Category Archives: Defensive Driving Tips

Keeping it Clean- Car Interiors

While cleaning the inside of your car may not do as much to prolong its driving life as an outside cleaning does, it’s still an important and necessary task! Nasty smells, unpleasant stains, and layers of grime will accumulate as … Continue reading →

Keeping It Clean: Car Exteriors

A well-washed car is a thing of beauty: bright and shiny, the envy of the parking lot. A dirty car, on the other hand, invites derision; children write “wash me” in the grime on the rear window. Beyond maintaining aesthetic … Continue reading →

Driving Manual Transmission

I was, I’ll confess, a reluctant driver. The process of learning to drive seemed like a lot of stress for not that much reward (especially as I was pretty convinced that I’d never have a car of my own.) However, … Continue reading →

Engine Maintenance- a little goes a long way!

Now that we’ve discussed some common engine problems, let’s look at ways that you, together with a trusted mechanic, can nip these problems in the bud and prolong the life of your engine. First, take the time to find a … Continue reading →

Drive Defensively

Motor vehicles accidents are the most common cause  of accidental death in the United States. Every 12 minutes someone dies in a crash, every 10 seconds and injury occurs, and every 5 seconds a crash occurs. One of the reasons … Continue reading →

How A Car Engine Works – Part 2

While the cylinders are the core of the car engine, there are a number of peripheral systems that are necessary for them to continue functioning. Let’s start by looking at a few parts of the cylinder in greater detail. Intake … Continue reading →

How A Car Engine Works – Part 2

While the cylinders are the core of the car engine (see How A Car Engine Works – Part 1) , there are a number of peripheral systems that are necessary for them to continue functioning. Let’s start by looking at … Continue reading →

How A Car Engine Works – Part 2

While the cylinders are the core of the car engine (see How A Car Engine Works – Part 1) , there are a number of peripheral systems that are necessary for them to continue functioning. Let’s start by looking at a … Continue reading →

How A Car Engine Works- Part 1

The car engine is the heart, or perhaps rather the stomach, of the car. In the engine, gasoline is burned to produce energy; this energy is then converted into motion. An engine has a number of components that work together … Continue reading →

Car Basics For Dummies

This entry marks the start of a new series on the basics of how cars work. Now, I drove for a long time before I learned how an engine works. Phrases like “blew a gasket” and “torque converter” might as … Continue reading →