There are many different grades of motor oil available, each designed for certain operating conditions. Some common grades that you might be familiar with include 5W-40, 5W-30, 10W-30, 10W-40, 15W-40 and 20W-50. There are also multi-grade oils that are for use in vintage or antique engines.
Every car has four main filters: the cabin filter, oil filter, fuel filter and air filter. The function of all these filters is to enable flows and catch impurities: the dust and contaminants in the air, the impurities in the fuel or the dirt in the motor oil.
Brakes are perhaps the most important safety feature of any vehicle. Knowing the different types of brakes, both between and within vehicles, can help you feel better informed when caring for and repairing your brakes. There are two kinds of service brakes, or the brakes that stop your vehicle while driving: disc and drum brakes. Additionally, almost all vehicles come with emergency brakes and anti-lock brakes.
An automotive battery or car battery is a rechargeable battery that is used to start a motor vehicle. Its main purpose is to provide an electric current to the electric-powered starting motor, which in turn starts the chemically-powered internal combustion engine that actually propels the vehicle. Once the engine is running, power for the car's electrical systems is still supplied by the battery, with the alternator charging the battery as demands increase or decrease.
A car wash or auto wash is a facility used to clean the exterior and in some cases the interior of motor vehicles. Car washes can be self-service, full-service or fully automated