Walk down the power tool aisle at your local home improvement store, and you’ll be met with a rainbow of alluring options. From orange Rigid drills to acid-green Ryobi sanders and more, the whole spectrum of colors is on display. This might make for a colorful shopping experience, but it can also be a little […]
Author: Matt Dodge
Between spending Father's Day at the local race track and watching NASCAR in his grandparent's living room, Matt Dodge has long been fascinated with all things automotive. Matt has worked at a variety of business magazines, daily newspapers, and trade publications while making time for some unique side hustles, including stints as a tour guide and pedicab operator. Quirky tales from automotive history and helpful how-to guides are some of Matt's favorite topics, though his own D.I.Y. efforts have largely been limited to keeping his 1999 GMC Savana from imploding and removing the backseat of his Honda Accord to make more room for surfboards.
Delving Into DeWalt Tools and Their Extensive History
In the world of automotive tools, a few names rise to the top. While there is certainly no shortage of brands producing torque and impact wrenches, pliers, ratchet and socket sets, and everything else you need for a long day under the hood, these tools tend to vary in terms of quality, price, and reliability. […]
Why You Should Make Brake Bedding Part of Your Routine
Given their role in bringing your two-ton car, truck, or SUV to a stop, you can really never be too careful ensuring your brakes are in good working order. We all know the standard maintenance checklist when it comes to the brakes—keeping an eye on brake fluid, replacing brake pads every 20,000 miles, and brake […]
Diesel vs. Gas: Choosing the Right Engine For Your Next Pickup
Diesel and gas engines have a great deal in common, but there are also some key differences. Both diesel and gas engines use internal combustion to create power. Both employ pistons to drive a crankshaft to send power through the drivetrain and, ultimately, to the wheels. The main difference comes down to some specific steps […]
More Than Hot Air: A Look at the Modern Airbag
From waxing the hood to deep-cleaning the wheels and giving the dash a healthy coat of Armor All, drivers tend to obsess over the smallest details. That said, there’s one common vehicle component that no driver is in a rush to get acquainted with: the airbag. This vital piece of safety equipment is the last […]
What Is Power Steering and What Are Some Causes of Power Steering Failure?
From performance upgrades and safety systems to convenience and comfort features, there have been countless advancements in automotive technology since the first gas-powered car was produced in 1886. We tend to take such features for granted, but it’s hard to imagine getting behind the wheel of a vehicle that lacks an electric ignition starter, seat […]
A Lifted Truck for an Off-Road Advantage
If you’re an avid off-roader, you know the value of good ground clearance; putting a little extra space between your vehicle and the road can mean the difference between a successful excursion and one that ends in frustration. Coil spring spacers can add between 10 and 12 mm of ground clearance, while a set of […]
Fuel Economics 101: Why Do Older Cars Lose Efficiency?
While horsepower and torque are certainly important, fuel efficiency tends to be the most critical metric for the average driver. Having plenty of power is always nice, but on a day-to-day basis, your vehicle’s fuel economy will be a far more relevant statistic. If you’re shopping for a new or pre-owned vehicle, fuel economy can […]
Modding Your Way To Better Fuel Efficiency
Driven by technological innovation and tightening efficiency standards, fuel economy has been on a steady rise for decades. In 1970, the average vehicle posted a lowly 12 MPG, which rose to almost 17 MPG by 2000. The last twenty years have seen even more impressive growth, with an average MPG of 25.4 in 2020—an increase […]
Cast Versus Forged Wheels: Which One Is Right for You
Wheels come in all shapes and sizes, from run-of-the-mill designs straight from the factory to custom styles that can turn a vehicle into a one-of-a-kind work of automotive art. While style is certainly important, so is construction, which is why all drivers should familiarize themselves with the different types of wheels on offer. Wheels are […]
Battery Trouble? How to Test Motorcycle Voltage Regulators/Rectifiers
The motorcycle world is full of its own jargon, which can easily lead to some confusion when it comes time for repairs or maintenance work. A bike’s electrical system is a great example. While cars, trucks, and SUVs charge their batteries through an alternator, motorcycles work a little bit differently. Instead of a traditional alternator, […]
PowerStop Versus DFC: Who’s the Aftermarket Brake Boss?
The stock brake pads that come on most vehicles are thoroughly tested to ensure reliable, consistent stopping power. They’re often relatively quiet, produce little dust, and are designed to make the braking process feel as smooth as possible. These are all great qualities when it comes to a daily driver, but once you start adding […]
No Flow? Your Oil Pressure Might Be Low (Or High)
Today’s gas-powered vehicles are a marvel of modern engineering, with hundreds of parts working in perfect harmony to push your car, truck, or SUV forward. With so many components—many of them metal—operating in such close proximity, lubrication is key to reducing the friction between these parts, aiding in performance, and keeping your engine from tearing […]
Popping the Hood on Hybrid Vehicles
From traditional hybrids and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models to a new generation of all-electric vehicles (EVs), parsing the differences between different types of alternative-fuel vehicles can be challenging for even the most experienced driver. Things aren’t made any easier by the fact that automakers have fallen into the habit of producing hybrids and PHEVs that […]
Dipping Your Feet Into the World of Water Fording
Sometimes, the road less traveled is not a road at all. Off-roaders are accustomed to facing all sorts of obstacles while they are out on the trail, from downed trees and thick underbrush to rocks, sand, and mud, but what is a driver to do when the going gets wet? Learning how to ford a […]
Flood, Sweat and Tears: Dealing With a Water-Damaged Vehicle
As extreme weather events become more common, so does the prevalence of water and flood-damaged vehicles. According to a survey from Carfax, more than 400,000 flood-damaged vehicles were on the road in 2022. That’s a six percent increase from the previous year, and the trend won’t slow down anytime soon. 100-year floods are so extreme […]
Drip Tips: Spotting and Repairing a Leaky Sunroof
Sunroofs are an increasingly popular feature in today’s vehicles, with over 40 percent of all new cars, trucks, and SUVs shipping with a sunroof. That’s up almost 10 percent compared to 10 years ago, proving just how common the feature has become. Between enjoying a little slice of the heavens above and the sense of […]
Wire Education: A Brief Guide to Trailer Wiring
Whether you’re hauling a boat out to the lake, hooking up a camper for a wilderness adventure, or transporting landscaping equipment, being able to tow a trailer can go a long way in upping a vehicle’s utility. A good trailer is a worthwhile investment for any truck or SUV owner, transforming a daily driver into […]
No-So-Good Vibrations: Diagnosing a Shaky Steering Wheel
Drivers of a certain age will remember the gaming revolution that was the Rumble Pak, an optional add-on to a popular video game controller that enhanced the experience by providing a little shake in response to the action on screen. The feature was particularly useful in racing titles, where you’d be met with a little […]
Stalling, Whining, and Other Signs of a Bad Fuel Pump
When it comes to some common vehicle components, the name isn’t always very descriptive (I’m looking at you: catalytic converter) but that’s certainly not the case when it comes to fuel pumps. As the name implies, fuel pumps are small pumps powered by electric motors that move gas from the fuel tank to the engine. […]
Stuck Brake Caliper? Start Here
Given the role your brakes play in your automotive safety, there’s no underestimating the importance of a regular brake service. Bringing a one-and-a-half-ton vehicle to a stop is no small task, requiring a number of vital components to work in complete harmony every time you press the brake pedal. Of these, the brake calipers play […]