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.
Can I spray WD-40 on drum brakes? No—do not spray standard WD-40 (the multi-use penetrating oil) on drum brakes. It can contaminate the brake shoes and drum friction surfaces, drastically reducing braking performance and increasing stopping distances. Below is a detailed look at why it’s unsafe, what to use instead, and how to recover if …
What Is the Best Alternative Fuel for Vehicles? For most passenger vehicles today, the best alternative fuel is electricity powering battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), provided the electricity mix is reasonably clean; for heavy-duty and legacy fleets, the “best” option depends on duty cycle and infrastructure, with renewable diesel useful as a near-term drop-in, battery-electric leading for …
Do Any Cars Still Use Rotary Engines? Yes—but only in a supporting role. As of 2025, the only new car using a rotary engine is Mazda’s MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV, where a single-rotor unit works solely as a generator to extend electric range; no current production car uses a rotary to drive the wheels directly. Here’s …
The 10 Most Reliable Cars in 2025 The most consistently reliable cars you can buy right now—based on the latest findings from Consumer Reports’ 2024–2025 Auto Reliability data, J.D. Power’s 2024 Vehicle Dependability Study, and recent warranty/recall trends—are: Toyota Prius (including Prius Prime), Toyota Corolla Hybrid, Lexus NX 350h, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Toyota Corolla (gas), …
Do Gas Pumps Automatically Stop When It’s Full? Yes—modern fuel nozzles are designed to automatically stop when your tank reaches a full level, using a built-in sensing mechanism that detects rising fuel. The shutoff usually occurs just before the tank is completely brimmed to leave expansion space and prevent spills. However, premature click-offs can happen …
How Anti-Lock Braking Systems Really Work No. ABS does not work by “only releasing” the brakes; it rapidly modulates brake pressure—releasing and reapplying it many times per second—to keep the wheels from locking while maintaining steering control. In practice, the system monitors wheel speed, detects impending lock-up, and then cycles pressure through phases often described …
10 Disadvantages of Biomass Energy Biomass energy has ten major disadvantages: air pollution; it’s not inherently carbon-neutral; land-use change and deforestation risks; biodiversity loss; water and soil impacts; food-versus-fuel pressures; low energy density and high moisture; costly, complex supply chains; waste/ash and contamination issues; and safety and community impacts. While biomass can be renewable in …
What is the death car called? It’s commonly called a hearse—also known as a funeral car or funeral coach—the specially equipped vehicle used to transport a deceased person in a casket or coffin from a funeral home or place of service to the cemetery or crematorium. The term “death car” is informal and sometimes sensational; …
What is a disadvantage of a smart car? One significant disadvantage of a smart car is the heightened risk to privacy and cybersecurity: modern vehicles collect extensive data and stay connected to the internet, which can expose drivers to data sharing, tracking, or even hacking. More broadly, “smart” features can also introduce higher repair costs, …
What Are the Four Terminals on an Alternator? The four terminals commonly found on many modern automotive alternators are B+ (battery/output), S (voltage sense), IG (ignition/excite), and L (lamp/indicator). These provide the main output to the battery, allow the regulator to sense system voltage, energize the alternator when the ignition is on, and drive the …
What’s a Reasonable Price for an Oil Change in 2025? In the U.S. in 2025, a reasonable, all-in price at a reputable shop is typically $50–$90 for a synthetic-blend oil change and $70–$120 for full synthetic, including a new filter and standard fees. Conventional oil often runs $35–$60, while European/luxury and diesel applications can be …
The Most Common Engine in Cars Today The most common engine in cars is the inline four-cylinder (I4) gasoline internal-combustion engine. Despite the rapid rise of electric vehicles and hybrids, the I4 remains the dominant configuration in global passenger-car production and the on-road fleet because it balances cost, efficiency, packaging, and performance for most everyday …
When a Slack Adjuster Goes Bad: What Really Happens on Heavy‑Vehicle Brakes When a slack adjuster fails, brakes go out of adjustment, stopping distances increase, wheel ends can overheat or drag, and the vehicle can be placed out of service—raising the risk of a crash and costly repairs. On modern trucks and buses that use …
How to Solve Power Steering Problems Start by identifying which type of power steering your vehicle uses (hydraulic, electro-hydraulic, or electric), then check fluid level and condition, look for leaks or a slipping belt, scan for diagnostic trouble codes, and address worn components or software faults; if symptoms persist or safety is in doubt, seek …
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Car’s Suspension? Most suspension fixes in 2025 range from about $300 to $1,000 for minor repairs (like sway-bar links or a single ball joint), $600 to $1,800 for common shock/strut work per axle, and $2,500 to $6,000 or more for complex systems like air or adaptive suspensions; …
Why your turn signal isn’t working Your turn signal usually fails due to a burned-out bulb, a blown fuse, a faulty flasher/BCM (body control module), a bad turn-signal switch, or a wiring/ground issue. In many cases, the symptom—fast flash, no flash, or intermittent operation—points directly to the fault. Below is a clear guide to reading …
The Downsides of Fuel-Injected Engines Fuel-injected engines generally cost more to buy and maintain, rely on complex electronics that can fail, require specialized diagnostic tools, and—especially in gasoline direct injection (GDI) systems—can suffer from intake valve carbon buildup and higher particulate emissions. In practice, that means pricier repairs (think high-pressure pumps and injectors), greater sensitivity …
What It Costs to Replace a Transmission in the U.S. Right Now Expect to pay about $3,000–$8,000 to replace a conventional automatic transmission in most passenger vehicles, $3,000–$9,000 for many CVT or dual‑clutch units, and $1,500–$5,000 for manuals. Luxury, European, heavy‑duty, and hybrid applications can run $6,000–$15,000 or more. Final price depends on the vehicle, …
Is an odometer the same as mileage? No. An odometer is the instrument in a vehicle that measures distance traveled, while mileage typically refers to the total distance recorded by that instrument—or, depending on context, to fuel economy or reimbursement rates. Understanding the distinction helps when buying a car, tracking fuel efficiency, or filing expense …
Which Side Is the Turn Signal On? It depends on the vehicle and market: in most left‑hand‑drive countries (like the U.S., Canada, and much of Europe), the turn‑signal stalk is on the left of the steering column; in many right‑hand‑drive markets (such as Japan, India, Malaysia, and parts of Southeast Asia), it’s commonly on the …
How Gas Pumps Know When Your Car Is Full A small sensing port near the nozzle tip and a Venturi-driven vacuum inside the handle detect when rising fuel blocks airflow; that pressure change trips a diaphragm that snaps the valve shut with a click. In other words, the shutoff is a purely mechanical response to …
Power Steering Repair Costs in 2025: What Drivers Can Expect Most drivers can expect to spend between $300 and $1,200 to repair a power steering problem, with minor fixes starting around $80 and major components reaching $2,500 or more. Costs vary widely by vehicle type, whether the system is hydraulic or electric, the part that …
How much can I tow if my GVWR is 7000 lbs? You can’t determine towing capacity from a 7000‑lb GVWR alone. GVWR is the maximum allowed weight of the vehicle itself when loaded; tow capacity depends on your vehicle’s Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR), your actual loaded vehicle weight, hitch ratings, and tongue/pin-weight limits. In …
What Is a Torque Converter Gearbox? A torque converter gearbox is an automatic transmission that uses a fluid-coupling device—called a torque converter—to transmit and multiply engine torque to a multi-speed gearset without a manual clutch. In everyday terms, it lets a vehicle pull away smoothly from a stop, shift itself, and keep the engine from …
How long does a NOS boost last? A nitrous oxide (often called “NOS”) boost in a car lasts only while the system is engaged—typically a few seconds at wide-open throttle during a pull—and a standard 10‑lb bottle usually supports a few minutes of total spray time depending on jet size. If you meant the NOS …
What an Engine Coil Does—and Why It’s Essential to Spark-Ignition Engines An engine coil, commonly called an ignition coil, converts the car’s 12-volt battery power into tens of thousands of volts to fire the spark plugs, igniting the air‑fuel mixture in gasoline engines. Without that high-voltage spark—timed precisely by the engine computer—combustion wouldn’t occur and …
What Is the Oldest License Plate Design Still in Use? Delaware’s black-and-gold “THE FIRST STATE” license plate, introduced in 1959, is widely recognized as the oldest continuing license plate design still being issued in the United States—and among the longest-running anywhere. While many jurisdictions refresh their plates every decade or two, Delaware has kept its …
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Torque Converter in a Transmission? Expect to pay roughly $1,000–$2,500 for most mainstream cars and crossovers, and $1,800–$4,000 for trucks, 4x4s, and many luxury or performance models in 2025. That total typically includes a $200–$1,200 torque converter, 5–12 hours of labor at $120–$200+ per hour, fresh transmission …
What Is an Engine Called? An engine is commonly called a “motor,” and in more technical or industrial contexts it may be referred to as a “prime mover.” In everyday use—especially in vehicles—”engine” usually means an internal combustion engine (ICE), while in software, “engine” denotes a core module that drives a function (e.g., a search …
The Best Convertible Car of All Time The Mazda MX-5 Miata is the best convertible car of all time, thanks to its unmatched blend of driving joy, reliability, accessibility, and cultural impact. While “best” depends on priorities—performance, design, collectability, or everyday usability—the Miata stands alone for democratizing open-top sports-car fun for more than three decades …