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.
Is Ken Miles the best racer of all time? No. Ken Miles is celebrated as an exceptional test driver and a top-tier endurance racer whose development work was pivotal to Ford’s GT40 program, but most historians do not rank him as the greatest racer ever. By competitive record, all-time status typically goes to drivers with …
What Is a Transfer Drawing? A transfer drawing is a technique for copying or relocating an image from one surface to another by using an intermediary method—such as graphite, carbon paper, pounced powder, solvents, or specialized transfer sheets—so the design appears on the target surface for further work. Artists, designers, printmakers, and craft practitioners use …
Can I drive my car with the airbag light on? Yes, you can physically drive with the airbag (SRS) light on, but it’s unsafe and not recommended: the system may be partially or fully disabled, meaning airbags and seatbelt pretensioners might not deploy in a crash. In many places it’s not illegal to drive, but …
What is a CO2 drag car? A CO2 drag car is a small, tethered model racer propelled by the rapid release of compressed carbon dioxide from a disposable cartridge, typically sprinting down a straight track of about 20 meters in roughly a second. Used widely in school STEM projects and competitions, these cars let students …
How Solar-Powered Cars Work at Night They run on stored electricity, not sunlight. At night, a solar-assisted car drives like a conventional electric vehicle, drawing energy from a battery that was charged earlier—partly by its solar panels during daylight and often by plugging into the grid. Regenerative braking can add a little extra, but the …
The Three Rules for Using ABS Brakes The three rules for using anti-lock braking systems (ABS) are: Stomp, Stay, Steer — press the brake firmly, keep steady pressure without pumping, and steer where you want to go. These steps maximize stopping power while preserving steering control during hard braking, and they reflect guidance widely promoted …
What’s the real problem with auto start‑stop in modern cars? Auto start-stop’s core problem is a trade-off: it delivers small but real fuel and CO2 reductions in city driving while adding complexity, occasional drivability annoyances, and higher demands on the 12‑volt electrical system; most engine-wear fears are overstated in modern designs, but battery-related hiccups and …
Is it legal to lift your car? Generally yes, you can legally lift a car or truck—but only within the limits set by your jurisdiction. Most places regulate bumper and headlight height, frame height, tire coverage, and safety equipment; some also ban extreme front-high “squat” stances. Check your local laws, inspection requirements, and insurance terms …
Oil Change Intervals: 5,000 km or 10,000 km? If your car is relatively new, uses full-synthetic oil, and you drive in normal conditions, changing oil around 10,000 km (or when the vehicle’s oil-life monitor calls for it) is typically appropriate; if you drive in severe conditions, have an older engine, or use conventional oil, aim …
What Is the Rarest “Abs”? It Depends: A 10-Pack for Muscles, AB-Negative for Blood The rarest “abs” depends on what you mean: for abdominal muscles, a true 10‑pack is the rarest visible configuration; for blood types, AB‑negative is the rarest ABO/Rh group worldwide. Below, we explain both interpretations, how each arises, and why the distinction …
What 30K, 60K, 90K Service Means—and What’s Included 30K/60K/90K service refers to scheduled vehicle maintenance performed around 30,000, 60,000, and 90,000 miles (about 48,000/96,000/144,000 km). These milestone services bundle inspections and part replacements to keep the car reliable, safe, and within warranty guidelines, though exact items vary by make, model, engine, transmission, and driving conditions. …
How Much Does Crash Testing Cost? Depending on scope, a single crash test can range from about $5,000 to well over $500,000, with full-scale vehicle crashes commonly landing between $150,000 and $500,000+ per test (not including the cost of the vehicle). A full validation program for a new car—covering multiple crashes, sleds, component tests, and …
Who Are the “Big 4” Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs? The term “Big 4” most commonly refers to Hells Angels MC, Outlaws MC (American Outlaws Association), Bandidos MC, and Pagans MC. Depending on the source, especially in some U.S. law-enforcement reporting, Mongols MC is sometimes substituted for the Pagans or listed alongside them, leading to a “Big …
What engine is Toyota using in NASCAR? Toyota runs a TRD-built 5.86-liter (358 cu in) naturally aspirated pushrod V8 in the NASCAR Cup Series—commonly referred to as the Toyota TRD Camry V8—tuned to NASCAR’s current horsepower rules (about 670 hp at most tracks and 510 hp at superspeedways). In the Xfinity Series, Toyota teams also …
What Is the Most Common Injury From a Seat Belt? The most common seat-belt–related injury is superficial bruising and abrasions—often called the “seat belt sign”—across the shoulder and chest, and sometimes the abdomen. These marks are usually minor and self-limiting, but in a minority of cases they can signal deeper injury, so they should not …
Bad Rear Differential Symptoms: How to Spot Trouble, What It Means, and When to Stop Driving Common symptoms of a failing rear differential include a howling or whining noise that changes with speed or throttle, a clunk during takeoff or gear changes, vibration from the rear under acceleration, chatter or shudder on low‑speed turns (especially …
Who Started Lowriders? Tracing the Roots of an American Car Culture Lowriding began in Mexican American (Chicano) communities—especially in East Los Angeles and across the U.S. Southwest—in the 1940s and 1950s. African American enthusiasts and clubs became deeply involved from the 1960s onward, significantly shaping the style, music, competition, and national visibility of the scene. …
Can a tire sidewall be repaired? For passenger and light-truck road tires, the safe, industry-accepted answer is no—sidewall punctures, cuts, or bubbles cannot be reliably repaired and the tire should be replaced. Cosmetic scuffs that don’t cut into the rubber deeply enough to expose cords are typically safe to keep using, but any structural injury …
What Happens If a Hybrid Battery Dies If a hybrid’s high‑voltage battery fails completely, most hybrids will either refuse to start or enter a brief “limp” mode before shutting down; if the battery is merely low on charge, the engine will typically keep you moving and recharge it. The exact outcome depends on the type …
How Marble Races Work: The Essential Rules A marble race generally follows a simple core: marbles start from a fixed gate or release point, stay within the course or lanes, receive no outside help, and the winner is either the first to cross the finish or the fastest by time. Beyond that, organizers define course …
How a Voltmeter Works: Principle and Practice A voltmeter works by measuring the potential difference between two points while drawing as little current as possible; analog meters do this by letting a tiny current pass through a high series resistance and inferring voltage from the resulting deflection, while digital meters buffer the signal with a …
Where to Find Your Odometer Number Your odometer number is displayed on your vehicle’s instrument cluster—typically behind the steering wheel—labeled “ODO,” “Odometer,” or shown as the total miles or kilometers. On most modern vehicles, turn the ignition to the ON position (or press the start button without the brake) to wake the digital display; then …
What Size Socket Do You Need for an Oil Drain Plug? There isn’t a single universal size: most passenger vehicles use a 13 mm to 19 mm metric socket—14 mm, 15 mm, and 17 mm are the most common—while some American models use 1/2 in to 3/4 in sockets. Certain European makes and newer plastic …
How to Calculate Exact Towing Capacity The practical way to calculate exact towing capacity is to start with the vehicle manufacturer’s tow rating, then limit it by the lowest-rated component and by your actual weights. In short: determine GCWR, weigh your loaded vehicle, compute GCWR minus actual vehicle weight, and verify you do not exceed …
Do you push in or out air brakes? On heavy trucks and buses with air brakes, you pull the parking-brake knob out to set the brakes and push it in to release them. The yellow knob controls the vehicle’s spring (parking) brakes; if towing a trailer, the red knob works the same way for the …
Who is the most famous NASCAR driver? Dale Earnhardt is widely regarded as the most famous NASCAR driver, thanks to his seven championships, intimidating driving style, and lasting cultural impact; Richard Petty’s decades-long prominence and Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s unparalleled fan popularity also make them leading answers, depending on how fame is defined. The question blends …
Where to Refill “Water” in Your Car You typically only add “water” in two places: the windshield washer reservoir and, if necessary, the engine’s coolant expansion tank—though you should use proper washer fluid and premixed coolant, not plain tap water. Below is a clear guide to finding the right fill points, what to use, and …
How a Car Motor Works: The Mechanics Behind Internal Combustion and Electric Drive A car motor converts stored energy—gasoline or electricity—into rotational motion that turns the wheels via controlled energy conversion and gearing. In internal combustion engines, fuel is burned to drive pistons; in electric vehicles, electromagnetic fields spin a rotor. Both systems channel torque …
What Anti-Lock Brakes Should Let You Do Anti-lock brakes (ABS) should let you keep steering control while braking hard, helping prevent wheel lockup so you can maneuver around hazards and stop more predictably—especially on wet or dry paved roads. In effect, ABS allows you to “brake and steer” at the same time, reducing the likelihood …
What size tool do I need to change oil? Most cars use a 13–19 mm six‑point socket for the oil drain plug and a 64–76 mm, 14‑flute oil‑filter cap wrench (or a strap/pliers-style filter wrench). Exact sizes vary by make, engine, and whether your vehicle has a spin‑on filter or a cartridge housing, so confirm …