If you’ve been around automotive magazines, blogs, and vlogs long enough, you’ve heard about crate engines. But if you’re like me and haven’t spent a lot of time in a garage, you might have questions about what that term means. In my case, the pronoun “Krait” has been subconsciously associated with a spaceship marque in […]
Author: Chris Chasse
Track Tires, Compared: What’s Right For You?
Breathe in. Breathe out. Your fingers flex around the wheel. Your feet twitch on the pedals. Your eyes dart between the track ahead, and the signal holding you back. The light changes, and in the blink of an eye you spring into action! Your foot slams the accelerator, tires scream as they spin, and spin, […]
Oil Starvation: the Preventable Disaster
Oil Starvation: The Preventable Disaster I don’t really know what triggered your need to learn about this, but it doesn’t matter. Either something gave you the heebie-jeebies and sent you looking for the causes of oil starvation so you can avoid them, or something terrible has already happened to your car, and you’re trying to […]
Engine Tug-of-War: Inline vs V-Type
The most important mechanical system in any automobile is the engine. Sure, there are plenty of systems that are essential, without which motion is impossible, but the engine is what turned the carriage into the horseless carriage. For most vehicles, the motor is still an internal combustion engine, with air intakes, exhaust manifolds, drive belts, […]
The Trouble with Car Batteries in a Winter Wonderland
The holidays have passed, and the weather outside is still very frightful. You’re (hopefully) nice and warm indoors, just thinking about how your car battery is holding up against the terrible conditions of a deep, bitter winter. I’ve got to say; it’s a suspiciously specific thought unless you recently experienced a dead battery or know […]
A Gifter’s Guide to Automotive Self-Care Tools
It’s the most wonderful and expensive time of the year! That means ridiculous travel arrangements, the overwhelming din of everyone you know and love crammed into one room, sales that make you wonder why anybody buys anything at full price, and budgets stretched further than our beltlines. I know you’re working on that last part […]