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 fuel do road trains use? Mostly diesel. Modern road trains—multi-trailer heavy trucks common in Australia and used in parts of North America—primarily run on ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) because it offers high energy density, proven reliability, and widespread refueling infrastructure in remote regions. In specific corridors or pilot projects, operators also use biodiesel blends, renewable …
How Hydroplaning Happens: Causes, Risks, and How to Stay in Control Hydroplaning happens when your vehicle’s tires ride on a thin film of water instead of the road, causing a sudden loss of traction and steering control; it typically occurs when speed, water depth, and tire condition prevent the tread from channeling water away. Driver …
What Nitrous Oxide Does to an Engine Nitrous oxide increases an engine’s power by injecting an oxidizer that supplies extra oxygen and cools the intake charge, allowing more fuel to be burned and creating a rapid rise in cylinder pressure and torque; used correctly it delivers large, short bursts of power, but improper setup can …
Symptoms of a Bad Fuel Pump A failing fuel pump often causes hard starting, loss of power under load, stalling, a high-pitched whining from the fuel tank, and in severe cases a crank–no-start condition; these symptoms tend to worsen as the pump heats up or the fuel level drops. Because several issues can mimic a …
Are headers good for your engine? What to know before you bolt them on Yes—exhaust headers can improve power, torque, and efficiency on many naturally aspirated engines, but the real-world benefits depend on your vehicle, the header type, tuning, and local emissions laws. On modern turbocharged engines, gains from changing the manifold are usually smaller, …
Can I Drive With a Damaged Coil? Usually, you shouldn’t. Whether it’s an ignition coil causing a misfire or a cracked suspension coil spring, driving can be unsafe and may trigger costly damage. A brief, gentle trip to a nearby shop can be acceptable if the car runs smoothly and the check-engine light isn’t flashing …
What Is the Most Common Power Steering Problem? The most common power steering problem is low fluid caused by leaks in hydraulic or electro-hydraulic systems, which leads to heavy steering, whining or groaning noises, and visible fluid around the pump, hoses, or steering rack. While many newer cars use electric power steering (EPS) with no …
What a Radiator Cap Does—and Why It Matters The radiator cap seals and pressurizes a vehicle’s cooling system, raising the coolant’s boiling point to prevent overheating, while safely venting excess pressure to an overflow/expansion tank and drawing coolant back as the engine cools. In modern cars, this function may reside on a remote expansion (degas) …
What is the ABS braking system? The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is a safety technology that prevents a vehicle’s wheels from locking during hard or slippery-surface braking by rapidly modulating brake pressure, helping drivers maintain steering control. Found on virtually all modern cars and increasingly on motorcycles, ABS is a foundational element of today’s broader …
How a Turbocharger Increases Vehicle Speed A turbocharger increases speed by forcing more air into an engine so it can burn more fuel, producing higher torque and power; that extra power improves acceleration and, when gearing and aerodynamics allow, raises top speed. In practice, a turbo uses otherwise wasted exhaust energy to drive a compressor …
How to Know When It’s Time to Get a New Car It’s time to get a new car when safety, reliability, or total cost of ownership tip against keeping your current vehicle—specifically when major repairs exceed the car’s value, breakdowns are frequent, or your needs and local regulations have outgrown what it can safely and …
The Most Reliable Cars of the 1960s Some of the most reliably durable 1960s cars include the Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40, Volvo Amazon (122) and 140 Series, Mercedes-Benz W110/W111 “Fintail” (especially 200D), Volkswagen Beetle, Peugeot 404, Datsun 510 (1968–73), Ford Falcon (inline‑six), Chevrolet C10/GMC C/K pickups, International Harvester Scout, Jeep CJ‑5, BMW 2002 (from 1968), …
What Is an Engine in Mechanics? An engine in mechanics is a machine that converts stored energy—most commonly heat from fuel—into mechanical work, producing motion or useful power. In engineering usage, “engine” typically refers to heat engines (such as internal combustion engines and gas turbines), while electrically driven machines are called “motors,” though everyday language …
How do traffic lights know when you’re there? They “see” you using sensors—most commonly loops embedded in the pavement—along with cameras, radar, magnetometers, and pedestrian push-buttons; controllers then change the signal when rules about timing and safety are met. In practice, the light won’t flip instantly: it waits for a safe gap, applies minimum green …
Understanding Primary and Secondary on a Brake Master Cylinder The primary side of a tandem (dual-circuit) master cylinder is the rear piston and circuit directly driven by the brake pedal/booster pushrod; the secondary side is the forward piston and circuit that is actuated by hydraulic pressure (and a spring) from the primary. Which axle(s) each …
Does a supercharger make your car faster? Yes—adding a supercharger almost always makes a car accelerate faster by boosting horsepower and torque across the rev range, often improving 0–60 mph and quarter-mile times. Whether it also increases top speed depends on gearing, aerodynamics, and electronic limiters. Because a supercharger is mechanically driven by the engine, …
What Is Regenerative Braking? Regenerative braking is a system that recovers a vehicle’s kinetic energy during deceleration by running an electric motor as a generator and sending electricity back to a battery or capacitor, reducing reliance on friction brakes and improving efficiency—often extending electric-vehicle range by 10–30% in urban driving and cutting brake wear. How …
Can I drive a car with a faulty injector? Usually not recommended: you might limp a short distance if symptoms are mild, but driving with a faulty fuel injector risks engine damage, catalytic-converter or DPF failure, poor performance, and even fire if there’s a leak. If the check-engine light is flashing, there’s a strong fuel …
Odometer vs. Speedometer: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters No, an odometer and a speedometer are not the same: a speedometer shows your vehicle’s instantaneous speed, while an odometer records the total distance traveled. Both live on the instrument cluster but serve distinct functions, use different units, and have different legal and maintenance implications. …
How to Fix a Power Steering Leak The fix is to locate the exact source of the leak, replace or reseal the failed part (most often a hose, clamp, O-ring, pump seal, reservoir, or steering rack/gear), then refill with the correct fluid and bleed the system; “stop‑leak” additives are only a temporary measure, and electric …
Can you buy a compressed‑air car today? In practical terms, no: there is no street‑legal, mass‑produced compressed‑air car you can buy today, and past high‑profile projects have not reached commercial rollout. While prototypes and limited demonstrations have appeared over the past two decades, the technology remains niche, with battery‑electric vehicles dominating clean urban mobility. What …
Do Headers Add Horsepower? What Drivers Can Expect in 2025 Yes—on many naturally aspirated gasoline engines, aftermarket headers can add horsepower, typically about 5–20 wheel horsepower (whp) on otherwise stock setups, with larger gains possible on high-output or modified engines when paired with tuning. The actual result depends heavily on header design (shorty vs. long-tube), …
Disadvantages of Biofuels Biofuels carry several notable downsides: potential land-use change and deforestation, competition with food crops, high water and fertilizer demands, variable lifecycle greenhouse-gas results, lower energy density than fossil fuels, engine and infrastructure compatibility issues, higher costs and supply constraints, and social impacts such as food-price pressure and land-rights concerns. Below is a …
What an Airbag Actually Does in a Car Crash An airbag rapidly inflates and then vents to slow and spread out your body’s deceleration so you don’t strike hard interior surfaces; it works together with your seat belt to reduce head and chest injuries. In a collision, sensors trigger a tiny pyrotechnic inflator that fills …
Does a car thermostat control the AC? No. The “car thermostat” people usually mean—the engine coolant thermostat—does not control the air conditioning. It regulates engine temperature by opening and closing to manage coolant flow. The AC is governed by the HVAC system (controls, sensors, compressor, fans, and the engine computer). That said, a failing engine …
How a Car Engine Works, Simply Explained A car engine turns fuel and air into motion by burning the mixture in tightly timed bursts that push pistons, spin a crankshaft, and ultimately drive the wheels. In simple terms, it’s a powerful air pump that breathes in air, mixes it with fuel, ignites it, and converts …
How to Tell If Your Power Steering Is Going Out If your steering suddenly feels heavy, jerky, or noisy—especially during low-speed turns—you may be losing power steering. Other telltale signs include a whining or groaning sound while turning, a steering warning light on the dash, visible fluid leaks, burning smells, or intermittent assist that comes …
How much will it cost to replace a car engine? Expect to pay roughly $4,000–$10,000 for a typical gasoline car in 2025, with budget used-engine swaps sometimes landing around $2,500–$6,000 and trucks, luxury, diesel, or high-performance models often running $8,000–$20,000+. Labor usually makes up $1,500–$4,500 of the total, depending on shop rates and complexity. The …
American Car Brands of the 1940s American car brands active in the 1940s included Chevrolet, Ford, Plymouth, Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Pontiac, Chrysler, Dodge, DeSoto, Lincoln, Mercury, Packard, Hudson, Nash, Studebaker, Willys (with Jeep-branded products), Kaiser, Frazer, Crosley, Tucker, and Checker; early in the decade, LaSalle, Hupmobile, Graham, and American Bantam were still present but soon …
Why Britain Drives on the Left Britain drives on the left because of longstanding customs dating to medieval travel, later formalized by law—most notably the Highway Act of 1835—while much of continental Europe shifted to right-hand traffic under Napoleonic influence; today, switching would be prohibitively costly and risky. Historical Roots: From Swords to Stagecoaches The …