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.
What Is the Name of the Car in ZZ Top? The car is called the Eliminator—a customized 1933 Ford three‑window coupe that became ZZ Top’s signature hot rod in the early MTV era. It’s the bright-red coupe featured on the cover of the band’s 1983 album “Eliminator” and in several of their most famous music …
What happens when a car fuse box goes bad When a car’s fuse box goes bad, you’ll typically see multiple electrical problems at once—intermittent or complete loss of power to lights, wipers, windows, HVAC, infotainment, or the fuel pump; fuses that repeatedly blow or appear heat-damaged; unexplained battery drain; warning lights; and, in severe cases, …
What You Can Put in Your Gas Tank to Improve Mileage—And What You Shouldn’t If you’re hoping for a pour-in miracle, there isn’t one: the best you can put in your gas tank for better mileage is quality gasoline that meets Top Tier detergent standards, the manufacturer-recommended octane, and—if deposits are suspected—an occasional PEA-based fuel …
How to Raise the Height of a Car You can raise a car by installing a suspension lift (spacers, taller springs/coilovers, torsion or leaf adjustments), fitting slightly taller tires, or—on body-on-frame trucks/SUVs—adding a body lift; the safest, most predictable route is a modest, high-quality suspension lift paired with professional alignment and checks for geometry, brake-line …
Why combustion engines are being banned Governments aren’t banning existing cars; they’re setting deadlines to stop sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles—mainly to cut climate pollution, improve air quality, boost energy security, and accelerate a shift to cleaner technologies. In practice, most policies phase in targets through the 2030s, with some exemptions and national …
What Is the Least Common Engine Placement? The least common engine placement in modern production cars is the rear-engine layout, where the engine sits behind the rear axle. While front-engine designs dominate and mid-engine layouts serve performance niches, true rear-engine vehicles have become exceedingly rare—largely surviving in a handful of specialty models, most notably the …
What “2.4 L 4‑cylinder” Means in a Car It denotes an internal‑combustion engine with a total displacement of roughly 2.4 liters spread across four cylinders—typically an inline‑four. In practical terms, that’s about 2,400 cubic centimeters (cc) or 146.5 cubic inches of swept volume; it signals engine size and layout, not a specific horsepower or fuel‑economy …
How Gear Ratio Is Calculated Gear ratio is calculated by counting teeth: divide the number of teeth on the driven gear by the number of teeth on the driving gear. For multi-stage gear trains, multiply the ratio of each stage. Using this convention, output speed equals input speed divided by the gear ratio, and output …
What is the purpose of air brakes Air brakes are designed to safely slow, stop, and hold heavy vehicles and trains by using compressed air to actuate the brakes, with a built-in fail-safe that applies the brakes if air pressure is lost. In everyday use, they enable controlled service braking, emergency stopping, and secure parking—especially …
The Top 3 Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs: A Global Overview The top three outlaw motorcycle clubs, based on size, international footprint, and repeated mention in law-enforcement assessments, are the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, the Bandidos Motorcycle Club, and the Outlaws Motorcycle Club. These groups—often cited by agencies such as the U.S. Department of Justice and Europol—have …
What the Brake Caliper Does—and Why It Matters The brake caliper houses pistons and brake pads and uses hydraulic pressure to clamp those pads against the spinning brake rotor, creating friction that slows and stops the wheel. In effect, it converts your foot pressure on the pedal into powerful, controlled clamping force, working with systems …
What are the four types of motors? The four fundamental types of electric motors are: brushed DC motors, brushless DC (BLDC) motors, induction (asynchronous) AC motors, and synchronous AC motors. These categories cover the core electromagnetic machines used across industry and consumer products. While stepper and servo motors are widely referenced, they are better understood …
Do Modern Cars Use Drive‑By‑Wire? Yes—most modern cars now rely on multiple drive‑by‑wire systems. Throttle‑by‑wire and shift‑by‑wire are essentially universal, electronic parking brakes are widespread, brake‑by‑wire is common (especially in hybrids and EVs), and steering is electronically assisted everywhere, though full “steer‑by‑wire” without a mechanical link is still rare and limited to a few models …
Who owns the original ZZ Top Eliminator car? Billy F. Gibbons owns the original ZZ Top Eliminator car. The iconic red 1933 Ford three-window coupe, immortalized on ZZ Top’s 1983 Eliminator album cover and in the band’s blockbuster 1980s music videos, is part of Gibbons’ personal collection and has been occasionally loaned for museum exhibitions …
How Much Do Street Sweepers Make in California (2025) In California, street sweeper operators typically earn about $22–$35 per hour in base pay ($46,000–$73,000 per year), with unionized municipal roles in major cities often paying $30–$40 per hour ($62,000–$83,000). Private contractors generally fall in the $20–$28 per hour range ($42,000–$58,000). With night-shift premiums and overtime—common …
How to tell if a truck has air brakes You can usually tell a truck has air brakes by a few clear signs: a yellow pull-knob on the dash for the parking brake, dual air-pressure gauges, a loud low-air warning buzzer/light at startup, and visible air tanks and brake chambers (“cans”) along the frame and …
How an Adjustable Timing Light Works An adjustable timing light senses the ignition pulse on a spark-plug lead and deliberately delays its strobe by a user-selected number of crankshaft degrees, so the engine’s timing mark appears at “0” when the actual advance equals the setting. In practical terms, you dial in the expected advance (for …
What Ignites the Spark Plug? The spark plug is fired by a high‑voltage pulse generated by the ignition coil, which is timed and triggered by the engine’s control system—typically an electronic control unit (ECU) in modern cars, a distributor in older vehicles, or a magneto in many small engines. That pulse forces a spark to …
Windows Down or Air Conditioning: What’s Better When Driving? It depends on speed and conditions: below roughly 40–45 mph (65–70 km/h), driving with the windows down is usually more efficient; above that, using the air conditioner typically wastes less energy than the added aerodynamic drag from open windows. The better choice also varies with heat, …
Do You Need a Tune After Installing a Cold Air Intake? Usually, no tune is required for a basic, well-designed cold air intake on an otherwise stock vehicle; modern ECUs can typically adapt. However, a tune may be necessary—or strongly recommended—if the intake alters the mass air flow (MAF) signal, you have a turbocharged setup …
How long does it take to be a NASCAR driver? Most drivers need 6–10 years of steady progression to reach a NASCAR national series, and 8–15 years to debut in the NASCAR Cup Series; however, you can qualify to race in a local NASCAR-sanctioned weekly series in as little as 1–3 years. The exact timeline …
How a Car Gets a Title A car gets a title when your state’s motor vehicle agency (DMV, MVD, or BMV) issues an ownership document after you submit proof of ownership (such as a Manufacturer’s Certificate/Statement of Origin for new cars or a signed previous title for used cars), verify the odometer reading, provide identification …
How Much Does It Cost to Fix an Intake Camshaft? Expect $150–$350 to replace an intake camshaft position sensor, $200–$600 for an intake VVT/OCV solenoid, $600–$1,500 for an intake cam phaser on many vehicles, $900–$2,500 for timing-chain-related fixes, and $1,500–$4,000+ for an actual intake camshaft replacement. Prices vary by make/model, labor rates, and the exact …
What Is an Oil Drain? An oil drain is the act of removing used lubricating oil from an engine, gearbox, or machine, as well as the hardware that enables it—most commonly the drain plug or valve on an oil pan. In automotive contexts, it usually means loosening the oil drain plug to let old engine …
Disadvantages of Automatic Cars: What Drivers Should Know in 2025 Automatic cars can cost more to buy and repair, sometimes offer less driver control and engagement, may pose reliability risks depending on the transmission type (especially some CVT and dual‑clutch units), and have practical limitations such as flat‑towing restrictions, dependence on battery/electronics, and reduced engine‑braking …
The Disadvantages of Having a Salvage Title A salvage title typically signals significant past damage and brings major downsides: steeply reduced resale value (often 20–40% or more), limited insurance and financing options, possible registration and inspection hurdles, uncertain safety and reliability, likely warranty exclusions, and difficult resale or trade-in prospects. In practical terms, a salvage …
When Catalytic Converters Typically Fail—and Why Mileage Isn’t the Whole Story Most factory catalytic converters last about 100,000 to 150,000 miles, and many survive past 200,000 miles if the engine is healthy; early failures (as soon as 30,000 to 60,000 miles) are usually tied to underlying engine problems or cheap aftermarket units. In the U.S., …
What Is the #1 Safest Car? There isn’t a single “#1 safest car” across all drivers and markets. Independent safety bodies don’t crown an overall global winner; instead, they rate vehicles by rigorous tests and vehicle class. The safest choice is a model that earns top scores from the leading organization in your region (for …
Do you really need to change synthetic oil every 6 months? Usually, no. Most modern cars on full synthetic oil can safely go up to the automaker’s oil-life monitor or about 7,500–10,000 miles and 12 months—whichever comes first—under normal driving. A 6‑month interval still applies if your owner’s manual says so or if you drive …
How Gas Pumps Know When to Stop Gas pump nozzles stop automatically using a small sensing hole near the tip that’s connected to a Venturi-driven vacuum inside the nozzle; when rising fuel or foam blocks that hole, the vacuum spikes and triggers a diaphragm that snaps the valve shut. This simple, largely mechanical system is …