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 Is a Catalytic Converter Worth for Scrap? Most used OEM gasoline catalytic converters sell to scrap buyers for about $50–$300, higher-value OEM units from certain trucks/SUVs and some hybrids can bring $300–$1,200+, aftermarket replacements are usually $5–$50, and diesel DOC/DPF units range from roughly $20–$400 for light-duty and $200–$1,000+ for heavy-duty. Actual payouts fluctuate …
What Is a 2.4 Motor? A “2.4 motor” most commonly refers to a 2.4‑liter internal combustion engine—the total volume displaced by all its cylinders is about 2.4 liters (roughly 2,400 cubic centimeters). In everyday automotive language, “motor” and “engine” are often used interchangeably; technically, engines burn fuel while motors can be electric, but in car …
How Much Horsepower Can Nitrous Add to a Car? Nitrous oxide can add anywhere from about 25 to well over 500 horsepower, depending on the system, tune, and engine build; most street kits add 50–150 hp at the crank, while purpose-built race setups can deliver 200–400+ hp per stage and 500–1,000+ hp in multi-stage drag …
Do you push or pull to release air brakes? You push the parking-brake control knob in to release air brakes and pull it out to apply them. On tractor‑trailers, pushing both the yellow (tractor parking) and red (trailer air supply) knobs in releases all parking brakes; pulling either knob out applies them. What “release air …
What Is a Crumple Zone in Physics? A crumple zone is a deliberately deformable part of a structure—most famously in vehicles—that collapses in a controlled way during a collision to absorb kinetic energy, lengthen the impact time, and reduce peak forces on people or critical components. In physics terms, it leverages impulse (force times time) …
What Are the Disadvantages of a Dry Sump? A dry-sump oiling system adds cost, complexity, packaging demands, maintenance, and potential leak/failure points compared with a wet sump; it can also increase weight and lengthen warm-up time, making it overkill for most street cars. While dry sumps excel at oil control under sustained high g-forces, their …
Battery or Alternator? How to Tell in Minutes If the engine cranks slowly or won’t start, a quick multimeter check is the fastest way to tell: with the engine off, a healthy battery reads about 12.6 V; running, you should see roughly 13.7–14.7 V (some smart-charging cars vary 12.5–15.5 V). Low voltage while running points …
What Is the 20% Rule When Buying a Car? The 20% rule generally means putting at least 20% down on a car purchase to avoid owing more than the vehicle is worth as it depreciates; some use it to mean keeping all-in car costs at or under 20% of your monthly take-home pay. In practice, …
Do You Need a Special Windshield for a Heads‑Up Display? In most cases, yes—if your vehicle uses a factory, windshield-projected heads-up display (HUD), you need a HUD-compatible windshield to avoid double images and maintain brightness. Pop-up “combiner” HUDs don’t require a special windshield, and aftermarket HUDs can work on standard glass when paired with a …
The big downside to biofuels: land-use change that can erase climate gains A major downside to biofuels is that large-scale production often drives land-use change—clearing forests or diverting cropland—which can negate their climate benefits while increasing food prices and harming biodiversity. Biofuels can help decarbonize hard-to-electrify sectors, but when they expand into high-carbon or food-producing …
What Are the Parts of an Alternator? An automotive alternator typically includes the rotor (field coil), stator (windings), rectifier/diode bridge, voltage regulator, brushes and slip rings, bearings, a pulley (often with an overrunning decoupler/clutch), cooling fan(s), aluminum end housings, and external terminals/connectors. Together, these components convert mechanical energy from the engine belt into stable DC …
Can you drive a car with a thermostat? Yes—you’re meant to. Every modern car is designed to be driven with a thermostat installed and working; it’s essential for keeping engine temperature in the safe, efficient range. If the thermostat fails, you may still drive briefly if it’s stuck open (engine runs cool), but you should …
The biggest problem with biomass The biggest problem with biomass is that many pathways are not genuinely low‑carbon on the timescales that matter for climate goals: harvesting and burning plant material creates an immediate “carbon debt,” and regrowth can take decades to reabsorb those emissions, especially when forests are involved. That time lag—combined with land‑use …
What happens to a car when the ignition coil goes bad When an ignition coil fails, the engine typically misfires, runs rough, loses power, and may be hard to start or not start at all; the check-engine light often comes on, fuel economy worsens, and driving it for long can overheat and damage the catalytic …
What NASCAR Drivers Wear NASCAR drivers wear a flame-resistant multi-layer suit, fireproof underwear, socks, gloves, and shoes; a balaclava head sock; a full-face helmet paired with a Head-and-Neck Restraint; and often a cooling shirt, radio earbuds, and a hydration tube. These items are standardized and certified for safety, help manage extreme heat and g-forces, and …
Which Vehicles Qualify for U.S. Alternative-Fuel Tax Credits In the United States, federal “alternative-fuel” vehicle tax credits primarily apply to electric vehicles: new battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug‑in hybrids (PHEVs), and hydrogen fuel‑cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Certain used EVs also qualify, and businesses can claim credits for commercial clean vehicles, including medium- and heavy‑duty electric …
What a Car Transmission Looks Like A car transmission typically appears as a heavy, ribbed aluminum or magnesium metal case bolted to the back or side of the engine; it has a bell-shaped front section where it meets the engine and, on many automatics, a flat, usually rectangular fluid pan on the bottom. Manuals are …
What a Luxury Car Cost in 1930 In 1930, a new luxury car in the United States typically cost about $2,500 to $7,500, while ultra-luxury and coachbuilt models commonly ran from $8,500 to $20,000 or more. For example, Packard Standard Eights were roughly $2,800–$3,200, Cadillac’s new V‑16 models started around $5,350 and climbed past $9,700, …
Does the battery light mean a bad alternator? The battery warning light usually signals a charging-system problem and, in many cases, a failing alternator—but it doesn’t always mean the alternator itself is bad. It can also be triggered by a slipping or broken belt, blown fuses, wiring faults, sensor issues, or even a failing battery. …
What a Turbo Does in a Car A turbocharger uses energy from exhaust gases to spin a turbine that drives a compressor, forcing more air into the engine so it can burn more fuel and produce more power; under light loads, it can also improve efficiency. In modern cars, turbos are central to “downsized” engines …
How Nitrous Oxide Makes Cars Go Faster Nitrous oxide boosts engine power by supplying extra oxygen and cooling the intake charge, allowing more fuel to burn and increasing cylinder pressure. In practice, liquid nitrous oxide injected into the intake stream vaporizes and then decomposes under combustion heat, releasing oxygen that supports a larger, denser charge—translating …
What Happens If Your Carburetor Is Bad: Symptoms, Risks, and What to Do Next If your carburetor is bad, the engine will run poorly—or not at all—with symptoms like hard starting, rough idle, stalling, black smoke, backfiring, poor fuel economy, and fuel smells. Left unresolved, a failing carburetor can foul spark plugs, dilute engine oil, …
What Can Make a Car Catch Fire—and How to Prevent It A car can ignite due to fuel or oil leaks, electrical faults, overheated components, collisions, battery failures, arson, or environmental heat sources like hot exhaust contacting dry vegetation. While modern vehicles include safety systems to reduce risk, fires still occur when heat, fuel, and …
How Many Countries Drive on the Left? About 54 sovereign countries drive on the left, and if you include territories and dependencies, the total rises to roughly 75 jurisdictions worldwide. These are concentrated in South and Southeast Asia, Oceania, parts of southern and eastern Africa, the British Isles, and much of the Caribbean, encompassing around …
Is a Dry Sump Better Than a Wet Sump? It depends on use: a dry sump is superior for high-g performance, consistent oil pressure, packaging freedom, and sometimes small power gains, while a wet sump is better for most road cars thanks to lower cost, simplicity, lighter weight, and easier maintenance. The right choice hinges …
The function of a catalytic converter—and why it’s essential to cleaner air A catalytic converter is an emissions-control device that uses precious-metal catalysts to convert harmful exhaust gases—carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx)—into less harmful substances such as carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor (H2O), and nitrogen (N2) before they exit a …
What Car Are Lowriders? The Vehicles, Craft, and Culture Behind Rolling Art Lowriders are cars—most often classic American sedans and coupes—modified to sit low or use adjustable suspension, with popular platforms including the Chevrolet Impala, Monte Carlo, Caprice, Bel Air, and pre-1949 “bombs,” as well as later Cadillacs, Buicks, trucks, and even some imports. They’re …
How to Tell If Your Master Cylinder or Brake Booster Is Bad If the brake pedal is rock-hard and stopping requires unusual effort, the brake booster or its vacuum supply is likely bad; if the pedal slowly sinks under steady pressure, the master cylinder is usually at fault. Determining which part has failed comes down …
2025 Cars With Manual Transmissions: What’s Still Available For 2025, the manual transmission lives on in a focused but healthy mix of sports cars, performance sedans, and a few off-roaders in the U.S., including the Acura Integra, Honda Civic Si and Type R, Toyota GR86 and GR Corolla, Subaru BRZ and WRX, Mazda MX-5 Miata, …
How a Manual Transmission Works A manual transmission works by letting the driver control a clutch that connects or disconnects the engine from the gearbox and by manually selecting gear ratios that are always in mesh; synchronizers inside the gearbox match shaft speeds so a sliding sleeve can lock the chosen gear to the output …