It’s scary to pull your oil cap off and see thick, dark gunk sitting right on top of your valve train. Many drivers ignore this mess until the engine starts ticking, but that mistake leads to serious damage. I have…
During my years of fixing cars, I learned that a dirty engine bay hides problems. You might miss a small oil leak or a fraying wire because of all that caked-on gunk. A clean engine runs cooler, it looks better…
Unless you have a professional race car, revving your motor is usually a bad idea. Most people do it to show off, but they do not realize the stress they put on the metal parts. It creates heat, puts strain…
With more people driving automatics, the old tricks for controlling speed seem lost, yet you can still use your gears to help slow down. I have been fixing cars for years, and I promise it is not magic. It is…
Who knew that slowing down could actually help save your car parts? Many folks think that brakes are the only way to stop, but the engine plays a big part too. If you drive in the mountains or hit heavy…
Since I bought my first car with start-stop technology, I have hated it. The engine cuts out at stoplights, the cabin loses its cool, and the delay when you hit the gas is annoying. It puts extra stress on the…
You might feel that familiar frustration when your engine cuts out at a red light. It happens right when you want to pull away, but the car hesitates for a split second. Many drivers hate this feature, as it feels…
As we get older, we learn that cars are just giant puzzles that occasionally bite back. My first engine project ended with a car that would not start, and that is when I learned the value of patience. Timing issues…
When you pop the hood to fix a rough idle, finding no marks on the pulleys feels like a nightmare. You might assume your engine is a lost cause or that you need a master mechanic to step in. I…
Each car tells you when it feels unhappy. You might hear pinging sounds, notice poor gas mileage, or feel like the engine lacks power when you step on the gas. Many people think this means their engine is toast. It…