Patch-Up Job Is Not Advised

Question: I have a Goodyear Eagle GT tire that has a minute pinhole in the sidewall. The tire has only 200 miles on it, but Goodyear said it could not be repaired. Is this true? I should think a patch on the inside of the tire and a tube would solve the problem. I would appreciate your advice.--H.C.M.

Answer: Tire manufacturers differ on whether and under what circumstances repairs can be made on the sidewall area of a tire. Goodyear flatly recommends against repairing holes in the sidewall, which includes the area from the tire bead all the way to the tread.

The reason some manufacturers recommend against such repairs has to do with the amount of flexing that a tire experiences in the sidewall area. As the tire bounces up and down, the sidewall flexes a substantial amount. This is particularly true in radials.

Can Break Loose

Patches generally do not flex as readily as the tire sidewall, and eventually a patch can break loose. You would end up with the original hole leaking air.

You may be tempted to ignore that recommendation and find a mechanic willing to patch the tire. But you should abide by Goodyear’s advice, because tires are such an important safety item, and they are relatively inexpensive over their entire service life. A good radial tire may cost $50, but it can last well over 50,000 miles. That amounts to less than 1/10 of a penny per mile.

Q: You are my last resort. I bought a 1979 Pinto new, and all I have been doing ever since is putting oil into it. Where it is going, I can’t tell. I would say every 70 or 80 miles, it takes another quart. The car starts well and doesn’t smoke. Maybe you can give me some kind of an answer.--M.P.

A: The poor Pinto engine probably will never make it into the Henry Ford Museum for its great engineering design. The little engine has plenty of problems, and poor oil consumption was a symptom of many of them.

Inspect the Plugs

You should start by inspecting the spark plugs to see if any of them have oil deposits or oil fouling. If you are burning that much oil, the plugs are probably fouled. The oil may be seeping in through the valve stems, indicating that you need new valve seals. That would be good news because they are relatively inexpensive.

You should also check the crankcase ventilation system to make sure oil is not being sucked out. Many old Fords had systems that could throw a lot of oil because of something simple like a clogged breather cap.

Finally, you should park the car on some newspapers overnight. Check to see if there are any significant leaks. A quart of oil makes a big mess, so you shouldn’t have a problem spotting a leak.