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Engineering Explained

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... read more

November 18, 2018 by Sean Szymkowski

Are expensive tires worth the price?

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

How does a V-8 engine work?

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... read more July 4, 2018 by Sean Szymkowski

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... read more July 3, 2018 by Jeff Glucker

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... read more June 19, 2018 by Jeff Glucker

Why do diesel engines make more torque than gasoline engines?

5 reasons why 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... read more June 18, 2018 by Jeff Glucker

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... read more May 23, 2018 by Jeff Glucker

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... read more May 18, 2018 by Sean Szymkowski

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... read more May 15, 2018 by Sean Szymkowski

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... read more May 12, 2018 by Jeff Glucker

Why Ford's 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... read more May 11, 2018 by Sean Szymkowski

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... read more May 1, 2018 by Jeff Glucker

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... read more April 21, 2018 by Sean Szymkowski

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... read more April 20, 2018 by Sean Szymkowski

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... read more April 13, 2018 by Sean Szymkowski

How do centrifugal superchargers work?

Your car arrives from the factory. Bolted under the hood is an engine that makes modest power, and it does so by breathing just fine on its own. It could make more power... read more March 31, 2018 by Jeff Glucker

Volkswagen TDI 'clean diesel' television ad screencap

How did Volkswagen's diesel defeat device work?

Every media outlet in the world covered Volkswagen's tangled web of lies and deceit as "Dieselgate" opened up and spewed the truth nearly three years ago. Its consequences... read more February 28, 2018 by Sean Szymkowski