Thursday, July 30, 2020

Engine Oil Tips - Viscosity Grades


How thick your oil is at its normal operating temperature? How cold it could get before your oil stops flowing? How thick your oil is at hot temperatures?

This educational video will teach you everything you need to know about viscosity grades!

Monday, July 27, 2020

In the Wind Tunnel with the New Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series


The detailed aerodynamic work also includes the now almost fully panelled underbody, which must not only meet aerodynamic requirements, but thermal ones as well (heat dissipation). The flat underbody is equipped with specially designed longitudinal fins. These air channellers have been meticulously optimised to ensure optimal air flow to the rear diffuser. The entire package accelerates air flow, significantly increasing downforce. All measures are coordinated and interact with the new rear aerofoil concept. The result of all these measures is a downforce level of well over 400 kilogrammes at 250 km/h.

Friday, July 24, 2020

The Joys of Teaching Your Teen To Drive a Stick Shift — Cars.com


In honor of National Stick Shift Day — a holiday created by the editors at Cars.com — Editor-in-Chief Jenni Newman's teen willingly agreed to be her guinea pig and learn how to use a manual transmission. Watch the video to see how it went.

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

BMW Brakes System: High Performance Stopping Power | BMW USA


There's more to the Ultimate Driving Machine than racing across the open road towards your next great adventure. Slow your horses, because the braking system in a BMW luxury car is an expertly crafted piece of auto technology designed to keep drivers safe.

Through countless stress tests across a wide array of locations, environments, and scenarios, the BMW braking system exceeds expectations. Featuring strength four times more powerful than the engine, stop your vehicle in seconds and enjoy being able to control distances with extreme precision.

In order to reach its full potential, the braking system experiences a 'training period' that runs for the first 300 - 400 miles. During this time, you may notice sounds coming from the brake disk and pad, but not to worry! This is simply a sign that the auto technology is adjusting and doing its job.

Keep your BMW's brake rotors and pads operating smoothly with these helpful car maintenance tips for cleaning your rims:

- Use acid-alkaline free wheel cleaners to reduce corrosion risk
- Avoid an overuse of tire-shine products, as this may cause brake pads to become contaminated & potentially less effective
- Do not use high-intensity water sources when cleaning the rims, as this may cause brake parts to bind & make excessive noises
- Gently tap the brakes every few miles after cleaning to help dry the components

Keep in mind that if your vehicle sits idle for long periods of time without being driven, it may be more susceptible to braking disk corrosion. In most cases, moderate use of the brake pads will help to eliminate slight surface corrosion.

Saturday, July 18, 2020

Mercedes Spark Plugs Fire 5 Times For Better Efficiency


Mercedes Multi-spark Ignition (MSI) is designed to fire the spark plug 5 times (sequentially) every power stroke in scenarios where the gas pedal isn't pressed much and the engine RPM is low. In these low load, low RPM scenarios, it's more efficient, more stable, and more consistent when running a multi-spark ignition methodology versus the traditional single spark ignition. Check out the video for full details on how this system works, and why it's more efficient!

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

The New Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series: World Premiere | Trailer


At Mercedes-AMG, the Black Series has been synonymous with a very special type of car since 2006: uncompromisingly sporty, with an expressive design and the most consistent technology transfer from motorsport to series production. Black Series models are exclusive automotive rarities. They have not been developed to gather dust in collectors’ garages, but for high-speed use on racetracks, despite being approved for roads. The Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series represents a new highlight in this tradition: it is the most powerful Mercedes-AMG with a V8 series engine.

What does the engine do for the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series? It gives it a completely independent character, which is not only reflected in the type of power delivery, but also in its very particular sound pattern. And it enables highly impressive driving performance: the two-door vehicle shoots from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, and to 200 km/h in under nine seconds. The top speed is 325 km/h.

Sunday, July 12, 2020

What If You Forget To Change Your Oil?


Can you damage your car by not changing your engine oil on time? How a late oil change affects your car.

Monday, July 6, 2020

Crash Tales – Episode 2: Midlife Crisis


Do you sometimes feel like you’ve hit a brick wall at the end of a workday? Fred and Tommy do. They’re crash test dummies.

Friday, July 3, 2020

Is It Okay To Skip Gears In A Manual Transmission?


Is it okay to skip gears with a manual transmission? Ultimately, manual transmissions are designed with flexibility in mind. Inherently they allow for choosing any gear at any time, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should.

Of course, and gear you select, you need to make sure that the engine RPM will not exceed redline, and it's also wise to rev-match (or double clutch, if needed), as to not damage your synchronizers or clutch.

An unmatched upshift will result in a rough shift. An unmatched downshift can easily result in additional synchronizer wear, as well as clutch wear, and can also upset the balance of the car. That said, skipping gears, when matching engine RPM appropriately, does not cause any harm to the drivetrain, and is completely fine to do.