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 car screams luxury? Rolls-Royce still defines the benchmark: the Phantom remains the car that most unmistakably “screams luxury,” with the all-electric Spectre now joining it as the quiet, opulent statement for a new era. For those seeking similarly conspicuous grandeur, the Mercedes‑Maybach S-Class, Bentley Flying Spur and Bentayga EWB, Range Rover SV, and Rolls‑Royce …
The 12-Second Rule for Motorcycles: Looking Ahead to Stay Alive The 12‑second rule for motorcycles is a visual scanning guideline: always scan the road ahead to where you will be in about 12 seconds so you can spot hazards early, choose a safe path, and buy time to react. This rule, widely taught in rider …
The Most Common Cause of Car Fires The most common cause of car fires is mechanical failure or malfunction—especially electrical faults and fluid leaks that ignite on hot engine or exhaust surfaces. Fire incident data consistently show that while crashes account for a large share of fatal vehicle fires, the typical vehicle fire starts because …
Disc Brake Assembly: Every Part That Makes Stopping Power Possible The key parts of a disc brake assembly are the rotor (disc), caliper (with pistons), brake pads, caliper bracket, guide/slide hardware, seals and dust boots, anti-rattle/abutment clips, pad shims, bleeder screw, and the brake hose connection; many systems also include a splash shield and parking-brake …
Why the Rotary (Wankel) Engine Was “Banned” — And Where It Still Lives On The rotary engine was not universally banned; rather, it was excluded or tightly restricted in several top racing series for rules and parity reasons, while on public roads it faded mainly because it struggled to meet modern emissions and fuel-economy standards. …
Can You Still Drive a Car With a Faulty Oxygen Sensor? Yes, you can usually drive for a short time with a faulty oxygen (O2) sensor, but it’s not advisable. Expect worse fuel economy, higher emissions, and the risk of damaging your catalytic converter if you ignore it—especially if the upstream (pre-catalytic) sensor has failed. …
Indiana’s new turn-signal rule: how far you must signal before a turn or lane change Indiana now requires drivers to signal continuously for at least 200 feet before turning or changing lanes, and for at least 300 feet where the posted speed limit is 50 mph or higher. The clarified rule, codified in Indiana Code …
Does Higher Octane Gas Make a Difference? Yes, but only in the right engine or situation. Higher octane fuel primarily helps engines that are designed to need it—typically high-compression, turbocharged, or performance engines—and it can prevent knocking under heavy loads or extreme heat. For most vehicles that are engineered for regular 87-octane gasoline, using a …
Can I Change Car Oil Myself? Yes—if your vehicle uses a conventional internal combustion engine and you have safe access, the right oil and filter, and somewhere to dispose of used oil legally, you can change your car’s oil yourself. For many owners, DIY oil changes are practical and cost-effective, but you must follow the …
How to Check If Your Alternator Is Working The quickest way to check an alternator at home is with a digital multimeter: with the engine off, the battery should read about 12.4–12.7 V; with the engine running it should rise to roughly 13.8–14.7 V (often 13.5–14.8 V, higher when cold). Turn on headlights, rear defroster, …
The Most Popular Car Modification: Why Window Tinting Leads the Pack Window tinting is widely considered the most popular car modification, thanks to its low cost, quick installation, and everyday benefits like heat reduction, UV protection, privacy, and aesthetics. By sheer number of installations, tint typically outpaces other mods; by total spending, aftermarket wheels and …
What Is the Easiest Brake Bleed Method? For most cars and light trucks, the easiest and most reliable method for a solo DIYer is pressure bleeding at the master cylinder using a quality pressure bleeder set to about 10–15 psi, following the vehicle’s specified bleed sequence. It’s clean, fast, and consistent. Gravity bleeding is the …
How Brake Lights Are Wired In most vehicles, a fused 12-volt supply feeds a switch on the brake pedal; when the pedal is pressed, that switch sends power to the rear brake lamps and the center high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL), which illuminate and return to ground through the chassis. On vehicles that combine brake and …
How many drivers died at Le Mans? Twenty-two drivers have died in accidents connected to the 24 Hours of Le Mans since the race began in 1923. That figure covers fatalities during the race itself as well as official practice and qualifying sessions. The most recent driver to lose his life at the event was …
How much horsepower does a 2.4-liter engine have? A 2.4-liter engine can produce anything from about 140 to well over 350 horsepower, depending on its design and tuning. Most modern naturally aspirated (non‑turbo) 2.4L gasoline engines fall roughly in the 160–200 hp range, while turbocharged versions commonly make about 230–330 hp; hybrid systems pairing a …
When You Should Use a Weight Distribution Hitch You should use a weight distribution hitch (WDH) when your trailer is heavy enough to unload your tow vehicle’s front axle or cause rear sag—commonly when the trailer exceeds about 50% of the tow vehicle’s weight, when the tongue weight approaches or exceeds your hitch’s “weight-carrying” rating, …
What Is “Granny Clutching”? Understanding the Phrase, Its Origins, and What People Usually Mean It isn’t a standard term: “granny clutching” is almost certainly a mistaken mash‑up of “granny shifting” and “double‑clutching” from car culture, popularized by The Fast and the Furious (2001). In everyday use, if someone says “granny clutching,” they likely mean ordinary, …
What Is an Odometer? (Class 7 Explanation) An odometer is a device in a vehicle that measures the total distance it has traveled, usually shown in kilometers (km) or miles. In Class 7 science, you learn that the odometer helps calculate distance, which can then be used with time to find speed. Definition and Placement …
DOHC vs. SOHC: Which Engine Layout Is Better? It depends on what you value: DOHC (dual overhead cam) designs typically deliver better high‑rpm breathing, power potential, and fine‑tuned efficiency/emissions control, while SOHC (single overhead cam) engines favor simplicity, lower cost, and compact packaging; in modern cars, DOHC is more common because it pairs well with …
What Throttle Control Does Throttle control regulates how much power an engine or motor produces by modulating the flow of energy—air and fuel in combustion engines, electrical power in electric motors—thereby controlling speed, acceleration, and, in some cases, braking behavior. It’s the primary way drivers, pilots, boaters, and operators translate pedal, lever, or stick inputs …
What Does 1000 Horsepower Mean? It means the machine can produce power at a rate of about 746 kilowatts. In plain terms, 1000 horsepower (hp) is a measure of how quickly an engine or motor can do work—how fast it can convert energy into motion—not how hard it “pushes” (that’s torque) and not a guarantee …
What Controls the Fuel Injectors? The fuel injectors are controlled by the engine’s computer—variously called the ECU, ECM, or PCM—which opens and closes each injector electrically to meter fuel; on some diesel engines a dedicated Fuel Injection Control Module (FICM) or Electronic Driver Unit (EDU) handles the high-energy actuation. In practice, the computer calculates injector …
How Tire Pressure Sensors Know Which Tire Is Low Most modern cars determine the low tire either by reading wireless “direct” TPMS sensors inside each wheel—each with a unique ID that the car maps to a corner—or by “indirect” TPMS that analyzes wheel-speed data to infer a pressure loss and sometimes the specific wheel. In …
What Is the Inside of a Muffler Called? The inside of a muffler is commonly called the baffle or baffle assembly; in industry it’s also referred to as the muffler core or muffler internals, which may include chambers, perforated tubes, and sound-absorbing packing that reduce exhaust noise and tune sound. Understanding the Term In everyday …
How to Start a Car with a Bad Alternator You can often start a car with a bad alternator by fully charging the battery, jump‑starting from another vehicle or a jump pack, or push‑starting a manual transmission, then immediately driving a short distance with all accessories off to reach a repair shop. Expect limited run …
Is a V8 Engine Better Than a V6? It depends on what you value: a V8 generally delivers more effortless power, a traditional sound, and strong towing at the expense of fuel economy and weight, while a modern V6—especially turbocharged or hybrid-assisted—often matches or beats V8 performance with better efficiency, lower emissions, and a lower …
How were cars in the 1960s? They were stylish, powerful, and increasingly popular, but comparatively unsafe, polluting, and maintenance-heavy by modern standards. The 1960s marked a pivotal decade in which flamboyant design, rapid performance gains, and mass ownership collided with the first serious pushes for safety and emissions regulation, creating an era that shaped how …
What brand of engine does NASCAR use? NASCAR does not use a single engine brand. As of 2025, teams in its top national series run manufacturer-built, NASCAR-regulated 5.86-liter V8 engines from Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota—specifically the Chevrolet R07, Ford FR9, and Toyota TRD V8. These purpose-built racing engines follow the same rulebook but are developed …
What Is the Suspension System in a Car? The suspension system is the network of components that connects a car’s wheels to its body, controlling motion, absorbing bumps, and keeping tires in firm contact with the road for safety, comfort, and handling. In practice, it manages how the vehicle rides over rough surfaces, how it …
What happens if drive-by-wire fails? In modern cars, a drive-by-wire fault almost never means instant loss of control. The vehicle typically drops into a fail-safe mode: engine power is limited, braking reverts to a mechanical/hydraulic fallback or uses backup power to maintain braking, and steering either engages a mechanical link or relies on redundant electric …