Generally, horsepower refers to the rate of doing work. In terms of cars, horsepower is the rate at which the engine of a car is able to perform its function. This term was first invented by James Watt. The Scottish engineer is known for his contribution to the improvement of steam engines.

As per the concept of Watt, one horse has the ability to perform 33,000 foot-pounds of work in one minute. For example, when a horse is made to raise coal out of a coal mine, by exerting 1 horsepower he can raise 330 pounds of coal to 100 feet in a minute; or 33 pounds of coal to 1,000 feet in one minute; or 1,000 pounds of coal to 33 feet in one minute. All these three situations will generate different horsepower. (more…)

If you own a car or you are familiar with various aspects of automotive world, then you have heard about inline and V6 engines many times. You might have noticed that generally small cars are equipped with an inline 4-cylinder engine and most luxury cars get V6 engines. But, have you even thought about how different are 4-cylinder engines from the V6 engines? Well, to know the difference, you must understand how does an engine work first.

To be very precise, all types of engines are designed to work in the same typical manner. Engines do have a piston which is instrumental in compressing and releasing a mixture of fuel and air to create pressure. Then, the alternative motion of the piston makes the crankshaft to turn. The mixture of fuel and air inside the engine is ignited by a spark plug to create combustion, which ultimately power the engine to move the car. (more…)

Dynamometers are those automotive machines that are used to measure torque, rotational speed and power produced by the car engine. A dynamometer is also known as dyno. A dyno is also used for tuning up the car!

Dynamometers can be classified into two basic categories- engine dynamomoters and chassis dynamometers.

Engine dynamometer: This type of dynamometer is attached directly to car engines. An engine dyno is used when the car engine is removed from the car in order to get an accurate reading. Car manufacturers use this type of dyno to test longevity and reliability of car engines. Such a dynamometer is the solution to eliminate problems like insufficient torque, low horsepower, leaks, low engine performances and faulty engine. (more…)

Now, we know how important the engine is to a car! Any problem in a car engine can affect the entire performance of a car to a large extent. The idea is to keep up with proper maintenance of your car as well as its engine! We have already discussed about a few car engine problems. Let’s understand some more of them:

Engine Hesitation: Engine hesitation is the situation when the car engine takes few more second to respond to ignition! The problem may occur only if the engine is too hot or too cold. Some possible causes of engine hesitation include: (more…)

People, these days are more often opting for renting a car. The urge of renting a car comes especially when you are on a vacation. A rented car is the best and the easiest way to commute in a new place where you can’t take your personal car. These cars are available everywhere and thus they make a easy way to make your vacation comfortable. However, before renting a car, there are a few things that you must take take into account. Sometimes, car renting may cause certain problems due to the lack of knowledge of car rental procedures. Here are a few tips for you to make your car renting procedure hassle-free: (more…)

The engine is the heart of a car, thus when the former does not work properly, the entire car suffers! Car engine comprises several components and systems that work together to deliver the overall engine performance. Engine problems in vehicles prove to be a major concern for most car owners. To detect the problems and then fixing them requires owners to dedicate their valuable time. Anyways, let’s talk about a few major car engine problems and understand them:

Overheated Engine: Overheated engine problem is commonly found in places with extreme weather condition. Excessive warm weather causes the engine to overheat and it thus hampers the performance of the same. (more…)

When it comes to working of a car engine, oil plays an inevitable role. But, have you ever thought what’s the function of oil in a car engine? Or why does the engine need oil? Well, oil is just inseparable part of the working of a car engine. Let’s talk about some of the very important theories which will help you learn the various aspect of oil in terms of its nature, functions, grade and types of engine oil:

• Oil Viscosity: You must have seen the viscosity reading, like 10W50 or 20W50  that comes printed on the oil cans. This indicates the measure of oil’s resistance to flowing. (more…)

Car dynamics refers to the study of action of various car technologies and features of a car body. However, it specifically refers to the technologies that help reduce fuel consumption as well as emissions! Today in this competitive auto market, manufacturers are putting their efforts to introduce advanced and innovative technologies through which they can ensure efficient car dynamics. Even though some factors like advanced engines, innovative wheel types and alternative fuels have so far helped manufacturers to achieve improved efficiency and performance, there are a few more such factors that prove to be magical when it comes to improve car dynamics. Here are some of those factors that can contribute to reduce fuel consumption and emissions: (more…)

An automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox, instrumental in changing the gear ratios automatically when the car moves! This means it makes the driver free from shifting gears manually. Automatic transmission is integrated to the engine of the car and it sends power to the wheels. To be very precise, the function of the automatic transmission is to help the car use various gears automatically to drive the wheels and operate its engine within its optimum RPM or revolutions per minute range. (more…)

Hybrid cars are definitely the boon of technology, especially in today’s context, considering the fuel efficiency is the highest priority for many car owners. These cars are a combination of technology, advancement and innovation. Today, if we see, we will be able to find, a majority of the automakers are racing for producing outstanding hybrid cars.

A hybrid car is a blend of conventional gasoline engine and electric engine. The growing demand for hybrids have been pushed by factors like alarming  environmental pollution and inflating fuel prices. If we are to compare these cars to our conventional cars, we will come up with the conclusion that they are as efficient as the conventional cars. Moreover, they can beat the latter in reliability, performance and safety! (more…)