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 the Dodge 2.4 a Good Engine? It depends on which 2.4 you mean. Earlier 2.4-liter Dodge/Chrysler engines can be durable with routine maintenance, while the newer 2.4 “Tigershark” has a mixed record due to well-documented oil-consumption issues that led to a class-action settlement finalized in 2023. In short, the 2.4 can be a solid …
What’s the difference between a freeway and a toll road? A freeway is defined by how it’s built and accessed—fully controlled-access, high-speed, with on/off ramps and no intersections—while a toll road is defined by how you pay to use it—drivers are charged a fee. The two categories can overlap: many toll roads are also freeways, …
How Rotary Engines Work, Step by Step A rotary (Wankel) engine makes power by sweeping a triangular rotor around an oval-like housing to perform intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust in sequence. As the rotor orbits an eccentric (off-center) shaft, three separate chambers change volume and create one power stroke per output-shaft revolution per rotor, delivering …
What happens when an engine goes bad When an engine goes bad, you’ll often see power loss, unusual noises, smoke, and warning lights; keep driving and the failure can escalate quickly into a seized engine or a thrown rod, forcing a costly rebuild or replacement. In most cases, the safest move is to stop driving, …
How to Name Your Motorcycle Pick a name that fits your bike’s personality, your riding style, and a story you’ll enjoy telling; say it out loud, try it on a ride, and keep it if it feels natural. Riders often draw from looks, sound, origin, or memorable trips to find a name that sticks, turning …
How a Torque Converter Works: Turning Engine Power into Smooth Motion A torque converter transfers and multiplies engine torque to an automatic transmission using fluid dynamics between three main elements—pump (impeller), turbine, and stator—then locks up with a clutch at cruise to cut slip and improve efficiency. In practice, it lets the car pull away …
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Camshaft? Expect to pay roughly $1,500–$4,000 to replace a worn or damaged camshaft on most modern cars in the United States, depending on engine layout and access; simpler jobs can fall near $1,200, while complex or performance engines can exceed $5,000. If the problem is only a …
The Correct Order to Hook Up Jumper Cables Connect in this sequence: red clamp to the dead battery’s positive (+) terminal, red clamp to the donor battery’s positive (+), black clamp to the donor battery’s negative (–), and black clamp to an unpainted metal ground on the disabled vehicle (not its negative terminal). Start the …
Which side of the road does China drive on? Mainland China and Taiwan drive on the right; Hong Kong and Macau drive on the left. The split reflects historical and legal differences between jurisdictions, and dedicated road engineering handles the left–right switch at borders and cross-sea links. How the rules break down by region China’s …
What Is the Injection System? An injection system is a mechanism that meters and delivers a substance into a target—such as fuel into an engine, medication into the body, or dependencies into software—under precise, controlled conditions of pressure, timing, and quantity. In practice, it’s most familiar in modern vehicles’ fuel delivery, but the concept spans …
Were Convertibles Popular in the 1990s? Yes—with caveats. Convertibles enjoyed a visible resurgence in the 1990s and became cultural touchstones, but they remained a niche by volume, typically accounting for roughly 1–2% of U.S. light-vehicle sales. The decade saw a wave of new models—led by the Mazda MX‑5 Miata, BMW Z3, Mercedes SLK, and Porsche …
How many kilometers can you go between oil changes with synthetic oil For most modern cars on full synthetic oil, plan on 10,000–15,000 km between changes (or up to 12 months), while some vehicles that use approved “long-life” oils and an oil‑life monitor can safely reach 20,000–30,000 km; always follow your owner’s manual and the …
How Fast Does a Turbo Spin? Most automotive turbochargers spin between roughly 80,000 and 200,000 revolutions per minute (rpm), with small, high-performance units sometimes exceeding 250,000 rpm; heavy-duty and larger-frame turbos typically peak lower, around 80,000–150,000 rpm. The exact spin rate depends on the turbo’s size, design, operating conditions, and application. Understanding Turbocharger Spin Rates …
What Powers the Distributor Cap? A distributor cap isn’t powered on its own; it simply routes high voltage from the ignition coil to each spark plug while the rotor inside is turned by the engine-driven distributor shaft. In other words, the cap is a passive insulator and contact hub: electrical energy comes from the ignition …
How Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) Works PCV uses engine vacuum to draw blow-by gases out of the crankcase, meters them through a valve or calibrated orifice, separates oil mist, and routes the vapors into the intake to be burned—keeping the crankcase under slight vacuum, reducing emissions, and protecting seals and oil. In practice, a fresh-air …
How Much Does It Cost to Remove an Intake Manifold? Expect to pay roughly $250–$900 in labor for intake manifold removal and reinstallation on common vehicles in the U.S., with parts and fluids bringing the typical total to $300–$1,100. On larger, turbocharged, or luxury European engines, the job can run $900–$2,000+ and occasionally exceed $3,000 …
Is Japan Left-Hand Drive? No. Japan is a left-hand traffic country, meaning vehicles drive on the left side of the road and most cars are right-hand drive (steering wheel on the right). While left-hand-drive cars exist—mainly as imports—they are a small minority and not the standard. Understanding the distinction between “left-hand drive” (steering wheel position) …
What’s the difference between a highway, a freeway, and a parkway? A highway is any public road; a freeway is a type of highway with full controlled access and no at-grade intersections; a parkway is a typically landscaped, often scenic corridor that may have limited or partial access and frequently restricts trucks. These labels describe …
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Steering Rack? Expect to pay about $900–$2,500 for a steering rack replacement on most cars in the U.S., including parts, labor, and alignment. Trucks, SUVs, luxury models, and vehicles with electric power steering (EPS) frequently land between $2,000–$4,000+, especially when programming or subframe removal is required. Costs …
The least expensive vehicle to operate in 2025 A conventional bicycle is the least expensive vehicle to operate, with an electric bicycle a close second; among road‑legal passenger cars, a small battery‑electric vehicle charged mostly at home (off‑peak) typically delivers the lowest per‑mile operating costs. What counts as “least expensive” depends on whether you’re tallying …
Can a Car Operate Without a Thermostat? Yes, most cars will start and run without a thermostat, but it’s a bad idea except as a very short-term emergency measure. Removing the thermostat leads to slow warm-up, poor fuel economy, higher emissions, increased engine wear, weak cabin heat, and—paradoxically—possible overheating at speed because coolant no longer …
What a Supercharger Looks Like on an Engine A supercharger typically appears as a belt-driven compressor mounted directly to the engine, easily recognized by a prominent pulley and drive belt, a bulky aluminum housing, and thick intake piping; on many V8s it sits on top like a big metal “box” with a snout and pulley, …
Are brakes on all four wheels of a car? Yes—virtually all modern passenger cars have service brakes on all four wheels, with the front brakes doing most of the stopping. This has been the industry norm for decades and is codified by safety regulations in major markets. Older, pre-1930s vehicles sometimes had rear-only brakes, but …
What Was a Popular Car in the 1930s? The Ford Model A—followed later by Ford’s mass-market V‑8 models—was among the most popular cars of the 1930s, especially in the United States. Introduced in late 1927 and built through 1931, the Model A became a Depression-era staple thanks to its low price, straightforward engineering, and wide …
Can You Still Manually Lock a Door When the Actuator Fails? In most cars, yes—you can still manually lock a door with a bad actuator using the physical key in the door cylinder or the interior lock knob/lever. However, this depends on how the actuator failed, whether your vehicle uses a deadlock/superlock feature, and whether …
What Are the Odds of Dying in a Car Crash Without a Seat Belt? Riding unbelted roughly doubles to triples your odds of dying if you’re in a crash—about 1.8 times higher in passenger cars and up to 2.5 times higher in light trucks and SUVs, according to U.S. federal safety data. In rollovers or …
Is the UK Left-Hand Drive? No. The United Kingdom drives on the left side of the road, and most vehicles are right-hand drive (steering wheel on the right). In other words, the UK is not “left-hand drive” in vehicle terms; it is a left-side-driving country where right-hand-drive cars are standard. Understanding the Terms The phrase …
What happens if a hydrogen car crashes In most crashes, a hydrogen fuel-cell car automatically shuts off its hydrogen flow, contains or safely vents the gas, and behaves much like any modern vehicle; catastrophic explosions are unlikely due to stringent tank design and safety systems. The unique risks are high‑pressure leaks and hard‑to-see jet flames, …
Is Your Car’s Engine Going Bad? Key Signs, Simple Checks, and What to Do Next If your engine is going bad, you’ll typically notice persistent knocking, heavy blue or white exhaust smoke, loss of power, overheating, low oil pressure, metallic glitter in oil, or repeated misfire/overheating warnings. To be sure, confirm with tests like an …
How Much HP Does a Supercharger Add to a V6? On a typical modern V6, a well-matched, intercooled supercharger kit running about 6–8 psi usually adds roughly 80–150 hp at the crank (about a 30–50% gain), while more aggressive setups with higher boost and supporting mods can add 150–250+ hp. The exact increase depends on …