Education
Expert’s guide to choosing the best engine oil for your car
- 3 mins readAs drivers, we’re always looking for that new edge when it comes to our engine performance. Whether you’re wanting better acceleration, higher top-end speeds or just a bit of a smoother ride, you want to get the most juice out of your engine. Well, we’re here to tell you that it’s possible to get these […]
Read more »Expert’s guide to checking for blind spots
- 3 mins readOkay team, we’re not trying to tell you how to suck eggs here, but we’re thinking maybe an article about blind spots has, in fact, been sitting in our blind spot here at My Auto Shop. So, here it goes, let us open your eyes to the elusive and potentially dangerous “blind spot”. A blind […]
Read more »Expert’s guide to air conditioning in electrical vehicles (EVs)
- 2 mins readElectric vehicles (EVs) are a hot topic right now, with a variety of factors influencing customer adoption as well as economic estimates and consequences for manufacturers. Indeed, getting a feel for what you really get for the cost with an EV and what to look out for is a bit of an exercise unto itself! […]
Read more »Expert’s guide to a safe jump start
- 3 mins read“Just jump start it, dude! You’ll be sweet!” … And they were never heard from again. Okay, so that might be going a little bit far, but the point we’re making is that while it seems everyone under the sun is quick to tell you they “just jump started it” – it does take a […]
Read more »A (car) jack of all trades?
/ - 4 mins readIf you ever find yourself in a pickle with a flat tyre, or you’ve seen a car jack lurking around in your car boot but are unsure exactly what it’s for, or what to do with it, know that you’re not the first (nor will you be the last) in either of these situations! Or […]
Read more »Keeping kids safe around cars
- 3 mins readIt’s so important that you teach your kids how to be safe in and around cars. Crossing the road, not opening doors or windows, seat belts and always paying attention around roads and cars. All of these keep your kids safe around cars. We’ve got some tips for rules and processes, to keep your kids […]
Read more »What brake rotors are right for my car?
/ - 4 mins readThere are different types of brake rotors for different requirements. If your car has disc brakes, it’s something that will need to be serviced, sometimes machined, occasionally replaced. When you do replace them it’s worth thinking about what you might want. If you need brake rotors replaced, or any other work for your car done, […]
Read more »Air-cooled vs water-cooled engines
- 3 mins readNearly all modern production cars have water cooled engines nowadays, however, there was a time when air cooled cars held their own. Cars like the VW Beetle, Porsche 911 and the Fiat 500, all used air cooled engines. There were some advantages to an air-cooled system but ultimately the efficiency and reliability of water-cooled systems […]
Read more »What’s the best spark plug for my car?
- 3 mins readYour engine inhales air and fuel, at the top of the compression stroke, the spark plug ignites the mixture. The spark plug only has that job, to ignite the mixture. Yep, you’ve got a whole ignition system for the sole purpose of one spark each cylinder at the top of every combustion stroke. The spark […]
Read more »Why do I need a wheel balance?
/ - 2 mins readYour wheels are round, they have tyres fitted over the top of them and they roll. Why fix what isn’t broke? Well, your wheels do roll, that’s where the problem comes from. Your wheels may be round and roll nicely, but without balancing, they won’t do that very well at all. If you need a […]
Read more »Why does oil need changing?
- 3 mins readYour oil is the most critical fluid in your engine. It lubricates all the really expensive stuff, it keeps things clean, and it cools the engine when you’re driving. Due to your oil being circulated constantly and lubricating a bunch of moving parts, it picks up dirt, moisture and other carbon deposits. To keep these […]
Read more »What is a flywheel and how does it work?
- 3 mins readUnfortunately, it doesn’t make your car fly. It does do some really neat other stuff though. It’s actually critical to any car with a manual transmission. It’s bolted to the crankshaft and serves as the mechanical connection between the crankshaft and the transmission. It also starts the car and makes sure it’s comfortable when it […]
Read more »What’s a wheel alignment and why do I need one?
- 2 mins readYour car should drive in a straight line when you want it to. To do this, you need the wheels all pointing in the same direction. Often you’ll find your car pulling to one side, this is a sign that your tyre alignment needs a check. Your wheel alignment means that your car will go […]
Read more »Why is turbo lag a thing?
- 3 mins readA turbo is a impeller that is spun via exhaust gas. It then spins an impeller that sucks in air, pressurises it and forces it into your engine. So your turbo takes something that you weren’t using anyway and turns it into more horsepower. Add in the fact that it often makes your car more […]
Read more »What happens when your spark plugs call foul?
/ - 3 mins readWhen a spark plug is ‘fouled’, it basically means it’s becoming too worn or contaminated to work properly. While they’re a lot more reliable in modern cars, there are still things inside your engine (like fuel and carbon) which can build up onto your spark plugs, and eventually render them ineffective in either firing or […]
Read more »What is a egr valve and how does it work?
/ - 2 mins readAn EGR valve sounds like it belongs in your heart. It doesn’t involve ventricles or aortas, it involves exhaust gas, the intake manifold, air and fuel, and emissions. EGR stands for Exhaust Gas Recirculation, it is a valve that car makers turned to in the fight against emissions and for fuel economy. It sounds really […]
Read more »What the hell is a ‘tune-up’?
/ - 3 mins readOkay, so truth be told, the term tune-up is a little redundant these days. It only really applies if you’re talking about a pre-2000s car, although I still hear it bandied about today, so it seems like it’s loosely interchangeable with service or routine maintenance. The way modern cars are built has changed and so […]
Read more »What is a sway bar and how does it work?
/ - 4 mins readWhen you hear sway bar, you assume it has something to do with swaying. You’d be on the money. Also known as an ‘anti-roll bar’, it helps to distribute weight transfer and reduce body roll during cornering. It is a fairly simple idea but the engineering boffins make it an excellent one. A sway bar […]
Read more »Expert’s guide to dashboard warning lights
/ - 4 mins readHere at My Auto Shop, we like to face the facts when it comes to all things automotive. Whether it’s making it easy to see a mechanic, or handy hints to de-stress while you’re on the road, we’ve got you covered. Today we thought it’d be useful to cover off what it means when your […]
Read more »Is a mobile mechanic the same as a workshop?
- 2 mins readIf you’ve got a million things on the go and zero time to make it happen, then the convenience of a mobile mechanic can’t be understated. In fact, they’re a lifesaver. If you’re in need of some basic servicing, a mobile mechanic works a treat. They’re able to work to the exact same standard as […]
Read more »Expert’s guide to handy car tools and accessories
/ - 4 mins readOne of the exciting things about heading out on a road trip is the idea of being in uncharted territory, responding to the conditions and circumstances as they arise. Part of being a smart driver is having your bases covered if anything goes awry. You wouldn’t be the first person to be caught out in […]
Read more »Do airbags have an expiry date?
- 3 mins readThankfully, I’ve never been in a situation where airbags have been needed, although it’s reassuring to know I’m always equipped if there is an accident. I had a guy bump his SUV up against the back of our little hatchback last week, and it got me thinking, do airbags have any expiry date? So I […]
Read more »What is a mass airflow sensor and how does a maf work?
/ - 4 mins readTo keep your engine running you need air to combine with your fuel, at the set air fuel ratio. This mixture is what gives your engine the potential energy to combust. What amount of air and what amount of fuel though? Well you have a fuel injection map to scale up and down depending on […]
Read more »What is a muffler and what does a muffler do?
/ - 4 mins readYour internal combustion engine does many interesting things. Most noticeably, it powers your car. To do this it needs fuel and air. When it has combusted the mixture, it needs to get rid of the byproduct – exhaust gas. These exhaust gasses are passed through the exhaust valves when they open, through exhaust pipes to […]
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