Motormouth: Rent a car or drive our own?
Q: We have a 2022 Lincoln Corsair that we purchased last May. We will be driving from Virginia to Cape Cod on a 10- or 12-day venture soon. My wife thinks it would be a good idea to rent a car for the trip rather than putting the wear and tear on our own vehicle. It is an opportunity to try other cars, maybe a hybrid, but it seems that the rental cost would outweigh the "wear and tear" cost of using our own car. A service writer at our local repair shop says the current cost of rentals makes using our own car the way to go. What are your thoughts on this subject?
C.S., Norfolk, Virginia
A: The Internal Revenue Service says that reimbursement for business use of your personal car is currently 70 cents per mile. The cost is based on numerous factors including gas, oil, repairs, tires, insurance, registration fees, licenses and depreciation (or lease payments). The rates also apply to electric and hybrid cars as well as gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles. I use it as a benchmark to calculate my costs against renting a car.
Q: I recently became the owner of a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali truck. The gas cap is yellow and states "85/Gasoline. Do not use additives with E85 fuel." I have been using only E85 to fill up. However, given that it is sometimes difficult to find E85, is there any harm in using regular 87 octane? Unfortunately, I do not have access to the owner's manual and internet searches have varying opinions.
D.P., Buffalo, Minnesota
A: You can certainly use regular 87 octane gasoline in a "flex fuel" vehicle that runs on E85. But you can't use E85 in any vehicle that does not accept it even though the price may temp some people to try. Don't do it.
Q: I have a 2010 Camry, and my dashboard has sticky on it. I tried to clean with soap and water. I also got a product from the local auto parts store. This sticky stuff is bad and I can't get rid of it. Do you have any suggestions?
V.P., San Jose, California
A: I can't stand a sticky dashboard either. Like you, I have tried all kinds of products and household cleaners. The solution I finally settled on is a dash mat cover. It solved the problem, and it improved the appearance and reduced reflections in the windshield.
Q: After driving my 2017 Subaru Outback about 100 miles on a full tank of gas, a number of warning lights came on at the same time, including the check engine light and Xmode. I checked with a mechanic and was told I would be OK driving to my destination, another 100 miles away. Someone suggested that my gas cap may have been loose. Although it appeared to be on correctly, I took it off and screwed it on as far as I could. The lights went away. Is the car designed to react this way? Do I need to get this checked out? My driving range is now incorrect, showing a higher range than I know I have. Will this correct over time?
L.C., Williamsburg, Virginia
A: A loose gas cap will trigger the check engine light. That's because there is a fault in the evaporative emissions system. Gasoline vapor can get into the air. But, since so many people now ignore the check engine light, some other lights come on like a Christmas tree. Yes, your MPG calculations will return to normal, probably the next time you fill up.
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