Our general FAQ section provides clear answers to the most common automotive questions that apply to all vehicles, regardless of make or model. From understanding routine maintenance schedules and oil change intervals to learning about warning lights, smog checks, brakes, tires, and general car care tips, this category is designed to help every driver. Whether you’re new to car ownership or just want reliable advice, our general FAQs give you the knowledge to keep your vehicle safe, reliable, and road-ready.
How Long Does It Take to Change the Intake Manifold? For most passenger vehicles, replacing an intake manifold typically takes about 2 to 6 hours in a professional shop; complex engines, tight packaging, or added services (like GDI carbon cleaning) can push the job to 8 to 12 hours. The exact time depends on engine …
Do automakers still use sodium azide in airbags? In modern vehicles, no: sodium azide has been phased out of new airbag inflators for many years, replaced by azide‑free propellants. However, older cars—especially from the 1990s and some early 2000s—may still have airbags containing sodium azide, and legacy or salvage parts can persist in the market. …
What mm is an oil plug? Understanding sizes, tools, and how to find the right one There isn’t a single standard size for oil drain plugs: most passenger vehicles use metric threads in the M12–M14 range (commonly M12×1.25, M12×1.5, M14×1.25, or M14×1.5) with hex heads typically 13–17 mm, while some trucks and performance or diesel …
Do car seats have to be anchored? Yes. Child car seats must be secured to the vehicle using an approved method—either the vehicle seat belt or dedicated lower anchors (LATCH/ISOFIX/UAS)—and most forward-facing harnessed seats must also be attached to a top tether anchor where required. Rules vary by region and by seat type, but an …
The Simple Trick to Backing Up a Trailer The trick is to hold the steering wheel at the bottom and move your hand in the direction you want the back of the trailer to go, while backing very slowly and making tiny corrections after setting up with a gentle angle. That hand position flips the …
Who is considered the best race car driver? No single driver is universally considered the best; it depends on the discipline and the yardstick. In Formula 1, many analysts place Lewis Hamilton at the top by career achievements (with Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna and an ascendant Max Verstappen close in the debate). Across motorsport, all-time …
Can You Put a NASCAR Engine in a Street Car? Yes—physically you can install a NASCAR V8 in a street car—but making it legal, reliable, and drivable on public roads is extremely difficult and often not permissible. Most jurisdictions require emissions certification and on-board diagnostics that NASCAR engines do not have, so the realistic path …
When a Car Is Considered Flooded and Ruined A car is generally considered flooded and effectively ruined when water rises to the bottom of the dashboard or higher, or when the engine ingests water—even briefly—causing hydrolock. In many cases, insurers total the vehicle if water reaches the seat cushions (especially saltwater) or critical electronics under …
What’s in Vehicle Smoke: A Clear Look at Tailpipe Pollutants Vehicle smoke commonly contains carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2, collectively NOx), particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10, including ultrafine particles and black carbon), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and unburned hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide (SO2), toxic air contaminants such as benzene, aldehydes (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein), polycyclic aromatic …
What’s the Point of Crossover Cars? Crossovers exist to blend the everyday comfort and efficiency of a car with the space, visibility, and versatility people like in SUVs. Built on car platforms, they deliver higher seating and flexible cargo without the weight and ride penalties of traditional, truck-based SUVs—one reason utility vehicles (mostly crossovers) account …
What Australians Call “Freeways” — And How It Varies Across the Country Australians most commonly use “motorway” (especially in New South Wales and Queensland) and “freeway” (notably in Victoria and Western Australia) to describe high-speed, limited-access roads; you’ll also hear “expressway” in South Australia and “parkway” in the Australian Capital Territory, with “highway” generally referring …
When was the internal combustion engine used? The internal combustion engine came into practical use in 1860 with Étienne Lenoir’s commercially sold gas engine; it spread rapidly from the mid-1880s through the early 20th century—powering cars, boats, machines, and aircraft—and remains widely used today. Earlier experimental engines date back to the 17th and early 19th …
Miles or Time: Which Should Dictate Your Oil Change? Go by whichever comes first, as specified in your owner’s manual or by your vehicle’s oil-life monitor. For most modern cars on synthetic oil, that typically means around 7,500–10,000 miles or 6–12 months, with shorter intervals (often 5,000 miles or 6 months) if you drive in …
What Is the Hood in a Car? The hood is the hinged outer panel that covers a vehicle’s engine bay—typically at the front—providing protection and service access; in British and many Commonwealth markets it’s commonly called the “bonnet.” Beyond covering the engine (or front trunk in many EVs), the hood integrates safety mechanisms, seals for …
What It Costs to Replace an O2 (Oxygen) Sensor in 2025 Expect to pay about $200 to $450 for a single oxygen sensor replacement at a typical U.S. shop, with parts usually $80 to $300 and labor $90 to $180. Upstream wideband/air-fuel (A/F) sensors often run higher ($250 to $600 installed), and luxury or European …
Who was the last Formula One driver killed? Jules Bianchi was the last Formula One driver to die as a result of injuries sustained in an F1 race, passing away on 17 July 2015 after his crash at the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix. He suffered a severe head injury when he collided with a recovery …
What Does “DOHC” Mean in an Engine? DOHC stands for Dual (or Double) Overhead Camshaft, describing an engine design that uses two camshafts per cylinder bank mounted in the cylinder head—typically one to operate the intake valves and one for the exhaust valves. In practical terms, a DOHC layout improves airflow and control of valve …
What cars have self-inflating tires? Today, virtually no mainstream passenger cars come from the factory with true self-inflating (central tire inflation) systems; the notable exception among light vehicles was the AM General Hummer H1, while the technology remains common on military and heavy off-road trucks. Many modern SUVs and EVs offer onboard air compressors or …
What a Muffler Does and Why It Matters A muffler reduces the noise produced by an internal combustion engine’s exhaust and helps tune the sound while managing exhaust flow; it works by canceling and absorbing pressure waves using chambers, perforated tubes, and sound-dampening materials. In practical terms, the muffler makes vehicles quieter and more compliant …
What happens when an automatic gearbox fails When an automatic gearbox fails, the car may lose drive, get stuck in a single gear (limp mode), slip during acceleration, or refuse to shift, often accompanied by warning lights and unusual noises. In practical terms, that means compromised acceleration, limited speeds, and potential safety risks, typically requiring …
Can You Replace Just Two Tires on a 4‑Wheel‑Drive Vehicle? Yes, but only under strict conditions. On most full-time AWD systems, replacing all four tires (or shaving the new pair to match the worn pair) is recommended to avoid drivetrain damage. On part-time 4WD trucks driven mainly in 2H, you can usually replace two, but …
Who has the right of way when two lanes merge? Generally, the vehicle already in the continuing lane has the right of way, and the driver who is changing lanes to merge must yield. Where both lanes narrow into one at a signed taper (common in work zones), many regions use a “zipper merge” approach …
What it costs to replace a brake disc (rotor) in 2025 Expect to pay about $150–$350 per disc on a typical passenger car in the U.S., though most shops replace brake discs in pairs per axle, bringing the common out‑the‑door total to $300–$700 for two rotors and often new pads. Prices vary by vehicle type, …
Can you skip gears in a sequential transmission? Generally, no—you cannot skip gears in a true mechanical sequential transmission; you must pass through each gear one step at a time. From the rider’s or driver’s perspective, however, some modern electronically controlled systems (especially dual-clutch transmissions) can execute rapid multi-gear changes when you hold a paddle …
Is an air cooler better than an AC? It depends on your climate, space, and priorities. In hot, dry conditions and open or semi-outdoor areas, an air cooler can be better—far cheaper to buy and run while delivering noticeable comfort if humidity stays low. In humid climates or sealed rooms, an air conditioner (AC) is …
The #1 Most Reliable Luxury SUV in 2025 The Lexus RX is the most reliable luxury SUV right now, based on the convergence of major reliability studies and owner data through 2024–2025. It combines a long-running track record for trouble-free ownership with conservative engineering and widely proven hybrid powertrains, placing it ahead of most rivals …
How to Go Through a Car Wash in an Automatic Car Put the car in the right gear for the wash type (usually Neutral for conveyor tunnels, Park or Neutral as posted for in-bay machines), turn off auto features that could activate (wipers, Auto Hold, automatic braking), keep windows and mirrors secured, stay off the …
Which iconic Ford car was first released in the 1960s? The Ford Mustang. Debuting on April 17, 1964, at the New York World’s Fair as a 1965 model (with early “1964½” production), the Mustang quickly became a cultural touchstone, defining the “pony car” segment and reshaping American automotive design and marketing. How the Mustang made …
What Is the Purpose of a Radiator? A radiator’s purpose is to transfer heat from a hot fluid to the surrounding air to control temperature. In vehicles, it prevents engine overheating by shedding waste heat from the coolant; in buildings, it releases heat from hot water or steam to warm rooms. More broadly, radiators are …
When Car Tires Went Tubeless: The Mid‑1950s Turning Point Car tires went broadly tubeless in the early to mid‑1950s: B.F. Goodrich’s successful tubeless design was patented in 1952, and by the 1955 model year most new American passenger cars were shipped with tubeless tires as standard equipment; global adoption followed through the late 1950s and …