30
votes
Accepted
What is the point of changing coolant if it gets constantly replaced?
The logic behind replacing the coolant, rather than just topping it off, is to remove impurities.
If the reason you have to add to it is that there is a slow leak somewhere, you may get by with just ...
- 316
28
votes
How to find a part lost in the snow
Is it magnetic? if so, a big magnet (from a speaker for example) might help...
- 34.6k
23
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What is the point of changing coolant if it gets constantly replaced?
You shouldn't be constantly replenishing the coolant - if you are, there's probably something wrong with your car!
Modern car cooling systems are designed to be almost maintenance free, so you ...
- 28.7k
22
votes
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Tightening Stud Without Bolt Head
You take 2 nuts and put them on the same set of threads. Then lock them against each other by loosening the lower nut and tightening the upper nut. Then use the upper nut with your torque wrench to ...
- 1,308
22
votes
Maintenance tips to prolong engine lifespan for short trips
Adding something to fuel tank: Not necessarily, just purchase good quality gasoline. It already has all the additives needed to protect the engine. However, I understand that in Brazil, fuel may ...
- 14.5k
18
votes
what tests should I do on a 30 year old car driven 1,000 miles per year?
Yes, you can do an inspection and learn a lot about it's condition. If you're not familiar with what to check, it may be worth getting an expert to have a look over it (if it's a classic car, your ...
- 28.7k
17
votes
Accepted
Tire Maintenance
They need to be aligned
Well, technically the wheels need to be aligned. This doesn't have much to do with fitting tires and is more of a mechanical maintenance item on the car. It's a good idea to ...
- 13.3k
16
votes
Accepted
Standard Practices for Use and Care of Click-Type Torque Wrenches
The main things I've always heard/done.
Always unwind before storing. This helps to keep stress off the springs. If you leave it wound up, the springs can get weak and give inaccurate torque ...
- 8,443
16
votes
How to find a part lost in the snow
If the area you lost it in isn't too large, you could shovel the snow into a big bucket, bring it inside, and let it melt. This could be tricky if the area you might have lost it is large, or if the ...
- 450
15
votes
Accepted
Removing a car battery - order of wires explanation
When disconnecting a clamp from a car battery, there is a danger of creating a short circuit with the tools that are in contact with the battery terminal. So a tool in contact with the positive ...
- 321
15
votes
Prevent birds from making nests in wheel well
I don't have any specific way that I know works, but there are several different techniques you can try.
Buy a cat
Cats are a natural predator to birds and should scare away most of them.
Peter ...
- 1,958
15
votes
Accepted
How to find a part lost in the snow
If the site of the tragedy is such that you can easily acquire water, use a hose (or a bucket) and simply run/pour water over the area to melt the snow.
Since snow is an insulator, running a propane ...
- 275
14
votes
How do I tell if I screwed up my oil change?
Here's a "tip to make sure I got everything right" for the future. One that I use myself, and taught my Auto Tech students as well:
The very first thing is to take off the oil cap, and place it over ...
- 12.4k
13
votes
Accepted
Prevent birds from making nests in wheel well
Would providing them with an alternative work? A bird-box in a suitable location that doesn't get disturbed every day...
Alternatively, get a cat ;)
- 28.7k
13
votes
Accepted
What is the significance of rotating tyres in this pattern?
Why rotate tires at all?
You probably already know this, but the reason we rotate the tires is to even out the wear and to try to maximize the miles from each set. For that reason, if the vehicle ...
- 2,847
12
votes
Accepted
Is an "oil life indicator" a reliable indicator for when to change the oil?
To the Mechanic suggesting 3000 mile changes, that recommendation has changed considerably.
Several articles and studies have been done disproving the necessity of the 3k change. On any vehicle in ...
- 136
12
votes
Smart and effective ways to light up a garage without relying on power outlets?
Battery operated flashlights or worklights which share batteries with your cordless tools would be a good option.
These will allow you to work on the car even with a dead or disconnected battery. ...
- 350
12
votes
Accepted
Why is the ATF Level checked with the engine running?
There are two main things about tranny fluid:
Transmission fluid is checked when it's hot (up to running temperature). As the fluid gets up to temperature it expands. If the fluid is cold, it won't ...
- 153k
11
votes
Smart and effective ways to light up a garage without relying on power outlets?
There are a number of ways to do this, but the two that come immediately to mind are battery-powered LED work lights. (A quick internet search will turn up many). Two varieties might be of use/...
- 2,847
11
votes
Accepted
How do I know how much tread I have left on slick tyres?
There are wear indicators on the surface of the tire, they look similar to a drill hole, when it is to the bottom or non existent, the slick is worn out, also check for even wear across the surface ...
- 8,010
11
votes
How to find a part lost in the snow
Install a metal detector app on your phone. Seriously. They work pretty well.
- 891
11
votes
Accepted
What clean, non-sticky lubricant can I use for door hinges?
Great question. My preference is silicone spray, as you suggested. I'm pretty sure this one is the one I usually get for this kind of job. Apparently I'm not the only person who thinks this is a ...
- 5,245
11
votes
Accepted
How to setup the car so that while driving I do not have mist glass?
In the two pictures/icons you provide the arrow is intended to indicate the flow of air with regards to the cabin. Where the arrow is coming in from outside the car allows air from outside the vehicle ...
- 9,989
10
votes
Accepted
Wheel removal solutions
I've worked at a garage. We use a rubber mallet. Hit it like your doing lug nuts. Hit it, rotate 90*, hit it, rotate 45*, and so on so you are not always hitting on the same spot.
We would ...
- 8,443
10
votes
My feet turn black
Cabin filters on modern cars use something called activated carbon (or at least some of them do) which is basically two paper / cotton sheets either side of a fine layer of carbon particles.
It looks ...
- 23.5k
10
votes
Accepted
How do I tell if I screwed up my oil change?
I believe you just dripped some oil on your exhaust when drained it, don't worry, and your "paranoid" stuff is good - it means you care. Good job Snake! ;)
- 1,448
10
votes
Accepted
Hood Unlatches but Won't Pop Up
I would guess that there is an issue with the spring on your latch.
Most hood latches follow the same basic design. As you push the hood closed, a bar on the hood pushes into a hook in the latch, and ...
- 3,012
10
votes
Accepted
Do battery corrosion pads really work?
In my experience these DO work. They contain corrosion inhibiting chemicals that help keep the terminals from building up the greenish-white powder that is commonly seen on unmaintained battery ...
- 12.1k
9
votes
Accepted
What makes a worn car shock spongy and soft?
Shocks/struts can either come charged with nitrogen (gas shock) or conventional (without a charge). Both can wear out over time. Shocks should be replaced around 50k miles under normal conditions. ...
- 153k
9
votes
Is it possible to detect defect of vehicle's engine by examining sound it makes
It is absolutely possible to tell if an engine is unhealthy by the noise it makes. In many failures, an engine will start to emit unusual noises before any fault codes or warning lights are displayed....
- 23.5k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible