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Pete Candela is a AAA ASE Certified Auto Expert with more than 20 years' experience.
By Pete Candela
Q. We have neglected to properly rotate the tires on my wife’s minivan. The front tires are both evenly worn on the outside edges only, with the rest looking fine. The back tires look very good with no uneven wear. I am planning on finally rotating the tires to put off buying four new tires for a few months. Does this indicate a front alignment (tow or camber) for the front end? Handling seems good.
-Andrew E.
A. Depending on the severity of the wear pattern you may only be seeing “cornering wear” which is to be expected with your lean maintenance schedule and a lot of city driving. However, I would recommend an alignment when the new tires are installed. It would be a good idea to start your new tire maintenance schedule off on the right foot. Depending on the roughness of usual roads traveled, potholes, train tracks, parking curbs, etc., I usually recommend an alignment once a year unless an unusual wear pattern is observed or a pull is experienced while driving, or if the steering wheel appears to be off center. If you are going to invest the money in four new tires, I would invest a couple more dollars (relatively) to protect them.
Q. When I accelerate from a stop light, it feels as if my car hesitates for a second. Should a fuel-injected vehicle do that?
-Albert M.
A. It can happen to any vehicle, no matter the fuel delivery method. A common failure on a fuel-injected system is that the throttle position sensor is either out of adjustment or becoming faulty. A technician can perform a test for that component to check its integrity.
Q. When I start the car first thing in the morning, I see this puff of whitish-blue smoke. I don’t see it again until the following morning. Is this something I should worry about?
-Randy C.
A. Unfortunately, this symptom will only get worse. The problem may be with either a worn valve stem seal, a valve guide or both. Oil is leaking past the seal and guide and entering the combustion chamber. When you initially start the vehicle, the oil in the chamber is being burned immediately, causing the smoke. As the engine temperature rises, the seals become more pliable and the valve guides expand, slowing the oil from entering the chamber.
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