Some car repair tasks, like recall work, are best performed by professionals. But many maintenance tasks, even something like a timing belt or clutch replacement, can be performed by a home mechanic. However, as cars gain more electronics and sensor-reliant safety features, repair costs go up, and the work becomes increasingly specialized. In fact, Chevrolet …
If you don’t drive your car for several years, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise when you try to turn it on, and it won’t start. It’s normal for car batteries to lose their charge over time. But sadly, driving your car regularly still doesn’t guarantee your battery won’t ever die. So if your …
The rumors are true: a rotary engine will once again appear in Mazda’s lineup. That’s great news for the ‘spinning Dorito’ faithful, but for many, it can seem like an odd decision. The rotary engine has been dinged for unreliability, especially the one found in the Mazda RX-8. It’s held in poor regard compared to …
The Hyundai Tucson has been a popular platform for the automaker for several years. What started as an economy four-wheel drive vehicle has steadily improved in quality and features over the years. Now, the Tucson is one of the best sellers for the company. And, I own one that I have enjoyed. It’s no Jeep …
An RV is a tool to get you to your adventure destination and provide shelter. RV living has its challenges, though. It is not all spectacular sunsets and campfires. Surprises happen that can disrupt schedules and mental or emotional stability for the moment. Not test driving an RV can lead to a disaster Test drive …
Not as common in newer cars but still a problem for many older used cars, is a cracked dashboard. While it may be more of a cosmetic problem than any issue with safety, having a cracked dashboard can be rather annoying. Especially because the dashboard sits immediately in our range of sight, potentially leading you …
In July, a story surfaced of a neglected 1988 Ferrari Testarossa abandoned on a street in Puerto Rico. At that time, I covered how the car had sat for 17 years prior to a Youtuber with a channel called Ratarossa becoming aware of it. He took a pass on purchasing the Ferrari but wanted to know what would happen …
Campers and RVs can be fun, but they require proper maintenance just like any car, pickup truck, or motorcycle. However, while RV maintenance is similar in some ways to car care, RVs have a few extra service requirements. And if you want to head out on an adventure, you’ll want to check that they’ve been …
Since the beginning of mechanized locomotion, people have been trying to figure out ways to make it more efficient. The most basic way to achieve efficiency is to get more energy with less fuel. In general, engines are relatively simple; you need a spark, fuel, and oxygen to make them work. Naturally, any of those …
As fall begins the the leaves begin to change colors, many of us are left feeling grateful for some cooler weather. Cooler weather and less sunlight can mean a lot of things for our car. But, if you live in the north where trees are beginning to change colors and die, it could also mean …
Despite their different designs, cars and motorcycles have the same basic mechanical components. They both have brake rotors, tires, as well as engines and/or electric motors. And helping send the engine/motor power to the wheels is a transmission. But at first glance, a motorcycle’s transmission doesn’t necessarily look like the one in a car. So, …
Range has become less and less of an issue for EVs in the past few years. And while that’s partially due to the spread of fast chargers, it’s mostly down to better battery design. However, like ‘conventional’ car batteries, even the best EV battery eventually wears down and needs to be replaced. In the former …
Can falling leaves damage your car or its paint? You better be-leaf it. Fortunately, avoiding such damage isn’t all that difficult.
The addition of a vehicle to your household means more money out of pocket. Hopefully, you did some shopping and found a good deal on a vehicle. Maybe you even budgeted for oil changes, wiper blade replacements, and other necessary maintenance that a vehicle will need during its lifetime. Assuming you’ve got that covered, there are ways to save …
Losing your car keys is one of the most annoying and nerve-wracking experiences when it comes to owning a car. Back in the day, it wasn’t that big of a deal as car keys could be easily replaced, but as cars have become more advanced nowadays, so have their keys. So what do you do …
Taking your car to the mechanic can be an extremely annoying and anxiety-ridden process. Someone doing some exploratory wrenching underneath your hood can feel like ages. Although conversations with mechanics can be vague and laborious, they could be coming to an end, at least for Mercedes-Benz owners. Mercedes-Benz is putting down the torque wrench and …
Considering its relatively low cost of entry, excellent range, and phenomenal performance stats, the Tesla Model 3 is practically the poster child for electric cars. However, it’s still relatively new to the market and some prospective buyers might be wary when it comes to the longevity of these Teslas. After all, there’s no true test …
If you’re like me, chances are you dread buying new tires. Tires can be expensive, confusing, and if you have to switch between seasonal tires, they can also be a hassle. On top of all of the different types, sizes, and brands, the prices on tires can range from relatively affordable, to impressively expensive. If …
Is buying a new Toyota worth the spend? With ToyotaCare standard on all new models, we say yes. Find out why here.
Electric vehicles are quickly becoming more and more popular. No longer too expensive for the average consumer, owning an electric vehicle has changed from a dream of the future to a present possibility. Because they are so unfamiliar still, many people might feel apprehensive about making the switch. In fact, it might even deter someone …
There are so many performance-enhancing and mechanical upgrades that you can get for your car. Depending on what car you drive, there could be more than a few gimmicky purchases that don’t help. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what makes a difference and what doesn’t, but it would make sense that having a bigger radiator …
Being out on the road in an RV can be liberating. Traveling to destinations of scenic beauty or historical significance can be a thrilling part of an adventure. But, just as any trip can be satisfying, it can also be more challenging. One of the ways to avoid some of the pitfalls that an RV can …
Maintaining your car goes beyond simple oil changes and buying new tires every few years. Washing your car is just as important as any other maintenance if you want to keep your car looking as new as possible during the time you own it, but how often should you wash it? The time interval is …
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to isolate. Airplanes, trains, buses, ridesharing services, and cabs have become a more risky way to get around, leaving our personal automobiles the safest way to travel, as long as we keep your car clean. My wife and I live in NYC and after seven years of not keeping …
Even if your car doesn’t use Brembos, your brakes are an important maintenance item. And not just the pads, but the brake rotors themselves eventually wear, too. Especially if you take your car to the racetrack. Because consistent braking is so important, one of the common performance modifications is fitting slotted or drilled brake rotors. …
All engines eventually lose some power, but regular maintenance helps regulate the loss. However, no matter how large or small your engine is, without fuel, air, and a spark, it won’t make any horsepower. Clogged fuel injectors and air filters cause problems for trucks, cars, and motorcycles—and so can broken spark plugs. But they’re not …
Whether you’re working on a car or a motorcycle, proper maintenance or repair work requires the right tools. However, even tasks like replacing a water pump or a clutch don’t require filling your toolbox with specialist equipment. Nevertheless, setting up your first toolbox can understandably be a little intimidating. But with the guide below, you’ll …
You may have seen trending videos of an old body-work trick some people would try to use on their car. It features a rather unsanitary tool that most people have in their homes, even they don’t work on vehicles: a toilet plunger. The theory behind using a toilet plunger is that you can use suction …
Besides 0-60 times, one of the most common ways you can compare two cars’ performance is horsepower. And owners often install mods like performance exhausts and turbochargers in an effort to give their engine more power. However, not only is your engine’s quoted horsepower not always accurate, but it’s also not static. Over time, no …
Unless you park in a garage or live someplace utterly void of a sprinkler system, chances are you’ve probably let your car get at least a little bit misted by a sprinkler. While many people don’t think twice about parking their car in the driveway, if you aren’t careful, you could be dowsing your car …
If you use your RV to any great degree, you will start to notice things that could be better made for comfort, safety, or communication. Some of those things can be easily be updated in your RV eventually. But, there are other things that you will find are more of an immediate need than a …
Regular maintenance of a car is something most drivers are familiar with. Things like changing the oil and rotating the tires is not an odd thing to hear about in connection with keeping a car running well. But, many people also own an RV. Those need regular maintenance as well. RV maintenance, however, is not …
There are so many ways to wash your car. On top of that, there are so many products like soaps, waxes, and polishes that line the shelves, and it can be hard to know what products are worth your time and money. Washing your car can seem easy, but you could actually be doing a …
Keeping your car clean and shiny can be an arduous task, especially if you can’t park your car in a garage. And while regular washes and wax applications can help keep your car looking practically new for a couple of weeks and up to a month, there’s nothing better than having a ceramic coating professionally …
Driving a manual transmission may seem like a thing of the past, but true driving enthusiasts know better. While the new mid-engine Corvette might have ditched the option for a stick shift, there are still plenty of sports cars that still offer them. Whether you are buying a newer car or an older classic, there …
If you’ve ever witnessed someone pushing a Toyota MR2 Spyder down the side of a parking lot trying to get it to start itself…that could have been me. We’ve all been guilty of leaving ourselves stranded without jumper cables at some point in time or trying to help someone when they don’t have them. A …
Coolant is just as important as oil when it comes to car maintenance. But so is where the coolant resides—the radiator. Compared to moving wear items like timing belts, brake pads, and clutches, your car’s radiator is fairly long-lived. But nothing on or in your vehicle lasts forever, not even the radiator. Air-cooling vs. liquid-cooling …
Oil and coolant aren’t the only fluids involved in car and motorcycle maintenance. But even if you change your transmission fluid, if your vehicle isn’t electric, it’s not going to run without gasoline or diesel. Or rather, it won’t run unless the fuel makes its way into the combustion chamber. Which, in modern vehicles, is …
We don’t typically think about the importance of our car battery until it’s dead — boy isn’t that typical. Depending on where you live, you probably have to replace your car’s battery every 2 – 5 years. On top of temperatures changes from seasons and general use, leaving your car in your garage without turning it …
Next to checking your oil and tires, one of the most vital maintenance tasks is looking after your brakes. If brake pads wear too much, not only does stopping safely become more difficult, you risk damaging the rotors themselves. But even with modern brake technology, sometimes the pads just don’t wear evenly. However, sometimes that’s …
Car maintenance can seem overly simplified sometimes. We take our cars in for an oil change at regular intervals and get new brakes and tires whenever they are needed. Chances are the average car owner does significantly less maintenance to their car than they should keep it running at its best. For an average car …
I am an “automotive nut.” I have appreciated the artistry and engineering wonders that automobiles are for most of my life. I have also learned how to tinker with them. However, I still make mistakes for which there are expensive consequences. For example, I know that when charging a battery, you are to keep your …
On our day-to-day drive, we don’t always plan for all of the possible emergencies. It’s hard to know what you should keep packed in your car, or it seems like keep your car stocked with emergency tools is too expensive. Being prepared for an emergency can help you, and it can also make you more …
A tire pressure gauge is one of the simplest tools a car owner can keep handy. They are easy to find and inexpensive, but it’s important that you keep a tire pressure gauge in each one of your cars. Most of us understand the general use of a tire pressure gauge, but there are some …
Even outside of oil, a significant part of vehicle maintenance involves taking care of fluids. And while EVs don’t have motor oil, they do still need coolant. However, just like it’s easy to be overwhelmed by oil grades, it can be challenging to know what coolant to pick. Especially when it’s available in such a …
Whether you own a car or a motorcycle, one of the most important maintenance items is changing your oil. Compared to replacing a clutch or a timing belt, changing your engine oil is relatively straight-forward. However, not only does modern motor oil come in many different varieties, there are a lot of oil grades available. …
Sometimes it’s tough to know when it’s time to replace your car because letting go is tough After all, we end up spending a lot of time and money on our vehicles, and we create some of our most fun memories in them too. Here are five signs that it’s time to replace your car. …
If you’re like me then you probably procrastinate on getting new tires as much as possible. Like oil changes and other forms of standard car maintenance, getting new tires can be stressful and expensive, and there are so many options it’s hard to know what the best deal is. If you cheap out on bad …
Mention Ferrari or Lamborghini, and many people think of posters of exotic cars that once hung in their rooms. That is because exotic cars are always fascinating for their beautiful lines, or their quirkiness. One of the most iconic exotic cars of the 1980s is the Ferrari Testarossa. That Ferrari model’s design was, and is …
Synthetic oil is growing in popularity even among regular car owners. But is the extra cost of synthetic oil worth it or are you wasting money?
