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 “octane” means in slang In slang, octane refers to energy, intensity, or potency—most often heard in the phrase “high-octane” to mean high-energy or adrenaline-fueled. The term borrows from gasoline’s octane rating and is used to describe people, events, music, workouts, coffee, or content that feels powerful and amped up; “low-octane” means the opposite, suggesting …
Are Carbureted Engines Reliable? Yes—carbureted engines can be reliable when properly maintained and used in consistent conditions, but compared with modern fuel-injected systems they are generally less consistent day-to-day and more sensitive to temperature, altitude, and fuel quality. Reliability depends heavily on upkeep, parts condition, and how the machine is used and stored. What Reliability …
What is a road train? A road train is a heavy truck pulling two or more trailers in a single, articulated combination to move large loads efficiently over long distances; most common in Australia, they also operate in parts of Canada, the United States, and the Nordics under strict permits. In practice, a powerful prime …
Will a timing belt last 20 years? Usually not. Most automakers specify timing belt replacement by both mileage and time—typically 60,000–105,000 miles or 5–10 years, whichever comes first. Even with low mileage, rubber ages and the belt’s internal cords fatigue; by 20 years, the risk of sudden failure is high and the potential engine damage …
Why Californians Say “Freeway” Instead of “Highway” Californians favor “freeway” because, in state law and everyday practice, it precisely describes the controlled‑access roads that dominate the state’s urban network—roads without cross streets or driveways—whereas “highway” is a broader legal term that includes everything from small rural routes to multi-lane arterials. The word “freeway” took root …
How a Taxi Meter Calculates A taxi meter calculates fare by combining a base “flag fall” with distance-based charges while the vehicle moves above a set speed and time-based charges when it is slow or stopped, plus any surcharges such as tolls or night rates. In practice, the meter converts movement (from a vehicle speed …
What Is an Auto Engine? An auto engine is the machine in a car that converts energy into motion—traditionally a heat engine burning fuel (gasoline or diesel) to spin the wheels, while today many vehicles also use, or are powered solely by, electric motors. In everyday usage “auto engine” most often refers to an internal …
What Is the Largest Truck Size? The largest trucks in existence are off-highway ultra-class mining dump trucks, led by the BelAZ 75710, which is about 20.6 meters long, 8.16 meters tall, 9.87 meters wide, and carries up to 450 metric tonnes of payload. On public roads, the biggest legal combinations are Australian road trains—on designated …
Why your transmission makes a sound when you shift into Drive In most cases, a noise when you shift into Drive points to fluid/pressure issues, worn mounts, or slack in the driveline; occasionally it’s normal engagement clunk on an incline as the parking pawl releases. The character of the sound—clunk, grind, whine, or click—helps pinpoint …
What Is Considered Major Damage to a Car Major damage generally means harm that compromises a vehicle’s structural integrity, safety systems, or economic viability—such as frame/unibody deformation, significant suspension or powertrain failure, airbag-triggering crashes with structural intrusion, fire or flood exposure, high‑voltage battery damage in EVs, or any incident that results in a total loss …
What “FI DOHC” Means in Automotive and Motorcycle Specifications It means fuel-injected, double overhead camshaft. In plain terms, “FI” indicates the engine uses fuel injection rather than a carburetor, and “DOHC” means the engine has two camshafts mounted above the cylinders per bank. Together, the designation signals a modern, efficient engine designed for better performance, …
Can You Still Drive With a Bad ECM? Yes—sometimes you can drive briefly with a failing Engine Control Module (ECM), but it’s risky and not recommended. Depending on how it’s failing, the car may run in “limp” mode or stall unexpectedly, and continuing to drive can damage the engine, transmission, or catalytic converter. If severe, …
What Are Turn Signals? Turn signals are the blinking lights on vehicles that indicate a driver’s intention to turn or change lanes, helping others anticipate and react safely. Found on cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles (via hand signals), and increasingly on e-bikes and scooters, they are legally required in most countries, standardized for color, brightness, and …
How to go through a carwash in an automatic car For most conveyor tunnel car washes, keep the engine on, fold in mirrors, close all windows, disable automatic wipers and braking assists, select Neutral (or use your vehicle’s Car Wash/Free Roll mode), keep your hands off the wheel and foot off the brake, and follow …
What does the ignition coil do? The ignition coil converts a vehicle’s low-voltage battery power (typically 12 volts) into high-voltage energy—often 20,000 to 40,000 volts or more—so a spark can jump the spark plug gap and ignite the air‑fuel mixture in the engine. Without a properly functioning ignition coil, combustion becomes weak or fails entirely, …
What Tells Fuel Injectors to Open? The engine control unit (ECU), also called the powertrain control module (PCM), commands fuel injectors to open by sending rapid electrical pulses timed to crankshaft and camshaft positions; the pulse width (duration) determines how much fuel is delivered. In modern engines, the ECU continuously adjusts those pulses using data …
What Is the Assembly Line of a Car? A car assembly line is a coordinated, step-by-step production system in which a vehicle moves through a sequence of workstations where parts are added, software is loaded, and quality checks are performed until the car is complete. In modern plants, this process marries human skill with robotics, …
How a Carburetor Works, Step by Step A carburetor mixes fuel with incoming air by using a pressure drop in a venturi to draw fuel from a float-regulated bowl through precisely sized jets, then meters that mixture with a throttle plate while auxiliary circuits (choke, idle, transition, accelerator pump, and power enrichment) adapt the mixture …
What Is a Seat Belt Pretensioner? A seat belt pretensioner is a safety device that rapidly tightens a seat belt during a crash or imminent crash to remove slack and position the occupant correctly. By pulling the belt snug in milliseconds, it works with airbags and load limiters to reduce injury, especially to the head, …
How long will a 2.4 L engine last? A well-maintained 2.4-liter engine typically lasts 180,000–250,000 miles (290,000–400,000 km), or about 12–20 years, with many examples surpassing 300,000 miles; however, displacement alone doesn’t determine longevity—design, maintenance, and driving conditions matter more. Below is what really influences lifespan, how different use cases compare, common issues on well-known …
The Most Famous Vintage Car The Ford Model T is widely regarded as the most famous vintage car, credited with putting the world on wheels through mass production and affordability between 1908 and 1927. While “fame” can be subjective and definitions of “vintage” vary, historians, collectors, and the general public consistently point to the Model …
Rack-and-Pinion Replacement Cost in 2025: What Drivers Should Expect For most vehicles in the U.S. in 2025, replacing a rack-and-pinion (steering rack) typically costs between $1,000 and $2,500 all-in. Parts usually run $400 to $1,800 for hydraulic systems and $1,200 to $3,000 for newer electric power steering (EPS) racks, while labor ranges from $400 to …
When an Idle Sensor Goes Bad: What Drivers See, Why It Happens, and How to Fix It When an idle sensor—or more accurately, the idle control system—goes bad, engines often idle erratically, stall at stops, surge or idle too high, trigger a check-engine light, and waste fuel; fixes range from cleaning the throttle body to …
Who Were the American Car Manufacturers in the 1960s? The dominant American car manufacturers in the 1960s were General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler Corporation, with American Motors Corporation (AMC) and Studebaker as the chief independents; niche and specialty makers such as Kaiser Jeep, International Harvester, Checker, Shelby American, and Avanti Motor Corporation also …
What Size Is the Bolt for the Oil Pan? It depends on the vehicle. For most passenger cars, the oil drain plug (the “bolt” you remove to change oil) is typically M12x1.25, M12x1.5, or M14x1.5 with a 14–17 mm hex head, while the oil pan mounting/perimeter bolts are usually M6 or M8 with 10–13 mm …
Why many V8s use superchargers instead of turbos They don’t always—many modern V8s are turbocharged—but when automakers choose superchargers on a V8, it’s usually for instant throttle response, straightforward packaging in the engine’s “V” valley, robust thermal and durability performance under heavy load, and the traditional sound and character buyers expect in muscle cars and …
The most popular motorcycle of the 1970s The Honda CB750 is widely regarded as the most popular motorcycle of the 1970s—especially in the large-displacement, enthusiast market—thanks to its groundbreaking performance, reliability, and mass-market affordability. While Honda’s Super Cub likely outsold every other model globally in sheer unit volume during the decade, the CB750 became the …
The Downsides of an Open Differential: What Drivers Should Know An open differential’s main drawbacks are poor traction when one wheel loses grip, “one-wheel” spin under power, reliance on brake-based traction aids, inconsistent performance on snow, mud, or off-road terrain, and potential extra brake and tire wear. In everyday terms, an open diff is inexpensive …
Why Dodge Is Not in NASCAR Dodge is not banned from NASCAR; it is simply not participating. After withdrawing its factory program following the 2012 season, the automaker has not re-entered under current rules, which remain open to any manufacturer that completes NASCAR’s approval process. As of the 2025 season, the Cup Series fields cars …
How Much Does It Cost to Replace an ECU Unit? Expect to pay roughly $500 to $2,500 for an Engine Control Unit (ECU) replacement in the U.S., including parts, programming, and labor. Mainstream vehicles often fall between $600 and $1,200, while premium European or performance models can run $1,500 to $4,000 or more. In the …