**The Cost of Maintenance: A Bunch of Money**

When it comes to maintaining a car, there are a lot of costs involved. One of the biggest expenses is rebuilding the training on one of those things, which can cost three to five grand. In fact, it's more than the car itself is worth in some cases. Fires can also be a major setback, as they require a significant amount of money and time to repair. However, VIERA says that white smoke coming out of a car can be an early warning sign of a more serious problem.

**White Smoke: What Does It Mean?**

White smoke coming out of a car's exhaust pipe can be a cause for concern. There are several possible explanations for this symptom, and it's not always easy to determine the underlying issue. The most common culprit is a blown head gasket, which occurs when the engine starts to overheat and the coolant begins to burn inside the engine. This can cause steam to build up and produce white smoke. However, other factors such as oil burning or fuel injection problems can also produce white smoke.

**Testing for a Blown Head Gasket**

There is a simple test kit available that can help determine if a head gasket has blown. The test kit costs $25 and includes a blue dye that can be added to the coolant. If the dye turns yellow, it means that the head gasket has blown and needs to be replaced. This is a relatively easy and inexpensive test, but other problems such as oil burning or fuel injection issues may require more advanced testing.

**The Importance of Regular Maintenance**

Regular maintenance is crucial for keeping a car running smoothly and preventing costly repairs down the road. This includes checking fluids levels, replacing spark plugs, and performing routine inspections to identify potential problems before they become major issues. By staying on top of maintenance, car owners can avoid unexpected expenses and keep their vehicle running for years to come.

**Mazda RX-8: A Unique Engine**

The Mazda RX-8 is a unique car that features a rotary engine. The rotary engine is a Wankel design that uses triangular-shaped rotors instead of traditional cylindrical cylinders. While this design can produce impressive power, it also has its drawbacks. Rotary engines are known to burn oil and require regular maintenance to stay healthy. They are also less efficient than traditional engines and can be more expensive to repair.

**Buying a Used Mazda RX-8**

If you're considering buying a Mazda RX-8, be aware that they can be unreliable. The rotary engine is prone to problems such as oil leaks and burning oil, which can lead to costly repairs. However, if you're willing to put in the maintenance work, a well-maintained RX-8 can be a great ride.

**The 2004 F-150: A Reliable Workhorse**

The 2004 Ford F-150 is a reliable workhorse that has been popular among truck enthusiasts for years. With its powerful V8 engine and durable transmission, it's a great choice for anyone who needs a reliable vehicle for hauling heavy loads or towing trailers.

**Testing the Transmission**

When buying a used F-150, one of the first things to test is the transmission. The automatic transmission on these vehicles can be notoriously weak, so it's essential to check for any signs of wear or failure. If the transmission is standard, driving the vehicle can help identify any issues with the clutch or other components.

**Compression Testing**

For a more comprehensive inspection, compression testing can be done. This involves removing the spark plugs and using a compressed air machine to test the engine's compression. Low compression readings can indicate worn piston rings or other problems that need to be addressed.

**Buying a Used Toyota Van: A Good Idea?**

Buying a used Toyota van can be a good idea, especially if you're looking for a reliable vehicle with low mileage. However, it's essential to be aware of the potential risks and challenges associated with owning a large van. Regular maintenance is crucial to keep these vehicles running smoothly, but they can also be expensive to repair if problems arise.

**The Sienna Van: A Reliable Choice**

Toyota's Sienna van is a reliable choice for anyone looking for a spacious and comfortable ride. With its powerful engine and durable transmission, it's a great option for families or road trippers who need a versatile vehicle. However, like all vehicles, it requires regular maintenance to stay healthy.

**Conclusion**

Buying and maintaining a car can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to dealing with unexpected problems. By staying on top of routine maintenance and being aware of potential issues, car owners can avoid costly repairs and keep their vehicle running smoothly for years to come. Whether you're driving a Mazda RX-8 or a Ford F-150, regular maintenance is essential to keeping your car in good condition.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enrun up your engine Joseph finian says Scottie did you ever get married you'll kind didn't know what to do no to me cars are machines to get you from here to there I don't get that emotionally attached to them the only thing that I ever got emotionally attached to are my wife and kids and motorcycles I like motorcycles I get emotionally attached to motorcycles that's a different thing it's just you in the motorcycle on no one else it's your own little universe no one ever wants to ride in the back of one of my motorcycles once they went for one ride they rode generally never go for another ride again so but getting married to a car that's a mistake you get emotionally involved you sow too much money into it you know it's time to let go when things finally we're I mean years ago I got rid of my wife's Cressida she loved the car but the leather seats were all cracked the paint was all fading the a/c wasn't working as good and it was 20-something years old and I just decided hey it's time to say goodbye and then I got her little exes she loves Alexis too so you know there is time to think okay don't get emotionally involved with a car big mistake red dead says Scotty will rear wheels being out of alignment cause the front tires to wear unevenly on an all-wheel drive they actually can cuz if they're really worn bad generally that means there's a problem in the suspension system so the car's not tracking right and then it's gonna have problems with the front end getting squirrely I had to happen in one of my old cars once I inadvertently backed into something and it had bent the lower control arm on the rear tire and made the car steer squirrely and so it will affect the alignment you got to have all four wheels correct cuz they're all going down a road you know it's not like some of them are touching and some of them are all going down the road and that's something that people have to understand these days when I was younger mechanic most cars rear-wheel drive they had a solid axle and you never touched the alignment on the rear let's just smash the car up you only had a front-end alignment but on modern cars most of them have rear independent suspension and they're aligned abble to you gotta check all four wheels every once in a while Kalmar says 2013 toyota tacoma the hood won't pop up I see it all the time they kind of corrode as time goes on so here's what you do have a friend hold the hood release well you go to the front of the hood and go your hands it will probably eventually pop off don't when it does open it up and get some really good spray lubricant and for those hoods that's bare metal hinge the best lubricant is spray lithium now people take lithium pills that are kind of crazy and it's an element while it's also a very good lubricant you get a can of it anyplace auto parts stores hardware stores it's called spray lithium Lube and it's great for metal to metal lubrication like in a hinge now let's hope that your cable isn't broke and then you're gonna either have to take some of the grill out or crawl under the bottom or pay a mechanic like me to do it and get giant long tools and whack and pull until we pop the hood open and then we got to replace the whole assembly with a new cable and everything but a lot of times just beating on it and then lubricating it'll fix Oliver Madsen so Scotty how can I tell you if I need to replace engine mounts on a Honda Civic all right when engine mounts where did you start an engine go off and pick it up a little and Bop it down so you hear a clunk clunk bar if you accelerate hard you'll air a clunk clunk professional check of motor mounts on any car Honda Civic whatever you get yourself a jack like I have the big roller jacks then where the cup is listen put a piece of 2x4 and then gradually jack up on a hard part like the bottom of the transmission and what you do is have somebody else Jack the checked and watch and if you see the motor starts rising with the transmission and the body doesn't immediately follow means the motor mounts are breaking because as you jack it up the motor will start to lift out of the place that it's sat in but frame of the car won't move yet until you get even higher then the whole thing will move up then if you let it down again it drops down and then you slowly Jack it up and you see the engine then moving up but the car isn't you know the motor mounts are broken that's a real good test that anybody can do with a floor jack I got a video in that tube g1z how to replace motor mounts on your car chuckles I got a juggie huh both the men and out Baldo Silvester Scottie what do you think of the old diesel Mercedes such as the 240 D and a 300 East I used to work on those all the time back in the 80s I had a lot of customers with them now the 240 DS they were turds they couldn't get out of their own way with that 4-cylinder diesel engine but a few at a standard transmission take a transfer right across from when I had 550 thousand miles on a thing that was still running strong they were strong engines and the 300 DS they had a little bit more horsepower but what was popular with them was when they went to the 300 turbo Diesel's when they turbocharged them then they had a reasonable amount of power and yes they could last forever nothing like the modern stuff because back in those days they didn't have any pollution controls on the diesels and if you see any of those going on these days you'll probably see them when they're going up a hill and they stop on a gas black smoke comes flying out of them well the new Diesel's don't do that but the new diesels are all computer controls they cost a fortune defects they don't last nearly as long as those old ones did that said if you're thinking about buying one of those old things won't sell for about warnock and they're not any good anymore in the new engines gonna cost you 7 8 grand so unless you get one that's got real low mileage it runs good I'd stay away from those unless you're a mechanic yourself angel a Reagan says Scotty what are your thoughts on a 1996 acura integra I'm thinking of getting one okay anchor and tigers were great little four-cylinder Tzipi cars back in the day fun to drive around but it's now 24 years old don't pay much for one it's not a collector's item it'll never do worth a whole bunch of money I bet customers buy them for a cheap price and use them for a fun car to drive around it but don't think you can go buy one of those that old and put 1520 thousand miles a year on it because it will probably fall apart in front of your very eyes yes you're gonna buy one of those and drive it for a little bit of mileage each year keep it as an octorok car maybe a drive back and forth to work car go right ahead but don't pay too much money and if they do have an automatic transmission that's their weakest points you want a mechanic like me to test it out before you buy it you don't want to put a whole bunch of money into one it's got a bad rebuilding the training on one of those things can be three to five grand it's more than the cars worth by fires you don't want to get involved in that although VIERA says why is there so much white smoke coming out of my 1995 Miata okay white smoke can be a few things generally it's often a blowing head gasket when the engine blows ahead guests get the coolant which is water-based starts to burn inside the engine and then you get white smoke which is steam there's a test for that I've got a video how to tell if your head gaskets blown a simple little test kit you can get an on for 25 bucks and do the test if the blue liquor turns yellow it means head gasket block now you can also get white smoke if it's burning a lot of oil if you lose it a lot of engine oil and you see if spark plugs are carbon enough you know it's burning - what yawns you know and the third thing that can happen is if your engine is flooding out with too much fuel too much fuel will also make it smoke white those are the three things you have to pinpoint which one of them it is an easiest thing is to check for a blown head gasket with that kit first it's very simple test the other stuff can get a lot more complicated to figure out but it's going through a whole bunch of oil - you'll know it's burning a lot of oil - and that's what's gonna Francis believe so Scottie what do you think of a Mazda rx-8 I'm not a fan of rotary engine cars because the rotary engines those Wankel rotary engines have those triangular curved rotor inside that's been somewhat double rotors but at the edge of each corner of the triangle are these apex seals they always go bad they always burn oil they're gas hogs they're very inefficient engines to put all our power yes but if you want a good toy you can get those things cheap just realize you're not gonna put a lot of miles on it cuz you'll have to rebuild the engine that cost a whole bunch of money there are people that do that if you want to buy one say has a blown engine there's guys in the united states that do very good jobs selling your rebuild engines for him if you want to go that bad just don't weigh much you can easily pull them in and out yourself just get a cheap little engine hoist from Harbor Freight for like $99 and work fine for that tiny little engine but another engine if you want me to get one cheap Zane says Scotty I'm looking to buy a 2004 f-150 with v8 has 180 6,000 miles what should I look for you want to test the transmission first that's the weakest thing you automatic transmission on those are the absolute weakest things now if it does have a standard transmission just drive it make sure the clutch isn't slipping that needs a new clutch those are pretty bulletproof but you want to check the transmission first with 186,000 miles on it if you really want to go all out do it yourself or pay a mechanic to do wet and dry compression test or we take out the spark plugs you do a compression test for a little oil and see if pressure goes up a whole bunch more when you put a little oil mean in the piston rings are worn and you'd pay less for it but if you can get a good price on it it still runs good it could be a good knocker vehicle I'm in I'm here so Scottie what do you think about Toyota vans will they make actual advance now when they first made those weird old Toyota vans that had the engine in the middle and then a driveshaft and then in the front they had the air conditioner and the water pump and everything else and then giant hoses going everywhere those old toyota vans could go for it Avra my brother-in-law had one he took it to Engel when he moved there and then he sold us some guy names I came back without it technically illegal but with actor and the Sienna vans they can run forever I get customers buying they get three four hundred thousand miles on their axle advance now you buy brand new one they're not cheap they're not giving them away you want to buy something's gonna last for decades that's the man you wouldn't want to buy and if you can get a good used one it doesn't have too many miles on it there's nothing wrong with buying them used I've customers buy those things used all the time sometimes they'll buy an old one sky 150,000 miles pay two three grand for me driving it ten years later they're great bands so if you never want to miss another one of my new car repair videos remember to ring that Bell\n"