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 It Legal to Distill Alcohol in the United States? Yes, but not at home for drinking: distilling beverage alcohol in the U.S. without a federal permit is illegal, even if it’s for personal use and not sold. You can legally distill spirits only with the proper federal and state licenses (for a commercial distillery) …
What Happened to the AirCar After Shark Tank There has been no company or product named “AirCar” that pitched on ABC’s Shark Tank through the latest aired seasons, so nothing happened to an “AirCar” after Shark Tank. If you’re thinking of the well‑publicized flying car prototypes often called “AirCar,” those were developed outside the show, …
What’s the Most Popular Car in Italy? The Fiat Panda is the most popular car in Italy, consistently topping new-car registrations in recent years — including full-year 2024 — and maintaining its lead in early 2025 monthly tallies. In the Italian context, “most popular” is typically measured by the best-selling model in annual registrations, and …
What Are Crumple Zones? A GCSE Guide Crumple zones are specially engineered sections of a vehicle that deform in a crash to absorb kinetic energy and increase the time over which the collision happens, reducing the force on passengers and improving survival chances. In GCSE Physics, they are a core example of applying the impulse–momentum …
How Fast Can a Turbo Spin? Understanding Maximum Turbocharger RPM Most automotive turbochargers operate in the 100,000–200,000 rpm range, and the smallest high-performance units can approach roughly 300,000 rpm; the actual maximum rpm is model-specific and set by the manufacturer’s speed limit. In practice, “maximum rpm” is the safe shaft speed at which a turbo’s …
How Much Does It Cost to Replace an Automatic Transmission? For most U.S. drivers, replacing an automatic transmission typically costs $3,000 to $8,000 installed, depending on the vehicle and the type of replacement unit. Remanufactured or rebuilt transmissions generally land in the $3,800 to $9,500 total range; a brand-new OEM unit can push $6,000 to …
How Much Is a Clutch for a Car? In 2025, a typical clutch replacement for a mainstream car in the U.S. costs about $900 to $2,500 installed; if the flywheel also needs replacement, expect $1,400 to $3,500. Performance, luxury, or difficult-to-service models can reach $2,000 to $5,000. Prices vary by vehicle, parts quality, drivetrain layout, …
How Hard Do You Have to Hit for Airbags to Deploy? Airbags generally deploy when the vehicle experiences a rapid change in speed (delta‑V) equivalent to hitting a rigid barrier at about 12–16 mph for frontal airbags, and around 7–10 mph for side torso airbags, with curtain airbags firing in certain side impacts or when …
What Happens If the Thermostat Is Removed? Removing a thermostat generally eliminates temperature control, which can cause systems to either stop working or run uncontrollably—leading to inefficiency, damage, and safety risks. In vehicles, taking out the engine thermostat can cause poor warm-up, erratic temperatures, and even overheating; in homes, removing a wall thermostat usually leaves …
What car was popular in 1960? In 1960, several cars stood out: in the United States, the Chevrolet Impala was among the top sellers, the new Ford Falcon became a breakout compact hit, and globally the Volkswagen Beetle was hugely popular; in the UK, the newly launched BMC Mini captured the public’s imagination. Below, we …
How Many Wheels Are Made Each Year? Roughly 3 to 5 billion wheels are manufactured worldwide each year, depending on what you count as a “wheel” and which product categories you include. At the very least, industries produce well over 2 billion pneumatic tires annually; adding metal rims for new vehicles, bicycle and motorcycle wheels, …
What “5.0 liter” Really Means It denotes a volume of five liters; in cars, a “5.0-liter engine” means the engine’s total displacement is about 5,000 cubic centimeters. In everyday contexts, 5.0 liters is simply a capacity measure (like a 5-liter water jug), while in automotive language it describes the combined swept volume of all cylinders …
Does air suspension run out of air? In normal operation, no: automotive air suspension systems don’t “run out of air” because an onboard compressor continually replenishes and regulates pressure. However, they can lose air—and ride height—if there’s a leak, a failing compressor or valve, a saturated dryer in cold weather, or after long periods parked, …
What Brake Fluid Is Used For Brake fluid is used to transmit force within a vehicle’s hydraulic braking system so the pressure from your foot on the pedal becomes clamping force at the wheels; it also lubricates moving parts, resists heat, and protects against corrosion, enabling modern safety features like ABS and ESC to work …
How Much Does a Flatbed Tow Cost in 2025? In most of the United States, a standard light‑duty flatbed tow typically costs $95–$150 for the hookup plus $3–$7 per mile, putting a 10‑mile tow around $150–$225 and a 50‑mile tow around $275–$475; in high‑cost metros or after‑hours, expect $150–$250 to hook up and $5–$10 per …
Symptoms of a Bad Fuel Injector Common symptoms of a bad fuel injector include rough idle, misfires, hard or extended starting, loss of power, poor fuel economy, a check-engine light (often with misfire or injector-circuit codes), fuel odors, black smoke from the exhaust, ticking noises from the engine bay, and visible fuel leaks. Fuel injectors …
Pontiac’s 1970 Model Lineup In 1970, Pontiac’s U.S. lineup comprised full-size Catalina, Executive, and Bonneville; midsize Tempest (including the mid-year T‑37), LeMans, and GTO (with The Judge option); the all-new second-generation Firebird range (Base, Esprit, Formula 400, Trans Am); and the Grand Prix (Model J and SJ). Station wagons were sold under each series’ banner …
Is Your Oxygen Sensor Good or Bad? What to Check Before You Replace If the check engine light is on and your scan tool shows the upstream oxygen sensor doesn’t switch rapidly once the engine is warm—or the downstream sensor mirrors the upstream signal—your oxygen sensor may be failing; confirm with live data, fuel-trim behavior, …
Who Is the Greatest NASCAR Driver of All Time? There is no single, universally accepted answer, but the conversation overwhelmingly centers on Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, and Jimmie Johnson. Among many modern analysts, Jimmie Johnson is increasingly cited as the top choice thanks to seven championships that include an unprecedented five in a row in …
Symptoms of a Failing Thermostat Common signs include erratic temperature control: in vehicles, slow warm-up, overheating, fluctuating gauge readings, weak cabin heat, and coolant leaks; in home HVAC systems, rooms not reaching set temperature, short cycling or continuous running, incorrect display readings, and unresponsive controls. These clues often indicate the thermostat is stuck, misreading temperature, …
DOHC Engine, Explained A DOHC engine—short for Dual Overhead Camshaft—is a valvetrain design that uses two camshafts per cylinder bank (one for intake valves, one for exhaust), typically enabling four valves per cylinder for better airflow, higher RPM capability, and improved efficiency compared with older designs. It’s the dominant architecture in modern cars and many …
What type of engine is used in cars? Most cars still use four-stroke internal combustion engines—primarily gasoline (spark-ignition) or, less commonly today, diesel (compression-ignition). However, a fast-growing share of the market uses electrified powertrains: hybrids combine an engine with one or more electric motors, while battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell cars use electric motors only and …
What Is a Transmission in a Car? A car’s transmission is the system that manages power from the engine and delivers it to the wheels through different gear ratios, allowing the vehicle to start, accelerate, cruise efficiently, and reverse. In practical terms, it matches engine speed and torque to road speed so the car can …
Is It Worth Fixing a Rack-and-Pinion Steering System? In most cases, yes—fixing or replacing a failing rack-and-pinion is worth it if the vehicle is otherwise sound, because steering is safety‑critical and typical 2025 repair costs range from about $900 to $2,000 for hydraulic systems and $1,700 to $4,500 for electronic power steering (EPS). The decision …
What was the best-selling car in 1965? It depends on the market: worldwide, the Volkswagen Beetle is widely credited as the top-selling model in 1965; in the United States, the Chevrolet Impala led the charts and set a still-notable sales record for a single nameplate family; and in the United Kingdom, the BMC 1100 (sold …
What Is CCC on an RV? CCC on an RV stands for Cargo Carrying Capacity—the maximum weight you can safely add to the RV without exceeding its rated limits. On towable RVs this is labeled as CCC; on motorized RVs the modern label typically reads OCCC (Occupant and Cargo Carrying Capacity). Both figures represent how …
Do air brakes run out of air? They can lose pressure, but the systems are designed to fail safe: on trucks and buses, low air pressure causes powerful spring brakes to apply; on trains, a loss of air automatically applies the brakes. Under normal operation, an engine-driven compressor continually replenishes the air supply, so the …
Does a Cold Air Intake Make You Faster? In most modern cars, a cold air intake makes you only a little faster—typically adding 0–5 horsepower on a naturally aspirated engine (about 0–2%), which translates to negligible to roughly 0.0–0.2 seconds in 0–60 mph times; on turbocharged engines, especially with a proper tune, gains can be …
What Is the Most Harmful Pollutant Emitted by Vehicles? Fine particulate matter (PM2.5)—especially soot/black carbon and ultrafine particles—is the most harmful vehicle-related pollutant for human health; by climate impact, carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most consequential. PM2.5 penetrates deep into the lungs and bloodstream, driving heart disease, stroke, lung disease, and other systemic effects, and …
How Gas Stations Keep Fuels Separate — And What Really Comes Out of the Pump Gas stations don’t “separate” gasoline at the pump; they keep different fuels physically isolated in separate underground tanks and dedicated piping, then meter or blend them as needed. Regular and premium gasoline are stored separately, midgrade is typically blended on …