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.
Who Is the Original Inventor of the Car? Karl Benz is widely credited as the inventor of the modern car, thanks to his 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen—commonly recognized as the first practical, purpose-built automobile powered by an internal combustion engine. While many pioneers contributed steam, electric, and gasoline vehicles before and after him, Benz’s design, patent, …
How much does it usually cost to fix a power steering leak Most power steering leaks on hydraulic systems cost about $150 to $650 to repair when the culprit is a hose, clamp, reservoir, or pump seal; if the steering rack is leaking, the job typically runs $900 to $2,200 or more, often plus $100 …
How a Car Knows Your Tire Pressure Cars determine tire pressure using a tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS), either by reading it directly from pressure sensors inside each wheel (direct TPMS) or by inferring it from wheel-speed data via the ABS system (indirect TPMS). Most modern vehicles use direct sensors that transmit pressure and temperature to …
What Is the 80/20 Rule for Charging? The 80/20 rule for charging advises keeping lithium‑ion batteries—like those in electric vehicles, phones, and laptops—between roughly 20% and 80% state of charge during everyday use to slow long‑term degradation and save time, reserving 100% charges (and deep discharges) for when you truly need maximum range or runtime. …
Are there any 100% self-driving cars? No—there are currently no cars available to the public that can drive themselves everywhere, in all conditions, without human oversight. What does exist are limited, geo-fenced robotaxi services that operate without a human driver in specific areas and conditions, plus consumer vehicles with advanced driver-assistance that still require active …
How to Make a CO2 Car More Aerodynamic Streamline the body into a teardrop-like shape, minimize frontal area, smooth every surface, carefully manage wheel and axle exposure, and gently taper the tail to delay flow separation. In practice, that means a rounded nose, a long, gradual rear taper (about 7–12 degrees), tight wheel clearances, and …
The Most Iconic Car of the 1960s The Jaguar E-Type is widely regarded as the most iconic car of the 1960s, celebrated for its breathtaking design, advanced engineering, and era-defining cultural impact. While other models from the decade became legends in their own right, the E-Type’s blend of beauty, performance, and attainability made it the …
How many tires are made each day? Roughly 6 to 7 million new motor‑vehicle tires are manufactured worldwide each day, based on recent annual output in the range of about 2.2 to 2.5 billion tires. Including other segments such as bicycle, motorcycle, off‑road/industrial, aircraft tires and retreads, the daily total can approach 8 to 10 …
What material is my car made of? Most modern cars are built primarily from steel, with strategic use of aluminum and plastics; higher-end or specialized models may add composites (like carbon fiber) or, rarely, stainless steel. The exact mix varies by make, model, year, and even trim, and different parts of the same vehicle can …
Is a 2.4-Liter Engine a V6? No. A 2.4-liter engine refers to displacement, not the number or layout of cylinders; most modern 2.4-liter engines are four-cylinders, not V6s. In practice, 2.4-liter engines are commonly inline-4 or flat-4, while true 2.4-liter V6s are rare and mostly historical. What “2.4 Liter” Actually Means Engine size in liters …
How a CVT Transmission Operates A continuously variable transmission (CVT) changes drive ratios seamlessly by altering the effective diameters of two opposing pulleys linked by a steel belt or chain—or, in many hybrids, by electronically controlling a planetary gearset—so the engine can stay near its most efficient or most powerful RPM as speed and load …
Freeway vs. Expressway: What’s the Difference? In most U.S. transportation standards, a freeway is a divided highway with full control of access (all entries and exits via ramps and interchanges; no cross traffic), while an expressway is a divided highway with partial control of access (some at-grade intersections or driveways may exist). The terms can …
The Disadvantages of a Weight Distribution Hitch The main disadvantage of a weight distribution hitch is added complexity—if it’s set up or used incorrectly, it can reduce rear-axle traction, increase component stress, and create clearance and maneuvering hassles; beyond that, it adds cost, weight, noise, and maintenance without solving problems like improper loading or an …
What Kind of Technology Is a Car? A car is transportation technology—a complex mechatronic and cyber-physical system that integrates mechanical engineering, electronics, software, energy conversion, and human–machine interfaces to move people and goods. Beyond being a vehicle, it is an engineered ecosystem of subsystems that increasingly relies on computing, connectivity, and data to deliver safety, …
How much should it cost to replace rack and pinion? For most mainstream cars in the U.S., replacing a rack and pinion typically costs $1,100–$2,000 out the door, while trucks, SUVs, AWD vehicles, and European or luxury models often run $1,800–$3,500 or more. That total usually includes the rack assembly, new outer tie rods (if …
What is the world’s cheapest car? The title has shifted over time: historically it belonged to India’s Tata Nano, while today the cheapest mass-produced new cars are China’s micro EVs—led by models such as the Chery QQ Ice Cream (from about ¥29,900, roughly $4,100) and the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV (from about ¥32,800, roughly $4,500) …
What Is the Crumple Zone? A crumple zone is the purposely deformable part of a vehicle’s structure that absorbs and dissipates crash energy so occupants experience lower, more survivable deceleration forces. In practice, it’s the front, rear, and sometimes side structures engineered to crush in a controlled way, lengthening the time of impact and directing …
What was the Ford car in 1950 to 1972? It was the Ford Zephyr — a large family/executive car built by Ford of Britain from 1950 to 1972. Spanning four generations, the Zephyr sat above the four-cylinder Consul and alongside the plusher Ford Zodiac, becoming one of Britain’s best-known postwar cars before being replaced by …
Do Turbochargers Increase Horsepower? Yes—turbochargers almost always increase horsepower by forcing more air into an engine so it can burn more fuel and make more power. In practical terms, a well-matched turbo system with proper tuning can raise output by roughly 30–50% at modest boost levels on gasoline engines, and even more on diesels. The …
What Happens When Your Brake Fluid Is Low Low brake fluid reduces hydraulic pressure, making the brake pedal feel soft or sink toward the floor, increases stopping distances, can illuminate the brake/ABS warning lights, and in severe cases causes partial or total loss of braking. If this happens, stop driving, investigate the cause, and repair …
What Is a Mechanical Fault in a Car? A mechanical fault in a car is a failure, breakage, or excessive wear of physical, moving components—such as parts of the engine, transmission, brakes, steering, suspension, or driveline—that prevents the vehicle from operating as designed. In practical terms, it involves hardware under load, friction, or fluid pressure …
Hemi Engines: The Drawbacks Behind the Legend Hemi engines—named for their hemispherical combustion chambers—are celebrated for power and durability, but they come with notable drawbacks: bulkier packaging and weight, less efficient combustion at low and mid loads, emissions challenges, valvetrain and breathing limits (often two valves per cylinder), higher maintenance in some applications, and fuel-economy …
The physics behind the seatbelt Seatbelts work by turning a sudden, dangerous stop into a longer, controlled deceleration, spreading forces over the body’s stronger structures and preventing the occupant’s momentum from carrying them into the dashboard, windshield, or out of the vehicle. In physics terms, seatbelts increase the time and distance over which your momentum …
The Five Main Parts of an Engine The five main parts of a typical internal combustion engine are the cylinder block, cylinder head, pistons, connecting rods, and crankshaft. These core components convert the energy of burning fuel into the rotating motion that drives a vehicle. Below, we explain each part, how they work together, and …
What Are the Three Things an Engine Needs to Run? An internal combustion engine fundamentally needs three things to run: air (specifically oxygen), fuel, and an ignition source—commonly a spark in gasoline engines or sufficient compression heat in diesel engines. In practice, these must be present in the right amounts and at the right time …
Why Japan Drives on the Left Japan drives on the left primarily because historic customs were reinforced by British-built railways in the 1870s and later codified in nationwide traffic laws; the system has remained consistent ever since, with the notable exception of Okinawa, which switched back to left-hand traffic in 1978 to align with the …
Engine Terminologies: A Comprehensive Guide to the Words That Power Machines Engine terminologies are the standardized words and phrases used to describe the parts, processes, measurements, and diagnostics of engines—most commonly internal combustion engines—along with key terms from turbines and rocket propulsion. This guide explains essential vocabulary so you can understand specifications, service manuals, performance …
How a Diesel Engine Works Without Spark Plugs Diesel engines ignite fuel by compressing air until it becomes hot enough for the injected diesel to auto-ignite, eliminating the need for spark plugs. This process—called compression ignition—depends on very high compression ratios, precise high-pressure fuel injection, and combustion chamber design that promotes rapid mixing and controlled …
What’s the Cheapest Good Car You Can Buy Right Now? In the U.S., the cheapest genuinely good new car you can buy is typically the Nissan Versa S (manual), with an MSRP around $16,300–$16,600 before destination and fees; it offers essential safety tech, acceptable performance, and low running costs. Close behind is the Mitsubishi Mirage …
Why Your Car’s Battery Light Turns On The battery warning light usually means your vehicle’s charging system isn’t keeping the 12-volt battery topped up—most often because of a failing alternator, slipping or broken drive belt, faulty voltage regulator, bad connections, or a blown fusible link. It can also be triggered by a failing battery, wiring …