Internal combustion engines turn your wheels using power generated from small, controlled explosions. These explosions generate loads of heat, and this waste heat must be transferred away from the engine block. If the engine block were to get too hot, materials in the engine could warp, crack, or melt. Coolant, Radiator Fluid, and Antifreeze… What … Read more
If you’re reading this article, chances are you’ve just washed your car. Birds seem to have a sixth sense that allows them to detect and aim for clean cars when they poop. Before you reach for your shotgun, take heart in the fact that bird poop is usually very easy to clean off the car, … Read more
Did you buy a car with the wrong politician stuck to it? Perhaps your local dealership thinks a license plate bracket isn’t good enough, so they’ve added an eyesore of a dealership sticker to the trunk instead. Whether you purchased a car with a bunch of irrelevant stickers or simply changed your taste, it’s likely … Read more
Some say “black is a hobby, not a color.” Black automotive paint is probably the most difficult color to keep clean, but it can be one of the most rewarding if you know how to take care of it. Few colors can rival the deep mirror shine you get from a well cared for black … Read more
Looking for an all-terrain vehicle? Perhaps you want something that will be stable in rainy, snowy, or icy road conditions. Not all AWD and 4WD systems are created equally. If you’re looking to maximize your vehicle’s capability per dollar, you should know the difference between some of the common drivetrain options on the market that … Read more
Do you know which wheels are used to propel your vehicle forward? The driven wheels play an important part in your vehicle’s handling dynamics. Some vehicles can be ordered in multiple configurations, and each configuration has its own pros and cons. Keep reading to understand the differences between types of drivetrains and which one may … Read more
Ever notice a car that takes off from a stop light leaving a huge cloud of smelly blue smoke in its wake? Perhaps this is your car. Why is this happening, you might ask? A cloud of blue smoke generally means one thing: you’re burning oil. Instead of topping off your oil pan and continuing … Read more
The steering wheel is the primary control a driver uses to direct a vehicle where it should go. Turning the wheel in one direction should make the tires turn in the same direction a proportional amount. This needs to be a consistent and reliable property of your vehicle’s steering system. A steering wheel that doesn’t … Read more
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who fill their vehicles up when they start to get a little low, and those who regularly see that “empty” warning light on their instrument cluster. Which are you? It’s not good to let the fuel tank run below about a quarter tank too often, … Read more
Vehicles come with all sorts of exhaust sounds. Some sound like a jet engine, some give off a low rumble, and others sound like a droning lawnmower. The exhaust sounds result from careful engineering of the vehicle’s muffler by the manufacturer, but mufflers can be changed and they can break. If you have a hole … Read more