How It Works

  • Toyota Supra engine deep dive, Engineering Explained

    As we're all well aware of by now, the 2020 Toyota Supra uses a lot of BMW engineering and components. One of the main elements borrowed from BMW is the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 engine. Engineering guru and explainer extraordinaire Jason Fenske of Engineering Explained dedicated an entire episode to provide a deep dive into the fifth-generation Supra's engine. It's clear: this isn't a 2JZ, but that's not a bad thing. Jason begins by discussing what the engine code means. BMW's internal code for the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 is "B58B30O1." It's basically the same engine as used in...

  • Subaru WRX STI S209 Engineering Explained
    Here's how Subaru made its most powerful engine ever

    After years of Subaru treating the world to special, more-powerful WRX STI models, the Japanese automaker finally delivered one to the U.S. The Subaru WRX STI S209 debuted in January at the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit with the company's most potent production engine so...

  • 3D-printed rotary engine from Engineering Explained
    Dive into this 3D-printed rotary engine

    If you've ever wondered what makes up the famed rotary engine from Mazda, now is the chance to dive in. Engineering Explained showed off an incredible 3D-printed rotary engine scale model, and host Jason Fenske walks us through what makes the peculiar powertrain tick. Specifically, this is a...

  • 2017 Honda Civic Type R
    What is VTEC and how does it work?

    Valve Timing Electronic Control, better known to enthusiasts as VTEC. We hear a lot about the system, but what is it exactly and how does it work? Jason Fenske, engineering mastermind behind YouTube's Engineering Explained, has tackled the system in one of his latest episodes. As usual, he breaks...

  • Are expensive tires worth the price?
    Are expensive tires worth the price?

    Everyone likes to find ways to save money. With respect to your car, there are times when you can opt for lower octane fuel, more affordable oil, and non-OEM parts. But should you skimp when it comes to buying tires? Recently, Engineering Explained looked at the performance variation as your tires...

  • What's the performance difference between new and used tires?
    What's the performance difference between new and used tires?

    Jason Fenske from Engineering Explained is here to tell you all about what happens as your tires wear down. While you think it's a simple reduction in grip, there's a whole lot more to process. In fact, certain tires can see an increase in grip as the tire wears down. Confused? You won't be for...

  • How carbon ceramic brakes are made

    Although carbon-ceramic brakes will outperform cast iron rotors all day, there's a good reason why only the most high-performance cars wear them. Foremost, they cost thousands of dollars, but ever wonder why? The manufacturing process behind carbon-ceramic brakes is extravagant, to say the least. A video shows the exact process and it's not your average assembly line. The brakes start life as raw materials: heat-moldable resin and chopped pieces of raw carbon fiber. As they head through the production process, machines pour the mixture into a mold the shape of the disc. The process doesn't...

  • How V-8 engines work
    How does a V-8 engine work?

    V-8 engines are one of the most common styles of engine across the entire automotive industry, especially when the goal is to produce a lot of power with a smooth delivery. So, how does such an engine work? Jason Fenske of Engineering Explained is here to shed light on how a V-8 engine operates...

  • 2018 BMW M4 CS
    BMW M explains how to use its dual-clutch transmission

    Do you remember when BMW was self-described as the Ultimate Driving Machine? Those days are long gone but BMW still cranks out a few hits. It's nevertheless clear that BMW's core demographic has changed, and thus the automaker has to put out a video explaining how to use its own dual-clutch...

  • Why the pushrod engine still exists
    5 reasons why pushrod engines still exist

    The pushrod engine is a rather archaic piece of engineering, but automakers have stuck by it to this day. Notably, Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles and General Motors still shove pushrod V-8 engines under the hoods of hundreds of thousands of vehicles. Why has the pushrod engine failed to die, especially...

  • The RCCI engine uses both diesel and gasoline
    The RCCI engine uses both gasoline and diesel fuel

    When most of us pull up to the pump, we are in vehicles that require gasoline. A portion of us sidle up to diesel pumps. In the future, maybe we'll we'll drive vehicles with RCCI engines and we'll need to hit both pumps. The Reactivity Controlled Compression Ignition (RCCI) engine is a concept...

  • What's the difference between lead-acid and AGM car batteries?
    What are the differences between flooded and AGM lead-acid batteries?

    While the engine of your car might be its heart, it's the battery that provides the juice to get that engine moving. By now, you probably know plenty about how your engine works. Do you know anything about your battery, though? If not, you're going to need to watch this video from Engineering...

  • Why do diesel engines make more torque than gasoline engines?

    Horsepower is fun in its own way, but torque can be just as entertaining. If you want to rip stumps out of the ground, you'll want a whole lot of torque. That also means you'll likely prefer a diesel engine. Compared to their gasoline-swilling counterparts, diesel engines are the torque kings. Why is that? Jason Fenkse from Engineering Explained knows why, and he's here to offer up five reasons why a diesel engine makes more torque than a comparable gasoline engine. First up is compression ratio. With a gasoline engine, the piston stops a bit short of the top of the cylinder as it moves up...

  • 2015 Audi A8’s sequential turn signal
    How much does it cost to use your turn signals?

    We'll state it upfront: it doesn't cost a lot to use turn signals, so drivers should absolutely take advantage of them. With that out of the way, the video above goes through an incredible amount of detail to show how much energy turn signals consume, and how much it costs drivers to activate them...

  • Why expensive cars aren't always reliable
    Here's why expensive cars aren't always reliable

    When you think about expensive automobiles, there's one data point that doesn't often enter into the discussion. That would be reliability. It seems the more you spend on a car, the less reliable it becomes. But is that truly the case? Jason Fenske from Engineering Explained is here to examine this...

  • How Mazda eliminates turbo lag
    Here's how Mazda goes about reducing turbo lag

    Mazda hasn't been shy about its dedication to the internal combustion engine. After all, the Japanese company will likely arrive first to market with a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine (HCCI), which will provide tremendous fuel economy improvements without the loss of performance. But...

  • Why don't pushrod engines have high redlines?
    Why don't pushrod engines have high redlines?

    Pushrod engines may not be high-tech by today's standards, but they soldier on and have benefits of their own. One downfall, however, is their ability to rev. Pushrod engines tend to have rather low redlines. You won't find a GM small-block V-8 revving to 9,000 rpm, but there's a reason for it all...

  • Engineering Explained talks about octane and cetane ratings
    What is an octane rating and what does it mean?

    You pull up to the pump and you are presented with a few choices, and we're not talking about different fuel types here. We're talking, of course, about octane ratings. Those are large figures at the fueling station, and you know if you press the higher one you're going to spend more money. Why is...

  • Why the Ford flathead V-8 engine died

    Ford's famed flathead V-8 was revolutionary when the automaker put the engine into production in 1932. It brought the V-8 to the mass market and ready power to hot rodders for decades to come. But its design would eventually make it outdated. After more than two decades of service, the flathead V-8 was finally laid to rest in 1954 in favor of an overhead-valve design. Why did Ford kill the innovative V-8 engine? That's a job for Jason Fenske of Engineering Explained to expound upon. Using a 3D-printed model for a visual aid, Jason takes the time to walk us through why the engine was so...

  • Audi is eliminating turbo lag with electric superchargers
    Here's how Audi uses electric compressors to eliminate turbo lag

    Automakers have started using electric compressors to help eliminate lag in their turbocharged engines. The first with the technology was Audi, which introduced it in its SQ7 TDI high-performance diesel SUV sold overseas. The SUV's engine features a pair of turbochargers, a diesel V-8, a 48-volt...

  • AMMO detailing tips to rid a car of salt
    Spring cleaning: how to remove winter salt from your car

    After an interminable winter, spring has sprung...finally. For many car buffs across the country, it's time for spring cleaning. As part of its "Drive + Protect" series, AMMO Auto Care, Inc. has published an in-depth look at how to detail your car to rid it of every ounce of salt after the winter...

  • Delphi dynamic skip fire technology
    How dynamic skip fire tech can cut V-8 fuel use up to 20 percent

    The dynamic skip fire system developed by Silicon Valley startup Tula Technology is set to make its debut in the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and 2019 GMC Sierra, promising big fuel economy improvements for the big trucks. While normal drivers may never even realize the system is hard at work, Jason...

  • Should you start in second gear?
    Should you start from a stop in second gear?

    Drivers have various reasons for starting in second gear, especially with a manual transmission. Perhaps first gear is too short, or snowy road conditions require lighter acceleration to avoid spinning the tires. But is that a good idea? Never fear because Jason Fenske of Engineering Explained is...

  • How Audi eliminates body roll
    Here's how Audi is eliminating body roll

    Too much body roll is never a good thing. To tighten things up further, Audi has introduced a system featuring two electronic sway bars to nearly eliminate body roll. And who would be better to give us a walkthrough on how the system actually works than Jason Fenske of Engineering Explained. In the...

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