Engine - Behind the Wheel

Octane Ratings: Does Premium Fuel Actually Help?

At the pump you choose between regular, mid-grade and premium, and plenty of drivers assume premium is simply better gas.

Spark plugs are small, cheap and easy to ignore right up until they cause a misfire, a rough idle or

A single rubber belt, snaking around several pulleys at the front of your engine, drives some of the car'

Few topics generate more outdated advice than oil changes. The 3,000-mile rule lingers from decades ago, but modern engines

Every spec sheet lists horsepower and torque, and plenty of buyers nod along without knowing the difference. Understanding what each

The checkout shelf at every auto-parts store is lined with bottles promising to clean your injectors, restore power and boost

Coolant does more than keep your engine from overheating; it also stops it from freezing, lubricates the water pump and

Turbocharged engines are everywhere now, even on economy cars, because a small turbo engine can make the power of a

Stand in the oil aisle and the labels look like a code: 5W-30, 0W-20, full synthetic, high mileage. Pick the