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

 

 

 

 

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&mdash;plus a quick washer-fluid myth-buster.
Chapter Markers
<ul>
<li data-start="339" data-end="558">
00:00 &ndash; Open / Monologue 3-day week grind; ATG class (Edison). Recognition from listeners. Big takeaway: factory schedule as baseline, oil at 5&ndash;6k, fluids-by-condition, turbos work harder&mdash;maintenance &gt; repair.
</li>
<li data-start="559" data-end="713">
07:25 &ndash; Case Study &ndash; &rsquo;15 Dodge Charger (P0128) Fast diag &rarr; thermostat; car shows &ldquo;minimal maintenance&rdquo; pitfalls. Cost-per-mile vs deferred work.
</li>
<li data-start="714" data-end="823">
11:11 &ndash; Tom&rsquo;s Inspection Story Full synthetic, 5k intervals; cost-per-month math on real ownership.
</li>
<li data-start="824" data-end="1020">
13:49 &ndash; Mark (Las Vegas) &ndash; &rsquo;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.
</li>
<li data-start="1021" data-end="1208">
17:25 &ndash; Mark (cont.) &ndash; What to Buy / Wait? Shortlist: CR-V, RAV4, Blazer, Escape. Turbos are ubiquitous; hybrids add complexity. Consider waiting as regulations/offerings shift.
</li>
<li data-start="1209" data-end="1370">
23:19 &ndash; Mike (CA) &ndash; &rsquo;14 BMW X5 Tires Run-flats vs spare. If converting, match rolling diameter &amp; systems; run-flats have pros/cons, roadside realities.
</li>
<li data-start="1371" data-end="1577">
27:00 &ndash; Kevin (MA) &ndash; &rsquo;72 Dart, Holley Sniper &amp; Trans Cooler Handheld/tuner Q &rarr; check Holley; stall-converter heat, separate cooler, plug rad ports; &ldquo;mild goes wild&rdquo; on the street&mdash;detune for temps.
</li>
<li data-start="1578" data-end="1739" data-is-last-node="">
32:16 &ndash; Mailbag &ndash; Washer Fluid Colors Orange vs blue = freeze-point/formulation. Mixing generally OK if bottle allows; unlike oil/coolant/trans fluids.
</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li data-start="67" data-end="172">Grab your Car Doctor gear &ndash; T-shirts &amp; more at <a href="https://www.cardoctorshow.com" data-start="120" data-end="170">CarDoctorShow.com</a></li>
<li data-start="173" data-end="260">
Follow the wrench &ndash; Instagram @ronananian for shop life &amp; behind-the-scenes
</li>
<li data-start="261" data-end="333">
Watch &amp; learn &ndash; Auto repair tips &amp; videos on our YouTube Channel
</li>
<li data-start="334" data-end="419">
Got a car question? Call the Car Doctor Hotline 24/7 &ndash; (855) 560-9900
</li>
<li data-start="420" data-end="485">
Join the conversation LIVE &ndash; Saturdays 2&ndash;4 PM Eastern
</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

With over 40 years of repairing cars and 27 on the radio helping you repair them, Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, is an expert at everything automotive. Call us at 855-560-9900.

With over 40 years of repairing cars and 27 on the radio helping you repair them, Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, is an expert at everything automotive.  Call us at 855-560-9900.

Ron Ananian The Car Doctor

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, is a nationally recognized automotive expert, master technician, and trusted voice in car repair and consumer advice. For more than 30 years, Ron has blended real-world shop experience with straight-talk radio, helping drivers understand their vehicles and the industry with clarity, humor, and honesty. As host of the long-running Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor radio show—heard nationwide across major networks—he brings diagnostics, storytelling, and practical wisdom together in a way only a seasoned mechanic can. Whether it’s a tough trouble code, a buying decision, or a behind-the-scenes look at shop life, Ron delivers the insight listeners rely on.

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, is a nationally recognized automotive expert, master technician, and trusted voice in car repair and consumer advice. For more than 30 years, Ron has blended real-world shop experience with straight-talk radio, helping drivers understand their vehicles and the industry with clarity, humor, and honesty. As host of the long-running Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor radio show&mdash;heard nationwide across major networks&mdash;he brings diagnostics, storytelling, and practical wisdom together in a way only a seasoned mechanic can. Whether it&rsquo;s a tough trouble code, a buying decision, or a behind-the-scenes look at shop life, Ron delivers the insight listeners rely on.

Ron Ananian The Car Doctor™

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

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/d5683fc9-b028-47a6-8774-b3500152fc4a/transcript

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