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.
Are Road Trains Legal in the United States? Yes, but only in limited forms and on restricted routes. Full-length, Australian-style “road trains” with three or more full-size trailers are generally not legal on U.S. public roads. The United States permits certain long combination vehicles (LCVs)—notably twin 28.5‑foot “STAA doubles” nationwide on designated highways, and in …
Countries that use right-hand-drive vehicles (drive on the left) Many countries use right-hand-drive (RHD) vehicles and keep left on the road, including the United Kingdom, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Kenya, and Jamaica. In total, roughly 75 countries and territories follow left-hand traffic (LHT), where RHD cars are standard. …
What Is a Speedometer and an Odometer? A speedometer is the instrument in a vehicle that shows your current speed, while an odometer records the total distance the vehicle has traveled. Together, they help drivers control speed, plan maintenance, and document a vehicle’s history—functions that matter for safety, legal compliance, and resale value across cars, …
What Is the Most Common Failure in a Power Steering System? The most common failure in a power steering system is fluid leakage in hydraulic setups—typically from hoses, O-rings, pump shaft seals, or rack-and-pinion seals—leading to low fluid, noisy operation, and heavy steering. In vehicles with electric power steering (EPS), the most frequent issues involve …
What Happens When an Engine Coil Fails? When an engine ignition coil fails, the affected cylinder loses spark or gets a weak spark, causing a misfire that leads to rough running, reduced power, poor fuel economy, and a check-engine light (often flashing under load). Continued driving can overheat and damage the catalytic converter as unburned …
Can you insure a salvage title in South Carolina? Yes—but not while it’s a straight “salvage” title. In South Carolina, insurers generally will not cover a vehicle that still holds a salvage title for on-road use. After the vehicle is repaired, passes a state inspection, and is retitled as “rebuilt” (often shown as “Salvage Rebuilt”), …
Are Traffic Lights Light-Activated? Mostly no: standard traffic lights are not triggered by your headlights or by ambient light. Modern signals either run on fixed timing plans or respond to vehicle and pedestrian detectors such as in‑pavement loops, video cameras, radar, magnetometers, and push buttons. A narrow exception involves specialized optical systems for emergency vehicles, …
What Are the Parts of a Clutch Called? The main parts of a typical automotive clutch are the flywheel, clutch disc (driven plate), pressure plate (clutch cover) with a diaphragm spring, release bearing (throwout bearing), release fork/lever, and a pilot bearing or bushing; the system is actuated by either a cable or a hydraulic setup …
How to Tell If Your Car Needs Brake Fluid You likely need brake fluid—or a brake system service—if the red BRAKE warning light is on, the pedal feels soft or spongy, stopping distances are increasing, or the fluid level in the reservoir is below the MIN line. In practice, low fluid can signal worn pads …
What Is the Cooling System? A cooling system is the set of components and processes that remove excess heat from a space, device, fluid, or organism to keep its temperature within a safe or desired range; examples include car radiators, air conditioners, computer heat sinks, industrial chillers, and even the human body’s sweat response. In …
The four types of suspension systems The four main types of automotive suspension systems are: dependent (solid/live axle), independent, semi-independent (twist-beam), and interconnected (cross-linked hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric). These categories describe how wheels are linked across an axle and determine how a vehicle rides, handles, and carries loads. The four core types (by axle layout) …
What was the average price of a car in the 40s? In the United States, a typical new car in the 1940s cost roughly $1,200 on average in nominal dollars, with prices generally ranging from about $800 at the start of the decade to around $1,500 by 1949. Adjusted for inflation, that’s roughly the equivalent …
Is Toyota’s i-FORCE 2.4L Turbo Four-Cylinder a Good Engine? Yes—Toyota’s i-FORCE 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (engine code T24A-FTS) is broadly a strong, efficient, and modern powerplant with good real-world torque and a growing record of solid reliability across multiple Toyota and Lexus models. It’s not as inherently silky as an old-school V6 and some early-production vehicles …
Were cars expensive in the 1930s? Compared with today’s sticker prices, mainstream American cars in the 1930s were not expensive—many new models sold for roughly $500–$800 (about $10,000–$16,000 in 2025 dollars). But in the context of the Great Depression—falling wages, high unemployment, and tight credit—a new car still represented months of pay for most families, …
How Much Horsepower Do You Gain From a Turbo? On a typical gasoline engine, adding a properly sized and tuned turbocharger often yields about 30–70% more crank horsepower at moderate boost; with robust supporting mods and fuel, gains can reach 100% or more. A quick rule of thumb: each 1 psi of boost can add …
Will Sugar in the Gas Tank Ruin an Engine? No—sugar in a gas tank rarely “ruins” an engine. Because sugar does not dissolve in gasoline or diesel, it doesn’t circulate as a destructive syrup. Instead, it behaves like gritty debris that can clog the fuel filter, strain or damage the fuel pump, and potentially foul …
What Is a Crumple Zone? A crumple zone is a part of a vehicle’s structure intentionally designed to deform and crush in a crash, absorbing impact energy to keep forces lower on occupants inside the cabin. In modern vehicles, these zones are engineered into the front, rear, and sometimes sides, channeling crash energy away from …
Why They’re Called “Freeways” They’re called “freeways” because the “free” refers to freedom from at-grade intersections, traffic signals, and direct property access—allowing traffic to flow freely—not because they are free of tolls. In U.S. highway engineering, a freeway is a fully controlled-access road designed for uninterrupted, high-speed travel, and it may be tolled or untolled …
How Gas Station Pumps Know When to Stop They stop because the nozzle senses when liquid fuel covers a small hole near the tip, creating a vacuum that mechanically trips a shutoff valve. In practice, a venturi inside the nozzle generates suction; as soon as rising fuel blocks the sensing port, the sudden vacuum flexes …
What Is the Best Vintage Motorcycle to Buy? There isn’t a single best vintage motorcycle for everyone, but for most first-time classic buyers seeking dependable riding, strong parts support, and solid resale value, the Honda CB750 SOHC (1969–1976) and BMW R75/5 (1970–1973) are standout choices. If your priority is blue-chip appreciation, look to the Kawasaki …
What Car Was Popular in the 1960s? The Ford Mustang stands out as the most popular and culturally defining car of the 1960s—especially in the United States—while the Volkswagen Beetle and the Mini were widespread global favorites. Popularity varied by region and by how it’s measured (sales, cultural footprint, affordability, or motorsport success), but these …
What Cars Are Used for Lowriders? Most lowriders are classic American, rear‑wheel‑drive, body‑on‑frame cars—especially 1958–64 Chevrolet Impalas—alongside popular platforms like 1978–87 G‑bodies (Buick Regal, Chevy Monte Carlo, Oldsmobile Cutlass), 1970s Caprice/Impala, and large luxury models from Cadillac and Lincoln; trucks and some imports are also used, typically with hydraulic or air suspension. Lowriding is a …
What Is Biofuel? Biofuel is a renewable fuel made from recently living biological material—such as plants, organic waste, or algae—used to power vehicles, aircraft, ships, heat systems, and sometimes electricity generation. It differs from fossil fuels because its carbon originally comes from atmospheric CO2 captured by biomass, offering the potential for lower lifecycle greenhouse-gas emissions …
What Is the Ignition System? An ignition system is the set of components that creates and controls the high-voltage spark that ignites the air‑fuel mixture in a gasoline (spark‑ignition) engine; it is not used in diesels or electric vehicles. In modern vehicles, this system converts low-voltage battery power into precisely timed sparks at each cylinder, …
Symptoms of a Bad Fuel Gauge Common symptoms include erratic or stuck readings (pegged full or empty), an inconsistent low-fuel warning light, and an inaccurate range/miles-to-empty display. A fuel gauge relies on a tank sender, wiring, the instrument cluster, and often the body/engine computer; when any link fails, the display can misreport how much fuel …
What “dry sump” means in engines A dry sump is an engine lubrication system that stores oil in a separate external tank and uses scavenge pumps to remove oil from a shallow pan, ensuring consistent oil pressure and preventing starvation during high g-forces. In contrast to a wet sump, which keeps oil in the bottom …
Symptoms of Positive Crankcase Pressure: What Drivers Should Watch For Positive crankcase pressure typically shows up as oil leaks, a dipstick that pops up, visible vapor from the oil filler or dipstick tube, an oil cap that hisses or “dances,” increased oil consumption, and sometimes blue smoke from the exhaust. In simple terms, when the …
How Catalytic Converters Work, Simply Explained Catalytic converters clean a car’s exhaust by using precious-metal catalysts to speed up chemical reactions that turn harmful gases—carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx)—into safer gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor (H2O), and nitrogen (N2) as hot exhaust flows through a ceramic honeycomb. In …
What Needs to Be Done Every 30,000 Miles At roughly every 30,000 miles, most vehicles benefit from replacing the engine air filter and cabin air filter, rotating the tires and checking alignment, thoroughly inspecting the brake system, checking or servicing transmission fluid as specified, inspecting coolant, and performing a comprehensive look-over of belts, hoses, suspension, …
Why the UK Drives on the Left The United Kingdom drives on the left because historical customs dating back to horseback travel favored passing on the left to keep the right (often dominant) hand free—originally for swords, later for reins and brakes—then laws in the late 18th and early 19th centuries formalized the practice nationwide. …