General internal combustion engine questions.
5
votes
4answers
406 views
Car crash: when does a car catch fire?
Which kind of crash does it need for a car to catch fire?
I'm asking because I was discussing about an accident where a car crashed into a full-grown brown bear. Is it realistic under normal ...
7
votes
2answers
4k views
What would be the most likely cause of engine sputter?
Most of the time my 2001 Honda Civic sounds like this... Vrooooooom. But some times when I start driving it sounds like this... Vrooom putt pa putt pa putt pa vrooooom. When it's in the "putt pa ...
5
votes
2answers
294 views
2004 Ford Focus engine cover would not budge after all screws are removed
I have a 2004 Ford Focus SE 2.0L. There’s some oil leak on the engine. A mechanic told me it could be the engine valve gasket being cracked (the car is pretty old and never had a valve gasket change). ...
2
votes
1answer
68 views
Does a water leaking make the engine heat faster?
I have a Range Rover classic 1993 which is heating very fast even if I just drive for 10 min, the heat is not rising too much but I used to drive this Range Rover before and especially in winter ...
-4
votes
3answers
350 views
What engine is more durable? 3 or 4 cylinder ?
I would like to know what engine would last longer and with less problems?
A 3 or a 4 cylinder engine?
Thanks.
Alik.
3
votes
1answer
120 views
How can I do a cheap but safe and good tuning which will improve the cars performance?
I have a Skoda Octavia 5 1.6 MPI and I want to make a good cheap safe tuning that will increase the cars performance above 100 hp it already has. How can I do that?
4
votes
2answers
227 views
Low power, bad gas mileage, smelly exhaust after engine work
My 92 Civic has had low power (need to use at least one gear lower than usual to get the same power) and has been getting bad gas mileage (15-25mpg vs 32-42 mpg usual) since I replaced the head ...
1
vote
1answer
239 views
Honda Odyssey 2003 makes squeaking noises on cold start
Something squeaks when I start the engine after the car was sitting in garage for the night. Squeaking goes away after 2-3 minutes. Here is a video
Car has following replaced a month ago:
harmonic ...
2
votes
1answer
105 views
2000 Grand AM GT engine and electric cut out randomly while driving
My Grand Am is cutting off randomly while driving. I have not been able to purposely reproduce the problem, which makes diagnosis difficult. I am looking for any advice in diagnostics, or parts to ...
5
votes
3answers
577 views
Sputtering while driving & idling
[My car: 2004 Mazda 3]
So, my wife came home from running some errands and told me the check-engine light was on and that the car was sputtering and felt like it was going to stall while stopped at ...
8
votes
5answers
287 views
How to properly change out spark plugs?
I am looking into how to change out my spark plugs on my 4 cylinder 2005 Mazda 3.
All I know to do is:
1: Open each cylinder.
2: Use a spark plug socket (with the rubber insert) to remove the old ...
3
votes
2answers
341 views
Ford Taurus common oil leak area?
On my last oil change, the technician noted some oil around top and side of the engine block and said there is a small leak.
The only way to find where it is coming from is doing the whole dye test, ...
1
vote
2answers
124 views
Cleaning fuel injectors with a pressurized can?
I've been experiencing rough idling on my 2003 Mitsubishi Galant for the last year or so. It has 182,000 miles on it. About every 6 months now I use seafoam cleaner in the tank and that clears it up ...
3
votes
1answer
229 views
Engine Code P1312 on 2001 Saab 9-3
I have replaced to brand new spark plugs.
After some research, it seems that the problem might be the direct ignition cassette.
Could there be other possibilities?
Thanks
1
vote
2answers
178 views
Is short drive trip bad for your engine?
My wife's car often uses to drive to a nearby grocery store, which is too close to our house (about 2 miles). Some one told me that I should change the engine oil more often because engine is working ...
3
votes
3answers
447 views
What is the purpose of plastic engine covers?
What is the purpose of the large plastic cover that stretches over my valve cover? Does it have a particular function? Are they just for looks? Or are they designed by the engineers to protect ...
6
votes
7answers
6k views
Diesel vs Petrol motorcars. Pro's and cons?
I realize this may be a silly question to those of you on here who are proper petrol-heads and this may even be a repeat question, but I could not find anything on it on here, so here goes:
What are ...
2
votes
1answer
91 views
94' Dodge Spirit 3.0l v6 Throttle position sensor over 4.96V
I pulled up the codes from my 94 spirit that's been running sluggish and unresponsive lately. I got a 24* Throttle position sensor over 4.96V. I put a new TPS in and I'm still getting this code. Do I ...
3
votes
1answer
64 views
Honda Accord 2004 V6 Australian, Can stopped in the middle of the road
Recently, when I was driving and had to stop at a set of light the car all of a sudden stopped. All the lights on the spedometer came up, but the A/C, radio all was working fine. I turned it off and ...
3
votes
1answer
189 views
Add 2 stroke oil to a 4 stroke petrol engine during burn-in period
I'm planning to get a new petrol (gasoline) car soon.
A friend of mine, who worked as a motorbike mechanic when he was young, told me he puts a small quantity (125 ml / 4 oz) of 2 stroke oil in the ...
2
votes
2answers
541 views
Car overheating problem
I have a 2002 Ford Focus.
Whenever the car is idling the heat gauge goes up at an alarming rate and goes the farthest into the red that it can if left alone.
Now if I rev the engine a little the ...
-5
votes
1answer
300 views
Why are American cars so inefficient compared to European cars? [closed]
A normal average European car has a diesel motor with less than a 2.0 liter engine which consumes 1 litre of fuel in 18-22 km.
A normal American car has a gasoline (benzin) engine at least a 2.5 ...
0
votes
0answers
57 views
Low acceleration
My car WagonR is behaving strange its acceleration is very slow and it feels like lacking in power to pull. What might be the problem. My friend who owns the same model says that he had to press the ...
2
votes
1answer
427 views
Hard Start in cold weather
We have a Ford Escape (2005 V6) with approximately 125k on it. I have done most of the maintenance on it myself since we bought it at 90k and it has overall been a great vehicle.
The past two ...
3
votes
3answers
219 views
Cylinder 1 and 4 has low compresion, after engine has been redone
I have a Opel Corsa 1999 B type. We had a mechanic redo the engine about 4 months ago, but this week it just does not want to start.
Today had other mechanic look at the engine, and did a quick ...
4
votes
1answer
217 views
'98 Camry has occasional rough running / low speed idle problem
My '98 Camry (with the four-cylinder engine) usually starts, idles and drives like a dream. About a year ago I had the entire exhaust system replaced (including cat) due to corrosion. Since then it's ...
4
votes
2answers
94 views
When do engine type and mileage of a car affect pricing?
I'm currently designing a customer relationship management tool for auto shop owners and was wondering:
Does engine type or the odometer value of a car ever affect pricing for a customer?
What ...
3
votes
1answer
154 views
Rough noise while accelerating
My car is a 2002 Nissan Altima with 106,873 miles. After 95K miles, my car has been giving a rough noise from the engine. After shifting into second gear, it's smooth until I hit the gas pedal hard.
...
3
votes
2answers
386 views
Motorcycle popping on acceleration
I have a 1975 Honda XL250 that I bought earlier this summer. Up until recently its been running great. It was leaking a little gas, but nothing too serious. When it started to get worse, I opened up ...
3
votes
2answers
157 views
01 sentra running hot
I have an 01 nissan sentra which had been running hot. If i start the car in the morning and turn temp control to hot and fan on and let the car warm up, i will have no heat and the car runs hot. Just ...
2
votes
1answer
238 views
09 Camry engine rumbles
This is a pretty straight forward question, but I have an 09 Camry 5-speed manual. It only has about 25k miles on it and has been regularly serviced.
However, as of late I've noticed that when I ...
3
votes
2answers
192 views
Blue smoke on engine start
I got my 2002 Camry when it had 86K and now it has 97K on it. In the morning when I start the engine, I see blue-ish smoke coming out of the exhaust for a while. I don't know if I had it before, but ...
5
votes
1answer
326 views
Why would my engine temperature raise from normal to high and drop back down again?
I have a Nissan Micra (UK, 51-plate, 2001 model) that I have been using to drive to work on a daily basis - 10 miles each way a day on a variety of roads - streets, main roads, main roads in traffic, ...
2
votes
3answers
446 views
92 Civic engine won't start after replacing head gasket
I just replaced the head gasket in my 1992 Civic. Started it up before putting everything back together (just a second since it had no coolant, exhaust wasn't connected, etc.) and it ran fine. But now ...
1
vote
1answer
336 views
Why bikes with gears are preferred when there is gearless(or automatic gear) technology?
I know that lower gears have higher acceleration & low top speeds and higher gears have low acceleration & higher top speeds. But I would like to know why this gear system was designed first ...
0
votes
1answer
128 views
Car driving experience not smooth
My Nissan Altima 2002 (106873 miles). It used to smooth after oil changes. But, I have been noticing that the car is not smooth as it used to be after oil changes. It used to feel like the car was ...
2
votes
2answers
511 views
1999 Honda Civic CNG, Flashing check engine light
I have a 1999 Honda Civic CNG with 140,000 highway miles. Initially, while driving the car at highway speed, the check engine light would flash and the car would lose power. I would have to stop and ...
1
vote
1answer
286 views
Maintenance on a 2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S
My previous car was totalled and while shopping for used cars, I have found a 2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S on sale for a very good price. It is being sold by the current owner, and it has been going to the ...
0
votes
2answers
223 views
Hesitation and backfiring on sudden acelleration when warm
I have an old Mitsubishi Triton Utility 1993. It has a 4g54 4 cyl petrol engine with a carby. No computers or anything like that to check error codes.
If you press down on the accelerator quickly the ...
3
votes
2answers
192 views
Why does a car's engine vibrate at start, despite the circular geometry of its component's dynamics
If a well balanced system starts moving, it should not vibrate ! Or if it does, it should vibrate even more at high speeds !
But a car clearly vibrates hard during the startup, to then stabilize.
2
votes
2answers
413 views
What is the specificity of Formula 1 engines, that enables them to reach 18.000 RPM?
Are they made the same way as classical engines ?
0
votes
1answer
32 views
Noise isolation for 'vanilla' engine
Is it possible to add silicon or other soft devices between the engine of an old car and the chassis, in order to reduce the amount of noise that is transmitted and thus the amount of vibration felt ...
1
vote
0answers
287 views
Mercedes Atego OBD2 live data codes
I have tried to connect an OBD2 ELM327 adapter in Mercedes Atego.
Somehow I managed to get it in that OBD2 connector. I can see that my adapter is receiving electricity. These are the PID's that I ...
5
votes
4answers
784 views
Why does my car scream on cold start?
My 1988 Subaru XT6 2.7L engine screams at me on a cold start then it will stop and then do it again when I take it out of park, but then it stops.
Also, my car is losing antifreeze. Any ideas why?
5
votes
2answers
156 views
Trying to figure out the name of this car part!
I got new tires today and saw that the part that's circled is broken on my car. It looks like it just snapped at the top because part of the bolt appears to still be in whatever the tube is. Anyone ...
0
votes
0answers
91 views
Car revs high when changing from third to fourth
My Vaxhall Corsa 52 plate just recently started with high revs, its ok in first and second gear, but when I change from third to fourth and fourth to fifth it revs high, but my rpm dial doesnt go ...
3
votes
1answer
461 views
2006 Audi A4 2.0T, No passing power
I have a 2006 Audi A4 2.0T Turbo Tiptronic Automatic that has no passing power.
When I step on the accelerator the car will shift down into a lower gear, rev about 3500 RPMs but will not shift up ...
7
votes
1answer
573 views
Is this what is making my car sound like a racecar?
Recently, my car (2000 Mercury Grand Marquis) started sounding like a racecar: the engine became very loud. There's clearly something going wrong with the exhaust system. I'm trying to understand ...
2
votes
2answers
314 views
Engine Revving/Misfiring - Formerly Running Lean - No Trouble Codes Now
For a few months now my 1999 Toyota Avalon XLS (California model - this apparently affects the emissions specs - I'm in NY however) with around 105k miles has been giving me these totally random ...
0
votes
0answers
50 views
what are all the studebaker myths as shown on a recent natgeo episode? [closed]
I recently saw a few minutes of a NatGeo episode on Studebakers. The episode mentioned that there were a LOT of myths surrounding studebakers, e.g. that the trunk was designed for business men to ...
