Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor - May 9, 2026 - Hour 1 - Why Your Car Is Quietly Burning More Gas

Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor, starts the hour talking about rising fuel prices and why the real problem for most drivers may actually be fuel waste caused by overlooked maintenance issues. Ron explains how low tire pressure, dragging brakes, dirty air filters, weak batteries, and lazy oxygen sensors slowly rob vehicles of fuel economy long before a warning light ever appears on the dashboard. He also revisits the old-school "clothespin on the fuel line" trick and explains the vapor lock theory behind it.

Later in the hour, Ron talks with a listener considering the purchase of a late-model Chevy Suburban Duramax with a branded title and discusses the risks involved when buying a vehicle with a complicated repair history. Another caller reports back on a difficult Nissan Murano misfire diagnosis that ultimately turned out to be three failed ignition coils on the same bank of the engine - a repair almost nobody would expect. Ron also helps a longtime Ford Escape owner decide what modern SUV might replace his trusted 235,000-mile daily driver.

It's another hour of practical diagnostics, real-world repair stories, and common-sense automotive insight from Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor.

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