here it is, 64 years later and my dad is still riding around with my mom in the same car they took on their honeymoon in 1953. The stickers of their trip are still on the windows, along with my dad’s stickers from Holy Cross College and Harvard.

Dad parked the Torpedo in 1956 and never drove it again until his birthday Easter Sunday in 2009, 53 years later! How many people can claim this? I’d love to know if any of your readers can top this! (See photo attached.) Our area newspaper, The Norwich Bulletin, ran a nice article about it on Oct. 5, 2009. Thanks Greg. Richard Ouellette.

A: My pleasure. What a joy it must be.

Another spectacular Harrell Camaro

Q: Greg, I bought one of the Dick Harrell Camaros in 1969 brand new with 13 miles on it. It was a great car, and thanks for all the articles you write about cars like this.

I live in Plainfield, Ill., and a person in Naperville found my Dick Harrell Camaro and did a complete frame off (restoration) on it. He took it to the Forge International Muscle Car Show in Kentucky and went down and met Val (Harrell) and Dale (Pulde) there. It was fun to see my old car looking so good. Thanks, Randy Krnac.

A: Thank you, Randy! What a beauty your Harrell Camaro is.

Getting it right with the Mercury Comet

Greg, I read your recent answer to a readers question of which Mercury Cougar you would like to own. I have a few comments to make.

The 1968 W code cars are not the rarest engine Cougars. Here is the list:

1968 W code = 357 cars; 1968 R code = 244 cars; 1969 G code = 169 cars; 1968 6 code = 31 cars; and 1969 Boss 429 = 2 cars.

All production numbers are from Kevin Marti's “Cougar By the Numbers” book. Thank you for including the Cougar question in your article. They are great cars. Randy Goodling, Chairman, Cougar Club Of America (www.cougarclub.org).

A: Thanks Randy - got to get it right, as there's lots of info out there to decipher!

Greg Zyla writes weekly for GateHouse Media and welcomes reader questions on old cars and old-time motorsports at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, PA 18840 or at greg@gregzyla.com.

Q: I have several cans of engine oil in my garage. The brands vary, as does the viscosity. My question is, can I use these oils in my 2008 Toyota Camry?

A: You should never mix oils and or viscosities in late-model vehicles. If you know someone with a pre-1990 vehicle, you can use the old oil in old vehicles. The use of the incorrect oil in a late-model vehicle can cause major problems with the internal moving parts and hydraulic powered timing control solenoids.

To satisfy car buyers' tastes, automakers have been busily developing ways to squeeze more miles out of a gallon of gas. In addition to better engine design, an often-overlooked transformation has led to increased fuel efficiency: more and more, automakers are replacing heavier materials with lighter-weight plastics.

Generally known as "lightweighting," reducing a car's weight minimizes the load on the engine, so it needs less fuel. Replacing traditional materials with plastics has contributed significantly to lightweighting, so much so that experts estimate plastics make up 50 percent of today's automobiles by volume - but only 10 percent by weight. This progression toward plastics occurred over many decades, as cars also became generally more reliable, safer and better designed.

So if roughly half of today's car is made with plastics - where is all this stuff? This trend is probably most readily apparent inside the car. Other than windows and perhaps leather seats, nearly everything a driver or passenger sees and touches is made with plastics: the ceiling, visors, dashboard, instrument panel, door panels, carpeting, seat fabrics and cushions, seat belts, air bags … the list goes on. It may be less obvious on the exterior, but today's bumpers, quarter panels, headlights, taillights, grills, spoilers, running boards, and some other parts are generally made with plastics - or are rapidly headed in that direction. And take a look under the hood: a plethora of hoses and housings are made with plastics.

Lightweighting, and the resulting increase in fuel efficiency, contributes not only to the car owner's bottom line but also to a lighter environmental footprint. Better gas mileage saves money at the pump, and cutting fuel consumption can reduce a car's CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the impacts associated with energy production itself. Lightweighting contributes significantly to the efficiency of hybrid and electric vehicles, too.

Hi Greg, I enjoy reading your column, as I have been a car nut for over 40 years. What can you tell me about a 1968 Ford XL GT? My dad had one when I was 14 and I still remember it well.

His was a black convertible with a gold "laser stripe" down the sides, white power top, white interior with bucket seats and a console shifted C-6 automatic transmission. It also had mag-style hubcaps and every option imaginable for the time. It even had air conditioning, which we thought was silly since it was a convertible! It had a 428 4-barrel with dual exhaust and posi-traction rear end.

After it was gone, Dad always said, "I should have kept that car, I have a feeling it was something special." Thanks, Steve, Knoxville, Ill.

A: Steve, your dad was right! Of the 11,832 Galaxie convertibles produced in 1968, only 316 were XL GTs with the 428 Thunderbird (Cobra Jet style) engine that produced an advertised 345 horsepower.

Furthermore, your dad's car was finished in what today is "most desirable" colors, specifically a black exterior with the white top and white interior. It must have been quite a car to ride in and look at back then. As for the options, even the air conditioning would be a plus today on the Mecum or Barrett-Jackson auction shows, as would al the other goodies your dad had in your XL GT. Because only 316 were ever built, it's a tough car to find these days in tip top shape.

As for competition, back in 1968 Chevy had a full-size 427 SS Impala that was one of the hot tickets on the street scene. Thus, for those who wanted more room than a Chevelle or Mustang, it was either an SS427 or a Galaxie XL GT 428.

Ford's XL GT came in both convertible and fastback editions, although Chevy probably promoted its full size muscle car a little better than Ford did back then, as Ford also had a Torino GT that was a real hot ticket for performance buffs, too. Still, there's no taking away anything from Ford as to the importance of the XL GT to today's performance enthusiasts and collectors.

In summary, I'll bet when dad dropped you off at a school event, park or wherever, you were the envy of the crew.  Thanks for your letter.

Greg Zyla writes weekly for GateHouse Media on collector cars. He welcomes reader questions at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, PA 18840 or at greg@gregzyla.com.

Q: I just bought a new Chevy HHR auto that takes the E15 fuel as well as gasoline. I have never used the E15 before, and what I’d like to know is the good and the bad on it.

A: A lot of today’s vehicles are so-called flex fuel by design. The difference in the vehicle operation will not be noticed. There will be a slight drop in gas mileage, but power and performance will be unchanged.

American drivers who think they're priced out of better gas mileage by the cost of hybrid vehicles can find another way of squeezing a few more miles out of each gallon. Tires that roll more easily over roadways are an eco-friendly and cost-effective way of improving mileage.

Eco-friendly tires offer a cost-effective solution. They reduce rolling resistance and therefore fuel consumption, and can cut a driver's gas consumption at the same price as standard tires. Sixty-eight percent of the drivers who said they were interested in eco-friendly tires would buy them for the better gas mileage, while 21 percent would do it to help the environment.

The Hankook Quarterly Index said:

- Of the respondents who drive weekly, 5 percent already own eco-friendly tires and 56 percent would consider buying them.

- Women (38 percent) are much more likely to be unsure whether they would purchase this type of product than the men surveyed.

- Respondents younger than 35 (65 percent) are much more likely than those older than 55 (47 percent) to be open to considering purchasing eco-friendly tires.

Q: Greg, you incurred some of my best childhood memories when reading this history of the Hudson car company!

My dad sold and repaired Hudsons in the 1930s on, and we loved those cars. When I was a child, my dad had a new model every three years, and I even learned to drive in that big boat (at first it felt as if I was driving a truck). Dad made driving the Hudsons look so easy, and he insisted I learn the clutch and manual shift. When I mastered that, dad let me "push the button" on the “Electric Hand,” which activated the automatic transmission function on the 1937 Hudsons. Then, with the automatic, I was really living. (Note from Greg: The automatic Marge mentions was called the Electric Hand by Hudson and was a predecessor to fully automatic transmissions. Hudson's Electric Hand, introduced in 1935 and utilized through 1938, was actually a Bendix-designed vacuum-operated clutch, with a "Hill Holder," which locked the brakes on a hill so the car didn't go backward - see advertisement.)

When I married and had children, all our cars were used Hudsons, which were always checked out and approved by dad. Our very last one had to be towed away, but not because it no longer ran. It had to be towed because the floorboards were rotted, yet the motor still purred. When the tow truck left with our Hudson, my husband and I felt as if one of our children had been taken away. (Silly, yes, but the love of those cars was "born in me.")

To this day, I still love to drive (I'm 80 now), and I still road-trip (CO, KS, TN, etc.). Driving is a calming and pleasurable experience for me, only I wish I had one of the Hudsons of yesteryear with the automatic transmission.

I have an original Hudson Terraplane letterhead that dad used as a comparison of which model to buy: Model 73 Hudson Custom vs. Model 74 Hudson Deluxe with all the specs: weight, horse power, prices, and even the option of a 3-way hot water heater and defroster unit for $21.65, plus 65 cents tax, totaling $22.30. Now, how great is that?

Thank you so much for reviving my memories, and for reading my thoughts. I just want you to know how much I have enjoyed reading your articles, and so glad Alex H. from Illinois sent you his nostalgia question. Most sincerely, Marge Kast, Wheaton, Ill.

A: Marge, your letter made my day! Bringing back memories is what this column is all about, and I'm really happy to see that you still enjoy a nice drive on the freeway. As I mentioned to you when I received the letter, check out the car shows around Wheaton this the summer and chances are good you'll see several restored Hudsons in person. God bless you.

Greg Zyla writes weekly for GateHouse Media and welcomes reader questions or comments on auto nostalgia and old time motorsports or collector cars at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, PA 18840 or at greg@gregzyla.com.

Q: What can you tell me about the new Jeep Compass 4x4 with the 4 cylinder engine?

A: I had the Jeep Compass Latitude 2.4 liter four-cylinder CVT automatic and 4x4 option for a week and was surprised in all areas. Let’s start with the power and performance: nest-firm heated front seats and steering hub controls. Low entry into the seating and rear tailgate area make it easy to enter and exit. The suspension is unlike the hard bouncy Jeeps of yesteryear. Pricing on our test Jeep was $23,445 plus $780 destination city mileage 23 highway 27. Our average combined driving was 25.

For years, 3,000 miles was touted as the optimum interval for changing your motor oil and filter. It's also an oil change interval that continues to be encouraged by the automotive oil change industry. Recently, automobile, oil filter and lubricant manufacturers have been educating consumers that oil drain intervals can be safely extended, saving you time, money and reducing the impact on the environment.  

Breakthroughs in lubrication and filtration technology are two reasons why oil change intervals can be extended. Numerous factors come in to play when determining the oil change interval you should follow, including: whether your car is under warranty, the car's condition, wear and tear you put on your vehicle, and your oil and filter selection.

Every automobile manufacturer establishes a recommended oil change interval for each model they manufacture. Oil change intervals are now typically 5,000 to 7,500 miles for many new cars. You should follow your car manufacturer's recommendations on oil and filter change intervals while the car is under warranty. If your car is no longer under warranty, you can extend your oil change and filter intervals by upgrading to a high-quality synthetic motor oil and high-performance oil filter. This will reduce the number of oil changes, saving you time and money, and reducing the amount of oil purchased and disposed. 

If you elect to upgrade your motor oil, you should also upgrade your oil filter. Inexpensive filters are typically made with the 3,000-mile interval in mind. These filters often use low-quality paper media for filtration and they deteriorate rapidly after 3,000 miles.  

Q: I always wondered why the Studebaker Golden Hawk was never classified as a muscle car. Considering it was powered by a 374-cubic-inch Packard twin four-barrel engine that produced 310 horsepower and 400 pound-foot of torque. -- Sincerely, Fred Durbano, Canandaigua, N.Y.

A: Let’s first visit the Golden Hawk you mention. I agree that a big engine with high horsepower in a lighter car equals “muscle car” status for sure. Since the words “muscle car” became popular in the 1970s, enthusiasts now use the term to describe just about any car from any era that meets the criteria. Surely, the Golden Hawk is one of them, and from this day forward, we’re giving it a Greg Zyla- and Fred Durbano-official “muscle car” proclamation.

In 1956, Studebaker’s Golden Hawk, indeed, used Packard’s engines: one a  352-inch, 275 horse design as standard fare, and the other was an optional 374, available as a 290 single four-barrel or the two-four barrel 310 horse version. Notable is just 4,071 units were delivered, total, making this ’56 Hawk a popular collector car.  

In 1957, the Golden Hawk dropped the Packard V-8 and utilized its now famous 289-inch supercharged V-8, producing 275 horses. Both the 1956 and 1957 Golden Hawks still look great sitting next to any car and is arguably one of the best-looking designs of the entire decade.

In 1958, things stayed the same for the Golden Hawk, but in 1959, Studebaker dropped the “Golden” and utilized the Silver Hawk nomenclature with a non-supercharged 259 V-8. This engine decision came in the midst of a cash crunch for Studebaker/Packard, which merged in 1955.

In 1960, Studebaker introduced the Lark, which saved the company while the only other offering was a Hawk, again with the 289, but no supercharger. A GT Hawk appeared in 1962, and for 1963, a 290 supercharged “Avanti” 289 version became available again. Thanks to Andy Granatelli and Paxton Superchargers, several 289 Avanti engines were utilized for speed records and put out 575 horsepower with twin superchargers.

The end of the line for the Packard name came in 1958, while Studebaker, thanks to the Lark, persevered until 1966, when just 8,947 units were assembled. The Hawk’s last year was 1964, with a 289 or a 304 V-8 available, the latter of which developed 335 horses with the blower.

Thanks for your question, and I agree the Studebaker Hawk deserves all the credit it receives these days. I’d love to own one.

Greg Zyla writes weekly for GateHouse Media and welcomes reader comments at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, Pa. 18840 or email him at greg@gregzyla.com.

Q: Is there a difference between the big auto parts store brand parts and the parts purchased at the car dealer? The difference in the dealer price to the auto parts store price can sometimes be double the price.

A: I try to use original factory whenever possible. In some cases the factory parts can be the same price as the after-market or even less. In other cases the part price can be more than double. Now to the quality – with experience, the technician knows what’s good and what’s bad. Some of the original manufacturers offer a 12-month parts and labor warranty. If your repair shop uses Alldata they will be able to get the part numbers, pricing, repair time and step-by-step procedure, print it out and give it to you after the repair is completed.

If you want to keep your warm-weather plans in place and your spending on track, it's important to be smart about fuel consumption. Not everyone can afford to buy a new, ultra-fuel-efficient car, so making adjustments to your existing vehicle - and your driving habits - can help you stretch the dollars you spend at the pump.

- Drive mindfully: If you're used to speeding up fast and braking at the last moment, you need to reconsider how you're operating your vehicle - those habits can drain your gas tank and send you back to the pump more often. Instead, make a conscious effort to accelerate and slow down gradually and use cruise control to maintain a constant speed, all of which will help to use fuel more efficiently. When possible, avoid idling and make plans for running errands, to cut down on the number of trips you take.

- Reduce drag: If you drive a truck, smoothing out the aerodynamics of your truck with a truck bed cover or a tonneau cover can make a big difference in fuel consumption.

- Choose wisely: You're typically given three options at the pump, with a trio of gasolines with different octane levels - and different prices. One of the simplest ways to cut costs is to opt for the lowest octane fuel that you can use in your vehicle. Making this change can save you hundreds of dollars per year, without sacrificing performance or gas mileage.

- Give your vehicle a checkup: Maintenance and mileage can go hand in hand, so it's important to make sure that your car is in shape for saving fuel. Check and change your oil regularly - it's an essential component in reducing wear caused by friction between moving parts in the engine. If it's not clean, or if levels are low, your vehicle won't be performing as efficiently as possible. Equally important to getting good mileage is the air pressure in your tires, which should be at the manufacturer's recommended levels (often listed on the driver's side door frame). Proper inflation can improve your gas mileage by up to 3 percent. A check of the air, oil and fuel filters should also be included in a checkup.

Q: Hello, Greg, and thanks for all the fun columns on the old cars. My dad drove Hudsons his whole life, and I fondly remember many of his cars, especially the “grand daddy” of them all, his 1953 Super Wasp four-door sedan. How about a few words on these great motorcars? Thanks, Alex H., Illinois.

A: Alex, I had a friend that lived on my street, and his father also drove only Hudson cars, and many times had three of them sitting in his driveway. He traveled a lot, and bought only used Hudsons.

As for the company, Hudson was perhaps the most successful of the independent brands, and sold some of the fastest and best built cars in its 48 years of manufacturing. Matter of fact, Hudson was number three in sales behind Ford and Chevy in 1925!

Founded in 1909, Hudson was popular with working class, blue collar America. The company was most successful with its inline 6-cylinder engines, even though Hudson’s first straight-8 appeared in 1930. Although the inline-8 engine was smaller than the sixes it replaced, it was not as reliable and was the only engine Hudson offered.  In 1933, Hudson moved back to offering an inline-6, while its 8-cylinder engine, now improved, was still available.

In 1953, Hudson actually did away with the straight-8 altogether, which means your dad’s 1953 Super Wasp, which listed for about $2,450 in four-door sedan trim, came with a 232-inch 6-cylinder engine. Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator to form American Motors in 1954, and in 1955 the first ever Hudson V8 became available in the Hornet line.  

Perhaps the most famous of the performance Hudsons was the 308-inch 6–cylinder “racing” versions that allowed race drivers like Marshall Teague to win 12 of 13 scheduled AAA stock car races in 1952 in a Hornet. In NASCAR competition, several drivers including Herb Thomas, Dick Rathmann, Frank Mundy and Al Keller, scored 27 wins in ’52, 21 in ’53 and 17 in ’54. These Hudsons were known as the “Fabulous Hudson Hornets.” These cars featured the “Twin H-Power” performance package, which included dual carbs, dual exhaust, better compression, bigger cam and so on. Teauge and Hudson’s main engineer, Vince Piggins, developed the racing engine, which produced 75 more horsepower than stock and ruled the racing events. (Sadly, Teague was killed at the new Daytona International Speedway in 1959 trying to set a speed record in an Indy Car).

As for your dad’s 1953 Super Wasp, the most expensive was the Super Wasp Brougham Convertible that carried a price tag of $3,655. However, according to my records, less than 100 were ever built.

Hudson lost its identity after the 1957 model year; although AMC would barley survive until 1980 when shareholders approved an acquisition by French company Renault. Had the merger not been approved, AMC would have gone bankrupt.

Thanks for the letter and allowing our readers a look back at what once was a great car company. 

Greg Zyla writes weekly for GateHouse Media and welcomes reader questions on auto nostalgia at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, PA 18840 or at greg@gregzyla.com.

Q: My car and my wife’s car state in the owner’s manual to use 93 octane gasoline. As you know, the price of gas is out of sight, and premium gas is 20 to 40 cents higher than regular. My question is, is there any long-term damaging effect using the 87 octane gasoline in either the BMW or Lexus?

A: If it is any consequence, all my personal vehicles also require 93 octane. The premium is at an extra cost just as the cars that require its use. My wife also wanted to start using the 87 octane. I will tell you the same thing I told her. The higher-octane gasoline burns hotter, slower and cleaner than the lower-octane gas. The higher octane will leave less carbon and deposits on the internal combustion area. In my opinion you should only use the lower octane when the premium is not available.

Two key components in any vehicle are the braking system and the battery. AutoZone experts offer the following tips to ensure these vital parts are properly maintained.

- Give brakes a checkup. Excessive build-up of road salt and brine solutions in the winter on brake components is one cause of brake failure. These solutions can create contamination of exposed brake parts and can cause brake components to deteriorate prematurely. Hazardous road conditions can also lead to increased use of antilock braking systems, which can cause premature wear of all brake system components.

- In general, brakes are the most important safety feature on any vehicle and should be checked quarterly to ensure proper performance. Brake pads and rotors should also be checked any time the tires are removed, such as during a tire rotation. Other brake components such as brake fluid should be checked at every oil change.

- A battery's biggest enemy is heat. High temperatures can cause the grids inside batteries to corrode and break down. The effects of the corrosion are usually seen when winter hits, when the car requires more electrical power to start. Drivers should have batteries tested up to twice a year in normal climates, and more frequently in extremely hot or cold climates.

- While batteries can last more than five years in ideal driving conditions, factors such as temperature, the car's age and nature of usage can impact the life of a battery. Many motorists are unaware that under the stress of normal city driving, the average life of a vehicle battery is about three years.

Q: Greg, which of the Mercury Cougars would you like to own if you could choose just one? I owned a few Cougars in my day, but I never had any of the high-performance models. Charles P., email from Massachusetts.

A: Charles, if I could choose just one, I’d probably opt for the 1968 GTE 427 or a 1969/1970 “Eliminator” with the Drag Pak 428 Cobra Jet (CJ) option. The Eliminator car was named in honor of the late “Dyno” Don Nicholson’s “Eliminator” Cougar and Comet Funny Cars, which blazed the nation’s drag strips coast to coast from 1966 to 1968.

As for the 427 Cougar, only 357 were ever built, making it the rarest of the rare Cougars because of the 427 “W” Code side oiler engine. (I guess I’d probably opt for the 427 based on numbers only.)

Mercury’s Cougar premiered in 1967 as an upscale version of Ford’s Mustang. It came in many different forms, from a mild mannered 289 V-8 (the standard engine) to the 428 powerhouse. Built on a 3-inch-longer wheelbase than Mustang, the XR-7 was its most luxurious model while a GT with a 390 V-8 was the top performer in ‘67.

In 1968, the GTE came with the rare 390 horse 427 until May, while GTE’s beginning in June of ’68 featured the famous CJ 428 engine and a very modest 335-horsepower label. The Eliminator arrived in 1969.  

The 1970 Cougar was the last of the “real Cougars” as Mercury integrated more toward the Thunderbird line in 1971 by increasing its wheelbase two more inches to 113. It ended Cougar’s  “Pony Car” status, and by 1974 the Cougar was basically a bulky Thunderbird clone.

Today, Cougars from 1967 to 1970 are all very collectible, especially the convertibles. Of the near 375,000 Cougars built in its four years of production, only about 13,500 were ragtops. The most collectible, no surprise, are the 428 Cobra Jets, the 427 GTE, and the Eliminator CJ model.  However, even the aforementioned mild mannered 289 V-8s bring some nice dollars in good shape.

In summary, regardless of vintage, if you have a ’67 to ’70 Mercury Cougar in your garage you should count yourself as lucky. If it’s a convertible, count yourself double lucky.  If it’s a 427 side oiler, you’re triple lucky.

Thanks for your question.

Greg Zyla writes weekly for GateHouse Media and welcomes reader interaction on collector cars, nostalgia motorsports or anything automotive at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, PA 18840 or at greg@gregzyla.com.

Q: I have a 2000 GMC 5LT with a small V-8 vortex engine. It starts great when it is cold. But after it warms up, it’s hard to start. I churn and churn and then it starts, but the engine shakes and sometimes stalls. Had it tuned up, fuel filter, new wires and plugs, cleaned throttle body and injectors, but it did not help. It has about 113,035 miles. If I let it idle for a long time the “service engine soon” light comes on. Can you help?

A: The problem sounds fuel related, not spark. The good thing is the check-engine light does come on and sets a fault code. A simple fuel-pressure test and professional scan tool will help us greatly. While trying to start the engine, monitoring all related sensors will point us in the right direction. I have even seen a small air leak at the fuel filter cause starting problems with out leaking gas.

While buying a more fuel-efficient car might be an option for some, new and used cars that get more miles per gallon tend to be more in demand - and more expensive - when gas prices are high. If a new car isn't an option for you, implementing the following changes can help ensure that you get the most from the fuel in your gas tank:

- Keep the gas you buy in your car. When gas prices are low, stealing gas would likely be more trouble than it's worth, but when prices are high, it's not uncommon for thieves to siphon gas from vehicles, especially those with larger tanks. Adding a locking gas cap can be done for much less than the cost of a tank of gas.

- Keep your tank full. While you're looking to reduce the amount of gasoline you are using, constantly running your car with the tank close to empty can wear down your fuel pump. "The gasoline in the tank keeps the fuel pump cool. Take away the gas and the fuel pump runs hot and has a shorter life," says Tom Taylor, engineer and vice president of RockAuto.com. If you have an older car that has accumulated dirt and rust at the bottom of the tank, keeping a full tank can help your fuel burn cleaner.

- Keep your car in shape. Keeping your engine properly tuned improves fuel efficiency by an average of 4 percent, and repairing a major issue like a faulty oxygen sensor could improve efficiency by up to 40 percent, according the U.S. Department of Energy.

- Keep your tires inflated properly. Keeping your tires at the optimal level not only keeps you safer, but can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent, according to the Department of Energy. Your owner's manual should tell you the proper psi (pounds per square inch) levels for your vehicle.

- Drive for optimal gas mileage. How you drive can affect how much gas you use. Most cars run at peak efficiency at around 60 mph, with fuel economy decreasing sharply when traveling faster. Aggressive driving with rapid acceleration and slowing will also have a negative effect on your fuel economy.

Q: Greg, I’ve read in your columns that you and your grandfather owned Buicks. When did Buick begin operations? I, too, have been a Buick lover and owner all my life. George, age 79, retired in Illinois.

A: George, Buick actually began producing a horseless carriage in 1903 utilizing a chain driven twin-power engine. The inventor was David Buick, a Scottish industrialist who was best known at the time for inventing the process of applying porcelain to steel tubs.

His Buick Motor Company then grew by leaps and bounds to the point where it was purchased by William Durant in 1908 to be of the new General Motors major offerings. The Buick line was favored by professionals, lawyers, businessmen and doctors and followed Chevy, Oakland (Pontiac) and Oldsmobile in the GM pecking order. Cadillac was the next up after Buick.

All Buicks used in-line six cylinder engines until 1931, when the first “straight eight” Buick appeared and would be the favored power plant of all Buicks for 22 years. In 1953, Buick introduced a 12-volt electrical system and power steering, but the big news was the release of its first ever V8 engine for the Roadmaster and Super lines. These “nailhead” V-8 engines would grow through the years, even up to 401 inches in 1961, the same year Buick and Olds introduced new 215-inch aluminum V-8 for its compact cars.

New V-8 designs arrived in 1964, and styling got even better as the years went by. All the while, Buick still catered to the successful older crowd, but the kids of these upper middle class individuals also had a Buick of their own to drive as the Gran Sport offered great looks and muscle car performance. It culminated in 1970, as the GSX was a feared competitor and featured a 455-inch powerhouse under the hood.

Although Buick endured struggles to “catch up” with foreign manufacturers, especially in the 1990 and 2000 decades, engineers sharpened their pencils to keep up mechanically. Today, Buick is firmly etched as a true GM survivor, and most popular as a car of choice in China. Its new models are extremely impressive, and are commercial successes here in the states. (I recently test drove a 2012 Buick Regal GS Turbo - wow!)

My personal Buicks were a 1951 Buick Special (purchased in 1972), and a beautiful all white 1983 Park Avenue I bought in 1986 for my growing family. Both are long gone now, and the day I sold the ’51 still ranks as one of my big “no-no” days.

Thanks for your letter.

Greg Zyla writes weekly for GateHouse Media and welcomes reader questions at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, PA 18840 or at greg@gregzyla.com.

Q: I have heard a lot of people talking about new Ford products and I was thinking about buying my daughter a new Fiesta. Can you give me your thoughts on the new Ford vehicles, especially the Fiesta?

A: There is no question that the 2010 and later Ford vehicles seem to be wonderful vehicles in all areas. I had a new Fiesta for a week and it was great in every way. Our test car was a five-speed manual hatchback. The manual was easy to drive, and clutch pedal pressure was light. I was amazed to find it had heated seats as part of the comfort option at $795. Base price $17,120 plus $675 delivery. EPA 28 city, 37 highway. This is a car that is above an entry car and should give many years of great service.