Q: Good morning. As I approach my eighth decade, I remember being told to place my hands at the 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock position on the steering wheel. With airbags I’m wondering if 4-and-8 position would protect broken arms better in an airbag deployment.
R.M., Windsor, Connecticut
A: Ten-and-2 is a no-no. If the airbag deploys, your arms may get broken, or your hands may punch you in the face. In a driving school several years ago, I learned that 9-and-3 is best. Some drivers choose the 8-and-4 and that’s OK for daily commutes. Today 9-and-3 is the standard both from NHTSA as well as AARP and the Bob Bondurant School of High-Performance Driving.
Q: What’s octane, and what’s it good for? In the days of leaded gas, I recall that if the octane was too low, it was connected to engine run on for a few seconds after ignition turn off, but I haven’t seen that in decades.
F.S., Oak Park, Illinois
A: Octane is a measure of the fuel’s ability to prevent preignition. Tetraethyl lead octane booster has been replaced with a less harmful chemical. Without going into how it is scientifically measured, higher octane gas, then and now, helps prevent knock or ping. Using high octane when it isn’t stipulated is a waste of money. It has very little to do to engine run-on.
Q: I have a classic car that I don’t drive often. The battery sometimes goes flat between drives. What is the best type of battery for this situation? I don’t have access to an outlet where the car is parked.
M.H. Winterville, North Carolina
A: AGM (absorbent glass mat) batteries hold a charge longer than typical batteries, but, of course, they cost more. Check out solar battery maintainers that sit on the dashboard. They have come a long way since first introduced. They are eco-friendly, convenient to use and relatively inexpensive — in the neighborhood of $50.