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5 surprising facts from the 2023 Auto Care Association Factbook

For more than three decades now, the Auto Care Association, the leading trade association for the automotive aftermarket, has released a massive trove of data called the Auto Care Factbook. It’s intended to provide a sweeping overview of what’s happening across the...

What do techs recommend for a “car crate?”

Many drivers on the road have what I call “car crates” or “car boxes”: the milk crate or cardboard box you keep in your car for auto needs. As a rather non-mechanically inclined individual, I have one in my car, which is primarily made up of things I use fairly...

RIP iPod, the best way to listen to music in your car, maybe ever

The news came out recently that Apple is no longer manufacturing the iPod Touch, the last remaining model of a piece of technology once as ubiquitous as smartphones are today. I must admit it made me feel extremely nostalgic, because the iPod was possibly the best way...

VIDEO: (Spoiler within) Crimp or solder?

The spoiler here is that Nick and Lem don't solder much at all, so if you're not a die-hard crimp aficionado, this might not be your favorite video. They’re pretty different mechanics working on very different items most of the time, but this is an area where the guys...

Where do you leave your hitch?

One of the things I really can’t stand is coming around a truck too quick and whackin’ my shin on a trailer ball. After this happens, I say “Ow!” real loud, and then a swear word. Then I wonder why in tarnation I just busted my leg. Why oh why is that thing hanging...

5 unconventional brake job tips

We’ve all read articles on brake jobs and are familiar with the standard tips. Check the rotor thickness and runout. Pay attention to pad wear patterns. Don’t add fluid to the system when pads are worn. Blah, blah, blah. Here’s another list of tips that’s slightly...

Windshield wipers have had a surprisingly messy evolution

We take many modern automotive conveniences for granted, and windshield wipers must be somewhere near the top of the list. You don’t think about them much until you’re driving in the rain with worn blades or, far worse, a bad wiper motor or linkage. Even on a clear...

A simple tip for burping a radiator

A simple tip for burping a radiator

by | Dec 7, 2021

Ever drain and fill a coolant system and watch the temp gauge spike afterwards? Air trapped in there can cause a car to act like it has a cooling problem. It’s annoying to let the car cool so you can work on it, then re-bleed and possibly still have the same...
7 low-tech tips to help bleed difficult brakes

7 low-tech tips to help bleed difficult brakes

by | Dec 6, 2021

Bleeding brakes is one of those jobs most of us know how to do, but when a hard-to-bleed system pops up, experienced techs have a few additional tricks up their sleeves to help get the job done. You can certainly vacuum bleed or power bleed if you have the equipment,...
Choosing the right oil filter’s more complicated than you think

Choosing the right oil filter’s more complicated than you think

by | Dec 4, 2021

In my first job behind the automotive counter, I remember selling an awful lot of 10W30, 10W40, and even some of that newfangled 5W30. Now, of course, things are much different; we have many weights of oil, most trending toward lower viscosity, and more and more...