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.
Is a Radiator a Cooler? Yes—sometimes. A radiator is a heat exchanger that moves heat from a fluid to the surrounding air. In cars and computer liquid-cooling systems, it functions as a cooler by shedding heat. In home heating systems, however, a radiator releases heat into a room, so it is not a “cooler” in …
Is Gas With Ethanol Better for Your Car? For most modern gasoline cars, gas with ethanol (like E10) is fine and often advantageous for emissions and octane, but it usually reduces fuel economy slightly; whether it’s “better” depends on your vehicle, how you drive, and the blend. Ethanol blends vary from E10 (10% ethanol) to …
Will insurance cover sugar in a gas tank? Generally yes, if you carry comprehensive coverage, most auto insurers will treat sugar in a gas tank as vandalism and cover the resulting damage, minus your deductible. If you only have liability or collision, there is typically no coverage. Claims are more likely to be denied if …
Did Canada ever drive on the left side of the road? Yes—but only in some regions and only until the early 20th century. Several Canadian provinces, especially in the Maritimes and British Columbia, originally followed left-hand traffic under British influence and switched to right-hand traffic between 1922 and 1924 to align with the United States; …
How to Turn On Blinkers (Turn Signals): What to Do in Cars, Motorcycles, and More In most cars, push the turn-signal stalk on the steering column down for a left turn and up for a right turn; a light tap gives a few blinks for lane changes, and hazards are activated by the red triangle …
How accurate is the odometer reading? In most modern cars running stock-size, properly inflated tires, the odometer is typically accurate to within about 1–2%; it can drift to roughly 2–5% off when tire size, wear, or pressure deviate from specification. That “accuracy” refers to the technical measurement of distance traveled. In sales paperwork, however, “accurate …
How long will a car suspension last? Most modern car suspension components last 50,000–100,000 miles (80,000–160,000 km) under normal driving, but there isn’t a single “expiration date”: shocks and struts typically need service in that range, while springs and structural arms can last much longer—sometimes the life of the vehicle—if they aren’t damaged or corroded. …
What Type of Brake Fluid Should I Use? Use the exact brake fluid specification printed on your vehicle’s brake fluid reservoir cap or in the owner’s manual—most modern cars specify DOT 4 or DOT 4 LV (low-viscosity), many older vehicles use DOT 3, silicone DOT 5 is for specific classic or military applications, and DOT …
The Biggest Weakness of the Electric Car: Charging Convenience and Infrastructure The biggest weakness of the electric car today is charging convenience—specifically the combination of slower refueling times and uneven, sometimes unreliable access to public fast-charging infrastructure. This limits parity with gasoline vehicles on long trips and creates barriers for drivers without home charging, even …
Does regenerative braking use actual brakes? No—regenerative braking primarily slows a vehicle by using its electric motor as a generator, not by applying the friction pads and rotors of conventional brakes; however, the car’s hydraulic friction brakes automatically blend in whenever additional stopping power is needed, at very low speeds, in emergencies, or when the …
Can you switch from 2WD to 4WD while driving? Yes—if your vehicle has a “shift-on-the-fly” part-time 4WD system, you can usually switch from 2H (2WD high) to 4H (4WD high) while moving at low to moderate speeds on low-traction surfaces. However, do not engage part-time 4WD on dry pavement, and only shift into 4L (4WD …
What Is Full Engine Repair? Full engine repair is a comprehensive process to restore an engine to reliable, near-factory operating condition, typically involving complete disassembly, inspection, machining, replacement of worn components, precise reassembly, and verification testing. Often called an “engine overhaul” or “engine rebuild,” it’s pursued when damage or wear is too extensive for minor …
Is the Smart car electric or gas? Both exist: older Smart cars were sold with gasoline (and in Europe, some diesel) engines, while all new Smart vehicles on sale today are fully electric. In the U.S., Smart switched to electric-only sales from 2017 until the brand exited the market after 2019; globally, Smart has been …
Bad Steering Rack Symptoms: What to Watch For and How to Tell Typical symptoms of a failing steering rack include heavy or intermittent steering assist, loose or wandering steering, clunking or knocking when turning, poor self-centering, fluid leaks at the rack boots, an off-center wheel, uneven tire wear, and—on electric systems—steering warning lights or sudden …
Is clutch work expensive? Yes—clutch work is typically one of the more expensive routine repairs on a manual-transmission vehicle, largely because it’s labor-intensive. In 2025, full clutch replacement in the U.S. commonly runs about $800–$1,800 for mainstream cars, $1,000–$2,500+ for trucks or AWD vehicles, and $1,500–$3,000+ for European/performance models with dual‑mass flywheels. Prices vary by …
What to do if your car is hydroplaning If your car begins to hydroplane, ease off the accelerator, keep the steering wheel straight, avoid sudden braking or turning, and wait for the tires to regain traction; if you must brake, apply firm, steady pressure if you have ABS (most modern cars do), or gently pump …
What Is an Engine in a Car? An engine in a car is the machine that converts stored energy into motion to propel the vehicle. In most gasoline and diesel cars, this is an internal combustion engine (ICE) that burns fuel; in electric vehicles, propulsion comes from electric motors powered by a battery, which serve …
Can a car run without a catalytic converter? Yes, most cars will physically run without a catalytic converter, but doing so is illegal in many places, much louder, significantly more polluting, likely to trigger a check-engine light and fail inspection, and can expose you to fines and insurance or warranty problems. Below, we explain how …
What Is the Main Purpose of a Torque Converter? The main purpose of a torque converter is to hydraulically couple the engine to an automatic transmission, transmitting torque—and multiplying it at low speeds—while allowing the vehicle to stop in gear without stalling. In practical terms, it lets the engine keep running at idle, provides smooth …
Does regenerative braking actually make a difference? Yes—regenerative braking typically makes a meaningful difference in real-world efficiency and range. In battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), it can recapture roughly 10–30% of energy in stop‑and‑go city driving (often translating to a 5–20% range boost depending on conditions), while gains on steady highways are smaller, usually in the low …
What Happens If Tongue Weight Is Too Heavy? If tongue weight is too heavy, it overloads the tow vehicle’s rear axle and hitch, lifts weight off the front axle, degrades steering and braking, increases the risk of tire and component failures, and can put you over legal weight limits; the fix is to redistribute cargo, …
Which cable do you connect first: red or black? Connect the red (positive +) cable first, then the black (negative −/ground). When disconnecting, remove the black cable first, then the red. This order minimizes sparking and reduces the risk of short circuits or battery gas ignition, especially when jump-starting a vehicle; always follow your vehicle …
Can You Still Drive Without a Brake Booster? Yes—but it’s unsafe, requires dramatically more pedal force, and should only be done to move the vehicle to a safe spot or repair facility at very low speeds. A failed brake booster doesn’t usually remove hydraulic braking entirely, but it makes stopping distances longer and control harder, …
Who is the most successful F1 driver in history? Lewis Hamilton is the most successful Formula 1 driver by the sport’s main statistical measures: he holds the all-time records for race wins, pole positions, and podium finishes, and he shares the record for most world championships (seven) with Michael Schumacher. Depending on how success is …
What does a 1:5 gear ratio mean? A 1:5 gear ratio typically means the output (driven) shaft turns once for every five turns of the input (driving) shaft—so speed is reduced to one-fifth and torque is ideally multiplied by five. However, notation varies in industry: some sources write ratios as output:input, in which case 1:5 …
Tongue Weight vs. Towing Capacity: What Drivers Need to Know Tongue weight is the downward force a trailer exerts on a tow vehicle’s hitch, while towing capacity is the maximum total weight a vehicle is rated to pull. Tongue weight typically equals 10–15% of a conventional bumper-pull trailer’s total weight (and 15–25% for fifth-wheel/gooseneck setups), …
What Is a Production Line Job? A production line job is a role in which a worker operates within a sequence of organized, often repetitive tasks—alongside machines and teammates—to transform materials into finished goods efficiently and at scale. In practice, this means standing or moving along a line or cell, following standardized procedures, and meeting …
What Kills Fuel Injectors Fuel injectors are most often destroyed by contamination (dirt, rust, water, varnish), heat and coking, electrical faults or poor wiring, incompatible fuels/additives, overpressure or bad tuning, and age-related wear. In practice, dirty or water-laden fuel, neglected filters, overheating, and electrical problems are the leading causes, with direct-injection gasoline and modern common-rail …
Which Lasts Longer: CVT or Traditional Automatic? In general, a well-designed torque-converter automatic tends to last longer than most belt- or chain-driven CVTs, especially under heavy loads or harsh use; however, modern CVTs from brands like Toyota, Subaru, and Honda often run 150,000–200,000+ miles with proper maintenance, narrowing the gap. Longevity ultimately hinges on design, …
How common were cars in 1940? Cars were common in the United States by 1940—roughly one passenger car for every four to five people—but they were far less common in most other countries; globally, the majority of the world’s automobiles were concentrated in the U.S., while much of Europe and the rest of the world …