Owning a diesel car most likely means getting familiar with DEF fluid, which is used as part of the emissions system to keep your tailpipe as clean as possible. Since diesel exhaust fluid needs to be refilled on a fairly regular basis, you’ll likely encounter a lot of “folk wisdom”…
Getting stuck in the mud, snow, or sand is usually no fun. Whether from adverse driving conditions or just part of a fun weekend adventure, when the tires are spinning but you are going nowhere, the fun times tend to drop off pretty fast. Nobody enjoys digging a car out…
Cruising along the highway, you are stuck behind a cement truck. Practicing safe driving, you have allowed two full car lengths between you and the truck. Suddenly, the tranquil serenity inside your car is shattered as a small stone gets kicked up by the truck and dings your windshield. Sometime…
The car charging system has undergone several key evolutions in the history of the automobile, leading us to the current state of the art that has largely stayed frozen in time for the past several decades. With the advent of electric cars and the increasing demands for efficiency, however, automotive…
Engines need a lot of things to run smoothly. There’s a small army of sensors that regulate vehicle operation and performance (or lack thereof), including the manifold absolute pressure, or MAP sensor. A broken MAP sensor can present itself in several ways. If left unaddressed for an extended period of…
Fuel stabilizer is some of the most inexpensive insurance you can buy when storing a car, truck or small-engined tool (like a lawn mower or snowblower) long term. It gives you the peace of mind of knowing that when you go to start an engine after it’s been sitting for…
Learning how to safely jump-start a car isn’t difficult, but it’s an important skill to have, so that you can help someone else — or yourself — out of a sticky situation. Being comfortable with jump-starting a car means you’re less likely to be stranded if your battery dies, and…
Continually losing air in the same tire is a certain sign that a leak is present. If you find a hole, then it’s a simple matter of plugging it, adding air and going on your way. Unfortunately, not every tire leak is easily found, making it all the more difficult…
Learning how to clean car windows without having to deal with frustrating streaks and blotches isn’t just part of keeping your car looking as good as possible. Clean windows are also an important safety consideration, as dirty glass makes it that much harder to see at night, in the rain…
Did you discover rusting underneath your car? If so, you’re probably wondering how you can repair the problem — and what caused it in the first place. Learning how to handle chassis rust and prevent it from happening again can add years of life to your automobile. Corrosion is a…