Combustion engines generate a lot of heat just from normal operation. Without removing heat from the engine, the vehicle will encounter a slew of problems that eventually lead to engine failure. A failure of the cooling system could leave you stranded, and may even cause total engine failure in extreme cases. Fortunately, a common and … Read more
Spark plugs are crucial components to an internal combustion engine. Without them, there would be nothing to ignite fuel within the combustion chamber. It’s no surprise that dirty or fouled spark plugs are a common cause for many engine issues. Here you’ll learn how a spark plug works as well as common symptoms of a … Read more
In our previous article, we went over what an engine misfire is and the common symptoms of an engine misfire. So how do you determine what is causing the engine to misfire in the first place? The combustion engine is relatively complicated as it has a lot of parts that need to work in the … Read more
Your ignition switch (or starter switch) locks your steering wheel in place when there’s no key in it. It is meant to prevent the car from being started without the key. It’s not much of a deterrent for the thief that knows how to get around it or hotwire a car, though. An ignition starter … Read more
Since the fuel tank constantly attracts dust, dirt, and debris over time, the collected particles can cause harm to the fuel filter and even risk the fuel pump as well. Eventually, all these contaminants will begin to clog the fuel filter and it will not work effectively to allow enough fuel to pass through to … Read more
A MAP sensor, or manifold absolute pressure sensor, is a type of engine sensor that measures the amount of air pressure present in a vehicle’s intake manifold. This pressure reading is used along with engine speed (measured in revolutions per minute, or RPM) to determine engine load, which allows the vehicle’s engine control unit (ECU) … Read more
Every internal combustion engine requires oil to lubricate its parts. Vehicles have different size engines, depending on the weight, size, or purpose. The amount of oil that goes into the engine typically depends on the size of the engine as well as the manufacturer service interval. For most cars, the engine holds about 5 and … Read more
It can be difficult to diagnose the reason for an engine misfire, but context gives major clues. Misfires are often intermittent and will sometimes only manifest with a specific type of fuel, environment, or engine load (how deep you’re into the gas pedal). Usually the vehicle can continue running with a misfire in one cylinder, … Read more
Camber refers to the angle of the wheel and tire relative to a perfectly flat road. The tops of the wheels can lean either towards or away from the center of the car when viewed from behind. The ideal camber balances tire traction and tire wear, and thus varies for each vehicle depending on how … Read more
The components of an engine have gaskets that are placed between them before they’re assembled. These gaskets act as a seal between the components so they can do their jobs properly. You’ll find gaskets are usually made out of metal, rubber, paper, or all three combined together. Out of all the gaskets in the engine, … Read more