Sikorsky’s swan song, it’s been a great ride

Dear Bob: I own a 2005 Nissan Maxima which I bought new. At 3,000 miles I called the Nissan dealer to have the oil changed, and asked if they had Mobil 1 5W-30 oil. They did not, but said that I could bring my own. So I brought a five-quart jug and told them that I should get some oil back, because the owner’s manual states that it should take 4.25 quarts with an oil-and-filter change.

When the car had been serviced, I asked them for the extra oil. They informed me that it had taken it all. I paid and drove the 35 miles home. I then checked the oil level and found it to be one inch overfull. I called the garage, and they told me to return so that they could put it at the proper level.

Did I do any damage by driving 70 miles with an overfilled crankcase? The shop manager informed me that there was no damage, but I’d like a second opinion. Was there any damage done?

Incidentally, they credited my charge account for the oil change and offered to change the oil for free the next time.

— R., via e-mail

A: You didn’t do any damage by driving 70 miles with an extra 3/4 -quart of oil.

I think the dealership was more than gracious in how it handled the situation. They admitted that they had goofed — not a bad goof, really — and corrected the problem, then also credited your account for the overfilled oil change and offered you a free oil change the next time around.

These sound like good guys.

Dear Bob: I enjoy your column and look forward to it.

I have owned a BMW 530i for about a year. The owner’s manual says “91 octane required,” but that is nearly impossible to get, so most of the time the car has been using 93 octane. A couple of times I have used 89 octane, with no apparent effect on performance or mileage.

My question: Would I be safe in drastically increasing the 89-octane fill-ups to, say, 50 percent of the time? This is prompted by high gas prices, of course.

Thanks.

— E.A., via e-mail

A: Better yet, why not fill up each time with 50-percent 93 octane and 50-percent 89 octane? The net result would be a mix that’s 91-octane, the exact octane your owner’s manual calls for.

Dear Bob: You have a terrific column. It’s wonderful to find someone talking conservation among the reviews of glitzy, monster gas-guzzlers in The Albany Times Union’s auto section.

It’s very reassuring also, to encounter someone who can remember ancient history when, in the mid-1970s, we stood in lines for gas.

Regards,

— Bob, via e-mail

A: Thanks for the nice words, from one ancient Bob to another!

My Last Column

Dear Readers: And now, if I may, a personal note.

This is my last column for The New York Times Syndicate.

For the past 20 years it has been my charge and my pleasure to provide readers with ways to make their cars last, avoid big repairs, get better fuel economy, reduce vehicle pollution, save money and be better, safer and more courteous drivers. In my test-drive column, from which I retired a few years ago, I also tried to help my readers make better choices in buying new vehicles.

I hope I have succeeded, at least to some extent, and hope that you have learned as much from me as I have from each and every one of your letters. If I have raised the car-consciousness of even one reader, then my efforts haven’t been in vain.

Through the years I have put particular emphasis on the importance of oil and of gasoline to your vehicle’s health, and it’s fitting that I was able to choose questions dealing with those two subjects for my last column.

I’ve received tens of thousands of letters, and I only wish I could have answered each and every one personally. Be assured that I did read every one, including yours.

If you’ve been following my “American Drivers Fight Back” suggestions, you are much better equipped to deal with the high gasoline prices — which, in my estimation, will soon be going higher yet — that we now find ourselves facing. Furthermore, you are indeed helping to fight terrorism by denying the oil-rich Mideast the dollars you would otherwise have spent on wasted fuel. Perhaps, if I can find an interested publisher, I’ll make “American Drivers Fight Back” into a book.

A special “thank you” goes to The Kansas City Star, which was the first paper to sign up for my syndicated column. That was exactly 20 years ago, and the Star is still running the column today.

It’s been an exciting time to be writing about cars. I’ve seen everything from some really terrible iron in the 1980s to today’s safety-enhanced, better-handling, more efficient, longer-lasting vehicles with super warranties.

It’s been a great 20-year ride, readers. Here’s hoping that I have helped in your quest to drive it forever.