September 06, 2025

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - September 6, 2025 - Hour 1 - Maintenance Wins: From Class Notes to Real-World Calls - (855)560-9900 24/7 Hotline

33 minutes

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor

Three-day shop sprint, ATG misfire class takeaways, and a through-line: maintenance beats repairs. Then calls on when to keep/swap cars, run-flats vs spares, and streetable performance cooling—plus a quick washer-fluid myth-buster.

Chapter Markers

00:00 – Open / Monologue
3-day week grind; ATG class (Edison). Recognition from listeners. Big takeaway: factory schedule as baseline, oil at 5–6k, fluids-by-condition, turbos work harder—maintenance > repair.
07:25 – Case Study – ’15 Dodge Charger (P0128)
Fast diag → thermostat; car shows “minimal maintenance” pitfalls. Cost-per-mile vs deferred work.
11:11 – Tom’s Inspection Story
Full synthetic, 5k intervals; cost-per-month math on real ownership.
13:49 – Mark (Las Vegas) – ’08 Honda CR-V, 241k
Loves simple tech; wary of CVT/turbos. Advice: rent/try newer tech, or keep CR-V and invest (engine/trans if needed) vs $30k+ replacement.
17:25 – Mark (cont.) – What to Buy / Wait?
Shortlist: CR-V, RAV4, Blazer, Escape. Turbos are ubiquitous; hybrids add complexity. Consider waiting as regulations/offerings shift.
23:19 – Mike (CA) – ’14 BMW X5 Tires
Run-flats vs spare. If converting, match rolling diameter & systems; run-flats have pros/cons, roadside realities.
27:00 – Kevin (MA) – ’72 Dart, Holley Sniper & Trans Cooler
Handheld/tuner Q → check Holley; stall-converter heat, separate cooler, plug rad ports; “mild goes wild” on the street—detune for temps.
32:16 – Mailbag – Washer Fluid Colors
Orange vs blue = freeze-point/formulation. Mixing generally OK if bottle allows; unlike oil/coolant/trans fluids.

Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com
Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes
Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel
Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 560-9900
Join the conversation LIVE – Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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249249 ratings

September 06, 2025

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - September 6, 2025 - Hour 1 - Maintenance Wins: From Class Notes to Real-World Calls - (855)560-9900 24/7 Hotline

33 minutes

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor

Chapter Markers

00:00 – Open / Monologue
3-day week grind; ATG class (Edison). Recognition from listeners. Big takeaway: factory schedule as baseline, oil at 5–6k, fluids-by-condition, turbos work harder—maintenance > repair.
07:25 – Case Study – ’15 Dodge Charger (P0128)
Fast diag → thermostat; car shows “minimal maintenance” pitfalls. Cost-per-mile vs deferred work.
11:11 – Tom’s Inspection Story
Full synthetic, 5k intervals; cost-per-month math on real ownership.
13:49 – Mark (Las Vegas) – ’08 Honda CR-V, 241k
Loves simple tech; wary of CVT/turbos. Advice: rent/try newer tech, or keep CR-V and invest (engine/trans if needed) vs $30k+ replacement.
17:25 – Mark (cont.) – What to Buy / Wait?
Shortlist: CR-V, RAV4, Blazer, Escape. Turbos are ubiquitous; hybrids add complexity. Consider waiting as regulations/offerings shift.
23:19 – Mike (CA) – ’14 BMW X5 Tires
Run-flats vs spare. If converting, match rolling diameter & systems; run-flats have pros/cons, roadside realities.
27:00 – Kevin (MA) – ’72 Dart, Holley Sniper & Trans Cooler
Handheld/tuner Q → check Holley; stall-converter heat, separate cooler, plug rad ports; “mild goes wild” on the street—detune for temps.
32:16 – Mailbag – Washer Fluid Colors
Orange vs blue = freeze-point/formulation. Mixing generally OK if bottle allows; unlike oil/coolant/trans fluids.

Grab your Car Doctor gear – T-shirts & more at CarDoctorShow.com
Follow the wrench – Instagram @ronananian for shop life & behind-the-scenes
Watch & learn – Auto repair tips & videos on our YouTube Channel
Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 – (855) 560-9900
Join the conversation LIVE – Saturdays 2–4 PM Eastern