Proper Coolant Selection Prevents System Degradation
Coolant is easily analogized to blood, both being liquids that are essential to the functioning of an entire complex system. The analogy extends even further though because, like blood, coolant has different types, and it’s not a stretch these days to say that swapping an OAT with an HOAT, or vice versa, is on the level of transfusing Type A blood with Type B.
Loaded Caliper Installation Guidelines
Caliper replacement is often the best course of action to ensure that a braking system will perform at an optimal level, both in terms of safety, performance and maximizing brake pad life.
Under the Hood: Cooling System Diagnostics
Heed the Telltale Signs of Component Failure Springtime brings with it the vacation season when many families will hitch a boat or camping trailer to their fully loaded family car, SUV or pickup truck and travel to some remote wilderness hideaway. Needless to say, both the parents and their vehicle’s cooling system will be stressed
Emissions Codes: Mercedes-Benz Case Study
If the MIL is on, or even commanded on, with no current code related to emissions, it can be cause for a failure. The vehicle will still be scanned for codes and readiness flags will be checked, but an MIL on with the engine running will almost always spell “failure.”
Servicing Timing Chain-Driven Water Pumps
Automakers are always trying to remove items from the accessory drive belt. This improves the efficiency of the engine and can extend the life of the belt. But where do you put the water pump? Some manufacturers like Ford and Mazda have driven the pumps with a pulley on the exhaust camshaft. Other manufacturers have
Addressing Extended Oil Changes on Modern Vehicles
Auto manufacturers, in general, are continuing to reduce vehicle maintenance requirements by extending oil change intervals. But extended oil change intervals are a mixed blessing. On the upside, extended oil change intervals are conserving precious oil and reducing carbon emissions. On the downside, many vehicle owners are forgetting to check their engine’s oil level between
Under the Hood: ‘Tanking’ Fuel Systems
Diagnosing Failing Fuel Pumps
Under the Hood: Solving Subaru Sealing Problems
Head gasket failure has been something Subaru has struggled with to some extent since the 1980s.
Component Connection: Emission Control — O2 Sensor Diagnostics
In recent years, the design of O2 sensors has changed. The ceramic thimble-shaped element in zirconia-type O2 sensors has been replaced by a flat strip ceramic “planar-”style sensor element.
Engine Series: Thinking ‘Inside the Box’
Service Notes on Subaru’s Boxer Engine