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.
Does a 5,000‑pound trailer need a weight distribution hitch? Often yes, but not always: whether a 5,000-pound trailer needs a weight distribution hitch (WDH) depends on your tow vehicle, tongue weight, hitch ratings, and the type of trailer. Many manufacturers recommend or require a WDH at or above 5,000 pounds or 500 pounds of tongue …
What Was the Popular Car in the 1950s? There wasn’t a single “most popular” car worldwide in the 1950s, but the Volkswagen Beetle stood out globally, while in the United States models like the Chevrolet Bel Air and Ford Fairlane dominated mainstream sales; across Europe, the Morris Minor, Citroën 2CV, and, by the late decade, …
Can a Stirling engine run on any fuel? Yes—within limits. A Stirling engine doesn’t “burn” fuel internally; it runs on heat supplied from outside. That means it can operate on almost any fuel or heat source that can provide sufficient, controllable heat to its hot side, from natural gas and wood to solar and nuclear. …
What Makes a CO2 Car Go Faster A CO2 dragster goes faster when it has a high thrust-to-mass ratio, minimal aerodynamic drag (low CdA), very low rolling and guide-line friction, and precise alignment that prevents energy losses—while staying within competition rules and safety limits. In practice, speed comes from balancing light weight with stiffness, shaping …
Why Britons Drive on the Left Britons drive on the left because centuries-old customs from the age of horseback travel were later written into law—most notably the UK’s Highway Act of 1835—and the rule persisted through imperial influence, infrastructure design, and the high cost of changing sides. The practice originated as a practical way for …
How much does it cost to repair the ABS system? In the U.S., most anti-lock braking system (ABS) repairs cost between $150 and $1,200, depending on the faulty part and vehicle; common jobs include a wheel speed sensor at $150–$350, an ABS control module at $500–$1,200+, and a pump/hydraulic unit at $700–$2,000. A full assembly …
DOHC vs. SOHC: Which Is Better? Neither is universally better: DOHC generally offers higher power potential, cleaner emissions, and more tuning flexibility, while SOHC tends to be lighter, cheaper, and simpler to maintain; the right choice depends on your priorities, from performance to cost and packaging. Here’s how the two designs differ and when each …
How Long Does Full Synthetic Oil Last in Months? For most modern cars, full synthetic oil lasts 6–12 months, with many manufacturers capping time at 12 months even if mileage is low; typical mileage intervals are 7,500–10,000 miles, and extended-life synthetics can reach up to 12 months or 15,000 miles when the automaker allows it, …
Toyota Highlander airbag sensor recall: what it is, who’s affected, and what to do Toyota has issued a recall for the front passenger airbag sensor on certain Highlander and Highlander Hybrid SUVs, primarily affecting 2020–2021 models in the United States. The recall addresses a fault in the front passenger seat’s Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor …
What a Rotary Motor Does—and Why It Matters A rotary motor converts input energy—most commonly electrical—into rotational motion and torque to drive mechanical loads such as fans, pumps, wheels, and conveyors. In practical terms, it takes energy and turns it into a spinning shaft that can perform work, forming the backbone of everything from household …
Drivers Ed in 2025: Weighing the Pros and Cons Drivers education can improve knowledge, build structured skills, and unlock licensing and insurance advantages, but its crash‑reduction impact is mixed, quality varies widely, and it adds cost and time. For most new drivers—especially teens—drivers ed is most effective when paired with strong graduated driver licensing (GDL) …
Where to Put Coolant in Your Car Add coolant to the translucent coolant reservoir (also called the expansion tank) under the hood, only when the engine is cool; on some older vehicles with a radiator cap, you may also top up the radiator itself when the engine is completely cold. Always use the coolant type …
What Makes a CO2 Dragster Go Fast A CO2 dragster goes fast when five things come together: low aerodynamic drag, low mass (without losing stiffness), minimal rolling and bearing friction, straight-line stability with precise alignment, and efficient use of the CO2 cartridge’s short burst of thrust. In practical terms, that means a small frontal area …
What Power Brakes Do—and Why They Matter on Today’s Roads Power brakes amplify the force you apply to the pedal—using vacuum, hydraulic, or electric assist—so the vehicle can stop with far less driver effort while maintaining control and stability; if the assist fails, the brakes still work but require much more pedal pressure. This article …
Why Your Car Rumbles When You Shift Into Reverse In most cases, a rumble in reverse points to worn engine or transmission mounts, exhaust components touching the body as the engine rocks, or driveline issues such as CV joints or U-joints; less commonly, transmission fluid or internal gearbox problems, brake chatter, or wheel bearings are …
Who is the No. 36 car in Pixar’s Cars? It’s Eugene Karburetor, the pink Tank Coat–sponsored Piston Cup racer in Cars (2006). In Cars 3 (2017), the No. 36 remains with the Tank Coat team but the driver is updated to Rich Mixon, a next‑generation racer. The number is consistently associated with the Tank Coat …
What Is a Good Tongue Weight? A good tongue weight is typically 10–15% of your loaded trailer’s weight for conventional bumper-pull trailers, and 15–25% (often 20–25%) for fifth-wheel and gooseneck setups. Staying in these ranges helps prevent sway, preserves steering and braking, and keeps you within the limits of your tow vehicle and hitch components. …
Why Parked Cars Catch Fire: Causes, Risks, and How to Prevent Them Cars can catch fire while parked primarily due to electrical faults that remain energized even when the ignition is off, battery failures (12-volt or high-voltage in hybrids/EVs), lingering heat igniting combustibles, and, less commonly, fuel leaks, aftermarket wiring, charging equipment issues, or arson. …
Can a Car Run Without a Carburetor? Yes. Most modern cars run without a carburetor because they use fuel injection, and diesel engines never used carburetors at all; however, simply removing a carburetor from an engine designed for one will prevent it from running unless you install a proper fuel‑metering and throttle system. Below, we …
Ignition Coil Replacement Cost in 2025: What Drivers Should Expect Most drivers in the U.S. can expect to pay about $150–$500 to replace a single ignition coil in 2025, depending on the vehicle, parts quality, and labor rates. Parts typically run $60–$250 per coil (or $100–$300 for a coil pack), with labor adding $70–$250. On …
Where to Add Coolant: Reservoir or Radiator? You typically add coolant to the reservoir (expansion tank) when the engine is cold; only add directly to the radiator if your vehicle has a radiator cap and the radiator itself is low. Modern cars usually have a pressurized expansion tank as the sole fill point, while older …
What “Left-Hand Drive” Means Left-hand drive (LHD) means a vehicle has its steering wheel on the left side and is designed to operate on the right-hand side of the road; this is the norm across most of the world. In practice, LHD vehicles place the driver closer to the center line of the roadway to …
Where Is the Brake Light Switch and Its Wiring Located? In most modern cars and light trucks, the brake light switch—and its wiring—are mounted on the brake pedal assembly, near the top pivot under the dashboard. On some older vehicles it may be a hydraulic pressure switch on or near the master cylinder, and on …
Hitch Weight vs. Towing Capacity: What Sets Them Apart and Why It Matters Hitch weight is the downward force a trailer exerts on a tow vehicle’s hitch, while towing capacity is the maximum total trailer weight the vehicle is rated to pull. Understanding the difference helps you avoid overloading your vehicle, improve stability, and tow …
How to Know When Drum Brakes Are Bad Drum brakes are likely bad if you notice longer stopping distances, grinding or scraping noises, a soft or low brake pedal, the vehicle pulling to one side when braking, a weak or high-travel parking brake, brake warning lights, fluid leaks near the rear wheels, or a hot, …
Where Should You Put Your Hands on the Steering Wheel: 10 and 2 or 9 and 3? Use 9 and 3. Modern driver training and safety guidance favor the 9‑and‑3 o’clock hand position, largely replacing the older 10‑and‑2 advice because of airbag safety and better steering control; some agencies also accept 8‑and‑4 in limited situations. …
Common Names of Vehicles Across Land, Sea, Sky, and Space Common vehicle names include car, truck, bus, van, motorcycle, bicycle, scooter, train, tram, subway car, boat, ship, ferry, submarine, sailboat, kayak, airplane, jet, helicopter, glider, drone, airship, rocket, and spacecraft. These terms span everyday transport and specialized machines, covering how people and goods move on …
Manual Transmissions: The Drawbacks Drivers Should Consider Manual transmissions can be engaging and precise, but their disadvantages include extra workload in traffic, a steeper learning curve, higher risk of stalling, slower acceleration versus modern automatics, potentially costly clutch wear, reduced compatibility with advanced driver-assistance features, and shrinking availability in new vehicles. As automatics, dual-clutch units, …
What are the three types of occupant detection systems The answer depends on context: in vehicles, the three dominant occupant detection system types are weight/pressure-based sensing, capacitive (electric-field) sensing, and vision/optical sensing; in buildings and lighting control, the three staple occupancy sensing technologies are passive infrared (PIR), ultrasonic, and dual-technology (PIR + ultrasonic). Below, we …
Is Two Years Too Long for an Oil Change? For most cars, two years between oil changes is too long; plan on changing oil at least annually or when your vehicle’s oil-life monitor calls for service. The main exceptions are certain European models that explicitly allow up to two years with approved “long-life” oil under …