Q: I own a ’96 Buick sedan and its leaking transmission fluid from the right side axle area. Is this a major repair? What might it cost? I don’t know any reputable shops. Please advise. -- J.S., Bridgeview

A: J.S., if it’s just the axle seal causing the leak, no, the repair is not major and the cost to repair it would likely be around $200. However, it’s possible that the axle shaft and/or the bushing behind the seal could be worn, and that would increase the cost of repairs significantly. Many transmission shops will perform a free or low-cost inspection. Then, they’ll let you know how much the repairs will cost and you can decide whether to have them fix it, or go for another opinion. You can find a number of reputable repair shops on www.asashop.org and www.ase.com. If you don’t have convenient access to the Internet, look in your phone book under “auto repair” or “transmission” and then contact the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints against the ones you’re considering.

Q: I own a ’96 Oldsmobile with a 3.1-liter V-6 engine. I’m the original owner and the engine has about 66,000 miles on it. The engine coolant reservoir has a mixture of coolant and oil (looks like mud) and I was told that the lower intake manifold gasket is the cause. I have had my fuel injectors cleaned twice because of a bad engine miss. Would the lower intake gasket leak affect the fuel injectors and require frequent injector cleaning? Also, what can I do to stop the oil from mixing with the coolant? -- G.F., Burbank

A: G.F., the need to have your Oldsmobile’s fuel injectors cleaned more frequently is likely due to short-trip driving more than anything else. You’re averaging less than 6,000 miles per year on your Oldsmobile. Short trips can cause the tips of the injectors to get clogged up. You may want to try putting a bottle of fuel injector cleaner into your fuel tank every other fill-up and take your Olds for an occasional (once per month) blast on the highway for at least thirty minutes. The high-speed operation will help keep the fuel injectors clean. As for the oil in the coolant reservoir, if the lower intake manifold gasket is faulty, it will need to be replaced. The 3.1-liter V-6 was known to have problems with this gasket and the repairs will likely cost around $600.

Q: I own a 2003 Toyota Corolla and it has 62,000 miles on it. I brought it in for service and the 60,000-mile service is quite extensive. The dealer told me that my engine’s valve clearance needs to be inspected/adjusted. I thought newer engines have hydraulic lash-adjusters that automatically adjust, negating the need to make periodic adjustments. Can you tell me if my Corolla’s valve clearance is adjustable? -- J.F., Waukegan

A: J.F., while most engines utilize hydraulic lash adjusters to automatically take up slack for valvetrain wear, your Corolla’s 1.8-liter engine does not. Instead, it uses solid valve lifters. By the way, if there’s excessive clearance on any of the 16 valves, the lifters will need to be replaced with a thicker one. There are 35 varying thickness valve lifters available for your Corolla’s engine.

AutoAdviser: Ira Siegel is an Automotive Instructor and ASE Certified Master Auto Technician. If you have auto-related questions for Ira Siegel you can call and leave your questions at the Auto Adviser Hotline at 708-633-6839 or e-mail a question to Autoadvisr@aol.com.