Turbochargers for engines are quite complicated but also surprisingly simple, with a vast array of different options available from many manufacturers. You’ll find some turbocharged engines coming straight from the factory, either to boost overall performance or to get decent performance from a small engine, while others are available as aftermarket options that you can […]
Author: Greg Wiesen
Car Care 101: Diesel Engines and Glow Plugs
One of the most common things people say when talking about diesel engines, particularly when comparing them to standard gas engines, is that they require different sorts of maintenance—in particular, people love to mention how diesel engines don’t have spark plugs that need to be replaced. That’s true; diesel engines don’t have spark plugs, but […]
Car Care 101: The Basics of Lowering Your Vehicle
The suspension is one of the most important parts of your vehicle, so much so that it’s often considered part of your car’s safety equipment. Your vehicle’s suspension affects not only the quality of your ride and its handling but your comfort inside and how well you can remain in control behind the wheel. That […]
Simple Maintenance for Car-Care Beginners
Now that the holidays are behind us, we’ve all got new books to read, warm socks to wear, and maybe some new tires for our cars. And perhaps you’ve received a lovely new set of tools you’ve been hoping for, but what do you do now? How should you put those tools to use and […]
Is It Time to Upgrade Your Car’s Headlights?
Is it time to upgrade your headlights? If you’re driving a car that has old, yellowish headlights, then the answer to that question is probably a resounding “yes.” Those older halogen headlights work well enough for a lot of city and daytime driving, but they fall short of the better options available today. If you […]
How to Maintain a Toyota SUV
Whether you’re someone who likes to do all of the work on your vehicle yourself, prefers to have a certified expert handle it all, or falls somewhere in between with a combination of both options, it’s vital that you know how and when to take care of things for your car. When looking into any […]
Picking Out New Tires? Here’s What You Need to Know
Anyone can go to a tire shop or a local dealership and pay someone to put new tires on their vehicle, and they probably won’t even stop to consider what the new tires are. If you’re like me, however, you prefer to know that your tires are good quality, the proper size and make, and […]
Don’t Toss Old Tires, Oil, or Other Parts in the Trash!
Whether you’re new to working on your vehicle or you’ve been repairing cars for many years, we all struggle sometimes with knowing what to do with old parts after a repair or replacement job. It can be tempting to just toss an old tire into the trash, especially if it’s damaged, but you’re much better […]
Understanding Your Honda Warranty
When it comes to reliability and great performance, Honda is one of the best brands on the road, with a lot to offer and decades of happy and loyal customers. Like any other major automotive manufacturer, Honda covers its vehicles with warranty protection that you can take advantage of when it comes time for service. […]
7 Fluids You Can Check to Keep Your Car Running Like New
While Base Commander Jack D. Ripper might’ve been concerned about the perceived international Communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids, I’m more concerned about the fluids in your car. Since you no doubt see advertisements for an oil change near you on a near-daily basis, I likely don’t need to […]
How Do You Check Your Alignment at Home?
Checking and adjusting your car’s alignment at home is not impossible, but it is somewhat complicated and takes some work–that shouldn’t dissuade you from trying it; just be prepared. If you prefer to Google “auto alignment near me” and take your vehicle to a service station, then that’s completely fair, but it is something you […]
Get the Most From Your Tires Throughout the Year
There’s no denying that the tires on your vehicle are one of the most essential parts to maintain in great condition, no matter where you live or what your road conditions are like. If you’re in a place with rough winter weather, like the Midwest, then this becomes even more crucial as having the right […]
How to Care for Your Chevy Suburban
The Suburban is the largest SUV in Chevy’s lineup, and if you take care of it properly, it can keep you and your family on the road for a long time. Whether you just bought a 2022 Chevy Suburban or you’re thinking about it, and you’re curious about what kind of maintenance schedule you might […]
Don’t Lose Your Cool When Your Engine Does
You’re cruising down the road, perhaps going to work or simply enjoying your day off, when all of a sudden great plumes of steam start rolling out from under the hood of your car; what do you do? Do you freak out and panic, perhaps slam on your brakes in the middle of traffic or […]
Gobs of Goo: Let’s Talk Grease
When working on a vehicle, few things are worse than reaching for some anti-seize lubricant or bearing grease only to discover that you don’t have any. Most of us make sure we have the right parts ready when we’re working on something – it’s easy to remember spark plugs when you’re replacing one because that’s […]
Car Care: It’s All About Timing
While there is a lot of simple auto-maintenance that you can easily tackle by yourself at home, there are other sorts of service that require much more expertise. Even with things that you probably don’t want to mess with in your driveway, it’s still important to understand how everything works so that you’ll know what […]
Get Familiar with Your Car’s Precious Bodily Fluids
Allow me to paint a picture for you: it’s 7 am on a Monday morning, you’re dragging hard from enjoying your weekend and running a bit late for work; you get to your car and notice a pool of strange, brown fluid slowly drying below your vehicle. Your first thought is a string of expletives; […]
How to Change the Oil in a Ram 1500
Proper car care can mean a lot of different things; it can be as simple as checking your tire tread depth once a month and making sure your turn signal lights are working, or as elaborate as rebuilding an engine. One of the simplest ways to care for your own vehicle, and skip a trip […]
Tire Treadwear Ratings: Grip vs Longevity
I firmly believe in the importance of having the best tires possible on your vehicle to ensure you remain in control of your car and have it respond to your steering precisely. That being said, there’s no single “best tire” for every driver, vehicle, and road condition – it’s a matter of what you’re looking […]
Young Drivers: Check Your Tires
Young drivers out there, I have good news: I’m about to share with you the most compelling and exciting information you’ve ever read. Are you ready? Well, too bad because I lied – this is actually going to be about the tires on your car, and there’s just no way to make that kind of […]
Car Care 101: Which Car Additives are Worth Using
If you’ve been inside an auto parts store at any point in the last couple of decades, then you’ve likely noticed a particular trend: the massive increase in the number of little bottles filling aisles. While some of these bottles contain important things like motor oil and coolant, many of them offer a wide range […]